Quote Originally Posted by Mo'nBack View Post
I don't like chiming in on spawn posts because the experts (that have been crappie fishing for less than 5 years) always want to argue about it, but they fatten up during the winter much as deer before the rut, and then the bite is mostly guarding the beds during the spawn. I know this will spark WW3, but this is what I've seen and believe. I'm not a marine biologist though.
OK, so I am the 5 year expert, and a Marine Biologist...... WAIT, Nevermind......neither actually...

Me and a guy at work were discussing these exact specifics yesterday, comparing crappie getting ready to spawn to deer in rut, that comment caught my eye. I have watched the bass fisherman on TV sight fish largemouth while they are on the nest (not sure if these are males are female bass), and they always mention how a bass will not bite, but grab a bait and spit it out very quickly, so they are hard to catch. Sometimes they might bite 10 times before the firsherman are actually quick enough to set the hook. Is this different with crappie? Or would you guys think the males guarding the nest are biting to eat or biting to kill / move the "thought to be predator?"