Thread: Your Opinion on the Spawn???

I'm thinking "A". I believe they will hold in some close drop offs until the weather warms a little after this front. Past experience tells me when they move up it will be fast and not last as long as a steady slow warming spring. Just my guess and I hope I time it right to be on the water that week! :D

I think I've read and probably verified in the field that the spawn is totally driven off water temperature and sunlight penetration. The reason sunlight penetration is important is it will determine how deep of water the fish spawn in. The fish roe won't hatch(kinda like seeds germinating) unless the water temp remains around 68 to 72 degrees. Too cold, won't hatch; too hot, kills the roe. My opinion is that the males will pull back to prespawn staging areas or where they were just before they moved shallow and wait for 60 degree water. UNLESS, they were guarding a bed where the female had already dropped her roe. In that case, they will stay on the bed unless the water drops clean off the spot. The males will stay on the bed for 2-3 weeks or until the fry hatch and move off. The females are not on the bed but for short 24-48 hours at a time and spend most of their time in the staging areas.

Seems like "A" is the answer. How much do ya'll think the water cooled off or more important how long do you think it will take to warm back up with the good weather predicted for next week?

A and B. The crappie were progressively moving in. Some were already super shallow (mostly blacks) and others were staging (predominantly whites) and some were in transition (both species). Those that were shallow will retreat to staging and perhaps scatter transitionally. Those that were in transition might stop and hold or retreat. Those that were staging will stop and hold.

I have a trip tomorrow and I'm definitely not going to be looking for them in 3' of water. I will most likely fish the 12-20' range. That will be completely different story by the middle of next week. There was water in the 60's and now I bet it's in the low 50's or upper-40's. Just a few days of sunshine and warm nights will have them charging back into the shallows.

As for how long the spawn will be off set I think that will depend on how much cold rain we get tonight.The way it looks its going to rain alnight,the wind blown side of the lake will be colder water.I usually wait until after the spawn before I start the stalk for crappie,I enjoy it more.
I think I going to do some catfishing tommow,they should turn on with the rain run off and muddy water.Going to try strawberry river if its not high and swift,if it is will try crappie in Hill slough.
Fished Hill slough last friday and caught nothing(a few wittle bity ones,1 3#bass),fished Black river last Saturady and again nothing.

Portia has put out some nice fish lately.

Hey guys from NE arkansas,
Were is strawberry river and hill slough? I may have asked this already but its been a while. I have fished portia bay last fall as the temps were falling and didnt do very well.....Do you think its worth a second try?
tom

I remember crossing Strawberry River somewhere around Hardy.