When will the crappie spawn here in alabama. Is it only based on water temp? Moon phase have anything to do with it? If temp is the key, how long does the water have to be at the correct temp. When will they start making beds?
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When will the crappie spawn here in alabama. Is it only based on water temp? Moon phase have anything to do with it? If temp is the key, how long does the water have to be at the correct temp. When will they start making beds?
Here's an interesting article on that subject.
Crappie Spawn Timing
known of the ones I caught yesterday had any eggs at all!
On Smith Lake, water temp gotta be around 60 degrees. Looks like this year will be later than normal due to water temps being below normal for this time of year. Based on the ones I cleaned yesterday, I would guess 2-3 weeks here. Last year it was over the last week of March. Smith normally runs a couple of weeks earlier that most lakes in north Alabama.
Sorry, make that 60 degrees.
Had eggs in the ones we caught Friday and Saturday. They were in 4ft of water so i was wondering if they were making beds, preparing to spawn, or just seeking warmer water?
I didn't clean any of the fish I caught Friday and Saturday at Weiss. I had 20 keepers in two days of fishing, but turned them all loose. All were caught in 5-7 feet of water. One thing is for sure, they all were fat. Most just appeared to be "stocky", and not full of eggs. I think alot of these fish were males, and were just fattened-up in preparation for the spawn. Some of the larger fish may have been females, they had the pot-guts that would be common with pre-spawn females. All of these fish had very little color, like they had just came out of deep water.
i caught mine spawning the last week in March first week in April of last year
Do they fan out a bed? If so how deep and can you see the beds at Login Martin?
I have never seen a Crappie bed, I think the water is usually too muddy and they nest deeper than Bream and Bass.Quote:
Originally Posted by usafret99
Finding clear warm water at this time of year in 'Bama is a hard thing to do!
The dirty water also warms faster.
I found this tid bit of info:
Spawning Habits
(where they lay their eggs)
Spawning occurs from February to April when water temperatures reach 62 to 65 degrees. They nest in colonies. Circular nest are fanned by males over gravel or soft-muddy bottoms and frequently around submerged vegetation in waters from three to eight feet deep. After spawning, males guard the eggs and fry. Females may produce between 11,000 and 188,000 eggs.
More info:
Spawning Habits: Spring spawner, beginning when the water hits 62-68 degrees F . Male digs a nest in coarse sand to marble sized gravel in 3-10 feet of water, then entices females in to mate with him. Females leave only a small quantity of their eggs in each male's nest (spreading their genes as far as possible).