Quote Originally Posted by livemusic View Post
Wow, those are big, gorgeous fish. You say you catch your largest pre-spawn... how do the big ones behave in California? Do they stage at a certain depth or area? Do they go real shallow to spawn? Our water is usually murky here in the spring and sometimes, the fish are real close to the bank, and that's a problem due to the brush that is usually there. Unless you luck up and catch them ganged up at some reedy/grassy spots. Also, do you find the big crappie prefer a larger jig? It's been years since I have caught big crappie, I mostly bass fish. It was always around TODAY. Actually, tomorrow. April 1 is when I used to say the big ones would be gathered and that is usually post-spawn. Rats, I do not have access to that private lake (river oxbow) anymore.
I usually find the biggest ones right when they move to the shorelines and just start to take on spawning color. This is a huge natural lake with a lot of things trying to eat crappie. we have otter,eagles, osprey, comerant,pelican and even bass.The biggest fish I have found spawn in 5 or 6 ft of water, either in cover or not. They must have learned that having their backs out of the water is not conductive of long life. Also good material on the bottom is at a premium, so the big ones will end up on the best habitat.

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