Thread: spawn

Anyone catching any shoreline fish yet? What are your favorite bank spots? I like hillsdale along the cove by the dam, and the back boat docks at Clinton.

Think water might to cool for the start of the spawn. I like around Rock Creek Marina at Perry during the easy time of the year to catch slabs.

If you've got mainlake temps in the lower 50's, you've got spawners in a cove somewhere on the bank.

I would like to see that Temp somewhere

I think we just need a good 5 days straight of 65 deg. and sunny and no cold rain.I think the shallow water is warming and getting cooled back down a day later by cold rain and temps.It won't be long and it will be here.At Toronto I like Toronto point cove and Mann's cove.

After several years of studying the spawn I am more convinced that water temp is the lesser of the two important parts of it. Most important part is length of daylight in a day. Last year proved that for me, we had 70 degree water early with no fish shallow but a few "eager" males. Crappie still spawned on their normal beds at their normal time. I do think they go shallow to feed in in the warmer water early in the day and evening.

Originally Posted by Springhill Duckman

After several years of studying the spawn I am more convinced that water temp is the lesser of the two important parts of it. Most important part is length of daylight in a day. Last year proved that for me, we had 70 degree water early with no fish shallow but a few "eager" males. Crappie still spawned on their normal beds at their normal time. I do think they go shallow to feed in in the warmer water early in the day and evening.

OK, I have a question for you then. In the fall, say "sampling time" how do we end up with yoy crappie that are 3"-5"? Genetics? 30 days growth is about 2" for a crappie. Just something to think about.

Originally Posted by crappiedoc

OK, I have a question for you then. In the fall, say "sampling time" how do we end up with yoy crappie that are 3"-5"? Genetics? 30 days growth is about 2" for a crappie. Just something to think about.

I guess I am not following what your posting here?

Originally Posted by Springhill Duckman

I guess I am not following what your posting here?

Kirwin Reservoir / Region 1 / Fishing Locations - Public Waters / Where to Fish in Kansas / Fishing / KDWPT - KDWPT

So why the big size difference on the crappie? 2"-5" Why do the pond crappies spawn so much sooner?

Originally Posted by crappiedoc

Kirwin Reservoir / Region 1 / Fishing Locations - Public Waters / Where to Fish in Kansas / Fishing / KDWPT - KDWPT

So why the big size difference on the crappie? 2"-5" Why do the pond crappies spawn so much sooner?

Craig can probably explain the size difference best but I will give it a shot. On the bigger resivoirs the water temps in the upper ends raise much faster and you can see 60 degree plus water temps in early to mid April. The lower end near the dam warms much slower and the 60 degree mark may not hit until the first couple weeks of May. The best real live example I can give you is when I used to fish Tuttle Creek a lot. The upper end coves would always have fish starting to spawn somewhere between April 10th - 20th depending on the weather that year. The marina cove would have fish spawning as late as the last week of May first week of June. That could maybe explain your size difference.