How do Crappie spawn?

During a bass tourney during the bass spawn I mistakenly fished for a couple of fish on very well defined beds in about 6-7 foot of water (clear water lake) only to find out they where large male Black crappie on beds after catching one. I have also seen bass Bedding on top of stumps down 4-5 feet over 50 feet of water. They will use any hard bottom substrate.

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Originally Posted by INTIMIDATOR

I posted a bunch of articles from In-Fisherman about the spawns, last week...Researchers have found Crappie in the South also spawn in the Fall, especially if Spring is messed up for them.
In the North after the spawns and rest period, the females start developing eggs again for the next year's spawn.

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Farther south than us . I had a AGFC biologist tell me here if they don't spawn before water gets too warm the eggs would not hatch any way . Never saw matured eggs in Crappie in Arkansas except during the spring .

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Originally Posted by Old Sarge

During a bass tourney during the bass spawn I mistakenly fished for a couple of fish on very well defined beds in about 6-7 foot of water (clear water lake) only to find out they where large male Black crappie on beds after catching one. I have also seen bass Bedding on top of stumps down 4-5 feet over 50 feet of water. They will use any hard bottom substrate.

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I see Crappie spawn on gravel bottoms as well as wood here . We build pallet stakebeds here on Nimrod which has mostly mud bottoms . The Crappie really like that wood pallet setting on the muddy bottom . The eggs must be elevated on wood or rock were there are silty or mud bottoms for them to hatch .

We may have three spawn seasons per year around here. Typically twice in the spring and once in the fall. This year would have been a prime candidate for three seasons, the temps have been well above normal this winter and we had a longer than usual spring with cooler temps and lots of rain.

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Originally Posted by Hanr3

We may have three spawn seasons per year around here. Typically twice in the spring and once in the fall. This year would have been a prime candidate for three seasons, the temps have been well above normal this winter and we had a longer than usual spring with cooler temps and lots of rain.

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I seriously doubt that. Your "twice in the Spring" spawn is likely an extended spawn period or an interrupted spawn. Any Fall egg sacs will likely be next Spring's spawn ... seeing as how they'll quickly go into their Winter mode as soon as the temps start dropping back down to a normal level for your area.

Biologists say that, not only does water temps have to be in a specific range, but the length of daylight is also a key factor (some saying it's a bigger factor than temp alone). I believe I remember it being something in the 13-14 hours of daylight range. Since the water temps have to be above a certain level for spawning to take place, as well as fry survival, and the temps have to be stable within that range ... it would seem to make sense that the length of daylight would factor in at keeping the temps stable & within that range. :twocents

... cp :kewl

I have to agree with CP on this one

Saw where Todd Huckaby was saying once that some bigger Crappie spawn earlier even in lower temps because of moon phase or daylight hours. I see big slabs move into shallow water some years on stumps in late Feb or early March if it is warm and some years males still on nests in early May. The spawn can be over a wide range as fish move in from deep water . Water temps we are told are a major factor but some are rethinking this . Deer hunters are learning Bucks rut accordding to length of daylight hours not temps as old wives tales taught us too.:twocents

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIHcX_dbldg

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

I seriously doubt that. Your "twice in the Spring" spawn is likely an extended spawn period or an interrupted spawn. Any Fall egg sacs will likely be next Spring's spawn ... seeing as how they'll quickly go into their Winter mode as soon as the temps start dropping back down to a normal level for your area.

Biologists say that, not only does water temps have to be in a specific range, but the length of daylight is also a key factor (some saying it's a bigger factor than temp alone). I believe I remember it being something in the 13-14 hours of daylight range. Since the water temps have to be above a certain level for spawning to take place, as well as fry survival, and the temps have to be stable within that range ... it would seem to make sense that the length of daylight would factor in at keeping the temps stable & within that range. :twocents

... cp :kewl

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Why would you and G seriously doubt him??? Especially when research proves him right!
Han3 said, they MAY HAVE 3 spawns per year....We do here in SW OHIO also!
Yes, the Spring spawns can be extended and interrupted for weeks or Months, which will result in different classes of fry...he didn't specify, he said 2 in the Spring!...then you have research showing fish netted in December that were found to be hatched in OCTOBER! Other Sates are finding the same, our lake spawn temps was interrupted twice in Spring and didn't hit spawn temp again until late July and again in September! So Han3 is actually right!
Mother Nature WILL ALWAYS FIND A WAY and she doesn't always follow the rules!

The same thing goes for where fish will spawn...sure, they have PREFERRED areas, but when the time comes, they will USE ANYTHING AVAILABLE TO THEM!
FISH EVOLVE, just like anything else!
That's why it is important to keep up with new research, ideas, etc! :)

just watch the dogwood they know when.

IMTIMADATOR , I have only been able to find one article claiming a true fall spawn . it was documented in Florida. I have never seen mature eggs in Crappie in Arkansas in the fall. I fish almost daily in good weather too . They start forming eggs in early fall . I talked with our Game and Fish biologists and the ones I spoke with said quote '' I have never seen a fall Crappie spawn this far north (Arkansas ). Please show us documentation where Crappie have been recorded spawning in the fall .


Thanks NIMROD :fish