Spawn Question concerning Cedar Creek

[TigerBait]

With the current water level down 10 feet, if the crappie lay now and the water comes back up rapidly, how will this effect this years hatch and survival rate? Fish I have been catching are ready to drop at any time.

[BubbaThump]

Tiger, how firm were the eggs in those bigguns u caught last weekend? Our fish we caught at Cedar still had really firm eggs. I think we have enough time for the lake to rise before the fish will lay. This warm rain tonight will help, but these fronts keep pushing temps back every 3-4 days. Do u know when they are supposed to let the lake fill back up?

[TigerBait]

Eggs were bright yellow with think red veins in them . Most were fairly firm but some were not. One was squirting eggs out as I was taking the hook out of it. I believe the game warden told me they close the drain on March 10th.I noted it had come up about 6 inches between the last two fridays.

[CrappiePappy]

With the current water level down 10 feet, if the crappie lay now and the water comes back up rapidly, how will this effect this years hatch and survival rate? Fish I have been catching are ready to drop at any time.

I really don't think the lake was drawn down quite that far, more like 7ft. But, nonetheless, if it's still down & the fish lay, then the lake comes up several feet .... it would negatively impact the hatch & survival rate of the fry. To what degree would likely depend on water temps & clarity, would be my guess.