Many of the sunfish species are spooky when they are shallow on beds . Most of the time predators are targeting them and they are built to run off at the slightest provocation. That said crappie are spooky when they spawn and in many cases leave the beds in the daylight hours. I see herons on spawning beds at night frequently and they are not considered nocturnal birds . So if the water clarity is good do not expect crappie to stay shallow in the daylight.
Several spots I hit unless it’s ovecast and or turbid water conditions there is not much of a real shallow bite in the daylight . The fish stage off the beds a little ways out sometimes and patience is key on them . The males will be closest in most cases with females farther out past them . Sometimes the female fish won’t be much past them , sometimes they will be way out past them.
This all said target your fish accordingly and you will have more success. When the bite stops adjust your presentations a bit deeper farther off shore and be patient , they won’t be as aggressive off the beds and tend to bite lots slower on the takes.
The spawn is a tricky time and comes and goes daily and what was on fire today might be diddly tomorrow and back on a day or so later . Never say never and pitch often in areas you have found them in the past when they spawn. They tend to spawn in the same general areas year after year .
Hope this helps those in need of some help .
Stay tuned and have a great day
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Originally Posted by Ketchn
Many of the sunfish species are spooky when they are shallow on beds . Most of the time predators are targeting them and they are built to run off at the slightest provocation. That said crappie are spooky when they spawn and in many cases leave the beds in the daylight hours. I see herons on spawning beds at night frequently and they are not considered nocturnal birds . So if the water clarity is good do not expect crappie to stay shallow in the daylight.
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