How do Crappie spawn?

[Cane Pole]

Caught crappie here last year when water was up early-mid April. I was fishing in front of these trees on the bank in front of the lake house.




In front of trees when water went down. Crappie, not bream.

[Chill]

CP,
Those mid April and high water conditions are the same as I experienced last year on Raccoon lake here in Indiana. That weekend I got to experience the spawn for my first time. Caught a ton of crappies, it was a blast. Then later when the water went down, there were all those nest depressions in the flats. So I thought, " the blue gill were in here spawning too!"

So.... do both crappie and bream nest the same way?

Also, where is your lake?

[ab824]

The males will move into the shallows and prepare the beds. They will fan holes just like in canes picture.When you catch one he may have a bloody tail. The black crappie will usually start moving into shallow water first. After the female lays the eggs she will leave the bed after a day or two and the male will guard the bed.

[STUMP HUNTER]

That is a good pic Cane Pole, shows the beds real good.

[Cane Pole]

Most pan fish are nest builders. The nests are all similar (round and dished). I have caught bream while catching crappie during spawn. The crappie and bream spawn kinda overlap and crappie and bream kinda cohabitate. They both have their particular spots where they like to "do it", but with changing waters and rapid changing temperatures, well almost anything can happen. I ain't ever caught a crappiebream yet though.

I hope to catch a little nesting action on my side scan this year. I got a 14 ft Jon boat with side scan, so I can get in on them if the unit will work shallow waters. Will see.

[Eager Beaver]

It may be different on different lakes but the Male Crappie here will fan the bed and then a Female will lay part of her eggs and then the Male will fertilize the eggs and guard the nest until they hatch. The Males will have a bloody tail when they do this, and part of it rubbed off. The females never deposit all her eggs at one time and may have a couple of spawns a year. (I was going to say put all her eggs in one basket) lol. EB

[Cane Pole]

It may be different on different lakes but the Male Crappie here will fan the bed and then a Female will lay part of her eggs and then the Male will fertilize the eggs and guard the nest until they hatch. The Males will have a bloody tail when they do this, and part of it rubbed off. The females never deposit all her eggs at one time and may have a couple of spawns a year. (I was going to say put all her eggs in one basket) lol. EB

I agree. The females will make several runs and they are polygamist kinda. Nature of survival.

[Eager Beaver]

[QUOTE=tenncrappie;1025105]I have seen where some people claim that crappie go on the bed and fan the bed like a bream. But I was told last year by a professional guide that this is not so. That crappie go shallow and lay their eggs on some type of wood(log,stump etc) and the male follows up by depositing his part on the eggs. Who is right or wrong?


I find it hard to believe that Crappie would deposit eggs on a stump or on a piece of wood. I have only seen them fan a bed like a Bream and have a dish type nest. I would think that having the nest on an elevated stump or piece of wood would make them susceptible to wave action, which is what they try to avoid. imo EB

[Cane Pole]

CP,
Those mid April and high water conditions are the same as I experienced last year on Raccoon lake here in Indiana. That weekend I got to experience the spawn for my first time. Caught a ton of crappies, it was a blast. Then later when the water went down, there were all those nest depressions in the flats. So I thought, " the blue gill were in here spawning too!"

So.... do both crappie and bream nest the same way?

Also, where is your lake?

West Sandy Creek
Ky Lake, Tn

[CrappiePappy]

I have seen where some people claim that crappie go on the bed and fan the bed like a bream. But I was told last year by a professional guide that this is not so. That crappie go shallow and lay their eggs on some type of wood(log,stump etc) and the male follows up by depositing his part on the eggs. Who is right or wrong?

I find it hard to believe that Crappie would deposit eggs on a stump or on a piece of wood. I have only seen them fan a bed like a Bream and have a dish type nest. I would think that having the nest on an elevated stump or piece of wood would make them susceptible to wave action, which is what they try to avoid. imo EB

You'd be surprised where Crappie will lay their eggs :p

I saw a TV (fishing) show, back several years ago, where the Crappie were spawning on the cavitation plates of outboard motors ... of boats that were parked in Marina slips

They can & will utilize whatever is available, if need be

... cp