Quote Originally Posted by DaveBuckeye01 View Post
What water temp they start the pre-spawn down at Ky?

We will be going down the first week of April, if it isnt the right temp yet when we are down should we focus in deep water or will the blacks still be working shallow?

This is our first time so we really have no idea what to expect. Thanks for the help

Dave, for me the "right temp" is when I don't have to fish thru the ice. There is NO doubt in my mind (baring some kinda freak weather event) that you'll be able find shallow fish during the first week of April. I personally hate the shallow fishing. You'll find a boat parked on every shallow stake bed and on every pea gravel point on the lake. I'll bet you a dollar I can take a broomstick, punch it in the mud, leave about a foot sticking up, and somebody will try to fish it.

Depending on the water temps the Blacks may be well into their spawn or just starting up. At this point it's just a crapshoot as to what will be going on. That's the price you pay when you are a "Spawner." The prespawn phase is so much easier to fish because you can stay in touch with the fish.

Even when the Spawners were beating the banks last yr. in April, several guys that I know (including myself) could usually go out and dig out a good mess of BIG Whites in 10' to 16' of water. The message here is, there will still be crappie at several different depths the first week of April. ALWAY are. Let me repeat that. ALWAYS!!!

Don't get locked in on "Standard" fishing reports that time of yr. Look around for yourself. Sometimes it pays off BIG time! That goes for any time of the yr. for that matter. Just because someone tells you "they are catch'n crappie in 3' of water," don't overlook other depths.

Come prepared to fish several different ways. Long line'n is a GREAT technique in early April.

I hope y'all come down here and have a great time.