How do I tell if they have spawned?

Ok guys explain how I can tell if the males are making nests or the females have already spawned!
I went Saturday and Sunday to a local lake and caught 20+ black crappie each day in less then a foot of water. Their tails and sides where roughed up. All but one where males. Is that pre spawn, males making nests, or post spawn, males guarding nest? Thanks

You can call it the spawn. Males make the nest, females come in and lay their eggs, then males fertilize them and stick around to guard them.

They don't all come in and spawn at once. They'll come in waves over a period of several weeks.

i usually check to see if any of them are smoking -- if they all are having a cigarette, the spawn is over.

Rofl

The females always have a headache when it's time to spawn.

All the females I cleaned Sunday still had their eggs. Today I noticed the males are guarding the nest in shallow water and have turned really black.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brian_w_watson

i usually check to see if any of them are smoking -- if they all are having a cigarette, the spawn is over.

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That has got to be one of the funniest things I have ever read on here. Thank you for making me laugh out loud.


Bobo

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stinkfinger

All the females I cleaned Sunday still had their eggs. Today I noticed the males are guarding the nest in shallow water and have turned really black.

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jUST THINK HOW MANY CRAPPIES YOU KILLED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bruce, I never think about the ones I have killed, I think about the ones that got away. Like today, it must have weighed around six pounds..... I swear to God, on my mother's grave........biggest dang crappie I have ever seen. Eyes were six inches apart and it had false teeth..... I know, because the teeth were the only thing still on the hook. :biggrin