Thread: Another Beaver Report

Originally Posted by grits and gravy

Both the females and males will get darker. Has nothing to do with the sex of the fish. Has everything to do with how much sunlight is hitting the fish. They will get dark just like people tan. The males are up shallow now preparing beds for the spawn. They are getting more sunlight due to bein shallow, so they get darker. When the females move shallow to spawn they will get dark too. It is like the fishes skin is getting a tan.
In muddy water they will be pale and clear water they will be darker

No offense, but this statement is false. When the water temp hits a certain temp, usually between 58-62 degrees, the males sense that it is time for the females to spawn and a hormone is released, turning them a dark purple, almost black. This is why they are so agressive. Once the temp is right and the beds are ready, the females come in and spawn, then they quickly move back out to deeper water. They dont stick around long enough to get a "tan."

You are correct about sunlight effecting their color though. Typically Crappie caught out of deep or muddy water will be pale, with little coloration. While the ones that are in clear or shallow water tend to be much prettier.

Originally Posted by Cmj

No offense, but this statement is false. When the water temp hits a certain temp, usually between 58-62 degrees, the males sense that it is time for the females to spawn and a hormone is released, turning them a dark purple, almost black. This is why they are so agressive. Once the temp is right and the beds are ready, the females come in and spawn, then they quickly move back out to deeper water. They dont stick around long enough to get a "tan."

X2 on that!!

Nice mess RL. Hope to see you at camp

I was just repeating what several fisheries biologists have explained to me. I have caught dark colered males in the winter in clear water. And they were no where near getting ready to spawn.

I thought it was camo to keep people from giggin them when they come up shallow.Cmj hope to see you at camp...We got things to talk about. Site C-46

Originally Posted by Billy E

.Cmj hope to see you at camp...We got things to talk about. Site C-46

Lol! Am I in trouble? Just kiddin, I will definitely be there. I am going to shoot for 12pm Friday, if all goes according to plan! I think I have C-29