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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?
Your guide is right on the money
Do either of the fish stay to portect the eggs? If not why do we catch so Many during the spawn?
What about a lake that don't have many stumps or wood to lay eggs on? Where do they lay?
The males stay behind. They will lay on gravel and rocks. There's a lake that I started fishing without stumps or trees laying in the water I been looking for hard bottoms (gravel or rocks ) I been placing some short brush piles on some dropoffs and got some on the flats too. Hope they will help, all the crappie I have caught in this lake so far are whites.
trees bushes grass lily paps and rocks/gravel they will lay eggs on i have seen them lay eggs in tire wave breaks too
as for do they hang around the males do but the spawn lasts weeks with the bigest fish comin first and the smaller females comin in after
This is in the MN. DNR .
Black and White crappie
The black crappie and white crappie are among Minnesota's most popular fish. In the angler's creel, the black crappie probably ranks second behind the bluegill.
The black crappie is the more widely distributed of the two closely related species, occurring in most lakes throughout the state. The black crappie prefers deeper, cooler, clearer water than the white crappie does.
The two species are difficult to distinguish. The black crappie is generally darker overall and has seven or eight spines in its dorsal fin. The white crappie, on the other hand, often has markings arranged in vertical bars. It usually has five or six dorsal spines. The two species are similar in size; a 2-pound fish is unusually large.
Spawning habits for the two crappie species are similar. They spawn in May and June, in water temperatures in the mid-60s, in water up to 6 feet deep. Males build and guard nests in colonies. They mature early and are prolific; a large female may produce well over 100,000 eggs. Crappie are prone to stunting. Because a strong year-class often dominates in a lake, crappie often appear to be all of the same size. When these fish of a strong year-class grow large, the lake can gain a reputation as a crappie hot spot and then fade into mediocrity as a younger year class takes over.
Young crappie eat small aquatic invertebrates. Adults can continue to feed on plankton but usually eat a lot of small fish as well. Crappie may compete with walleye to some degree because their habits are similar. Both species travel open water in schools, feeding on similar foods at night, dawn and dusk.
The most effective management is the protection of habitat and maintenance of good predator-prey balance in the lake.
From the Wisconson DNR: http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/pubs/crappie.pdf
Life cycle
Crappie spawning activity peaks in May and
June when water temperatures are between 61
and 68 degrees, though spawning may continue
into July. Like other sunfish, crappies are nest
builders but they are perhaps the least particular in
their nest-building habits. Crappies search out nest
spots in deeper water than any other sunfish -
between 1.5 to 6 feet deep or deeper. This is
another reason crappies can coexist with carp.
Crappies are not disturbed by carp as much as
other sunfish that build their nests closer to shore.
Crappies usually nest in colonies that may include
as many as 35 nests, 3 inches to 6 feet apart.
Males construct disc-shaped nests near emergent
vegetation using their caudal fins like brooms to
sweep away silt and debris. Unlike bluegills and
pumpkinseeds that are meticulous in their nest
construction, crappies spend little time building
their nests, which when finished, may be just
barely discernible from the surrounding area.
Males aggressively defend their nests, chasing
and biting at intruders. A female may be chased
away several times before the male will admit her
for spawning. When a pair does spawn, they swim
in circles around the nest until they come to rest
with their bellies touching and pushing against
each other. Both fish quiver as the female releases
her eggs and the male releases his milt (sperm).
This process is usually repeated several times over
several hours. Females may spawn with more than
one male and may produce eggs several times
during the spawning period. An individual female
produces several thousand to several hundred
thousand eggs depending upon her age and size.
Following spawning, males guard the eggs until
they hatch in one to two days at optimum
temperatures of 65 to 70 degrees (Fig. 4).
Crappie fry (newly hatched fish) congregate in
large schools in shallow water. Crappies grow
fairly rapidly in the first year, reaching 2.5 to 3
inches. Crappies can mature in their second year,
May June July
Figure 4. Crappie spawning peaks in May and June.
Hatching occurs in 1-2 days.
though most mature in their third to fourth year. In
Wisconsin, most crappies don't live much past
their fifth year, grow larger than 12-14 inches, or
weigh more than a pound.
Additionally, crappie growth rates can be very
irregular. Fisheries biologists refer to all the fish
spawned in the same season as a year class.
Crappies are known for having very irregular year
classes, even within the same lake. Some years, a
year class may be smaller than average. Every
three to four years the opposite may happen and
there will be a year class of larger than average
crappies.
The state record white crappie weighed
1-pound, 5 ounces. It came from Petenwell
Flowage in Adams County in 1996. The state
record black crappie came from Gile Flowage
in Iron County in 1967. It weighed 4 pounds,
8 ounces. The world record black crappie, caught
from a canal in Louisiana, weighed 6 pounds; the
world record white crappie weighed 5 pounds,
3 ounces and was caught in 1957 in Mississippi.
ifish ,excellent info.learned something new today thanks.
It all depends on the water/lake. here the crappie dont typicaly nest but do in some areas. They spawn on cypress knobs, lilly pads, hard bottom, our many stumps, etc etc. And they are far more agressive protecting the eggs than when they are preparing the site!
When I have gotten into them really spawning here, they seemed to be concentrated around cypress knees in the oxbow lakes I fish.
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.
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...f/IMG_0658.jpg
In front of trees when water went down. Crappie, not bream.
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...1202Medium.jpg
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?
:cool:
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.
That is a good pic Cane Pole, shows the beds real good. :)
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by 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
West Sandy CreekQuote:
Originally Posted by Chill
Ky Lake, Tn
You'd be surprised where Crappie will lay their eggs :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Eager BeaverQuote:
Originally Posted by tenncrappie
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
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 :eek:
They can & will utilize whatever is available, if need be ;)
... cp :cool:
Thanks for the info guys.
I don't remember the bloody tail, but I'll watch for it this year.
CP, I asked about your lake to see how close to Indiana you are because of the similar conditions.
Yep. Weather and water conditions play a major role. If the don't like it, they just absorb the eggs and wait til next year. Self preservation kinda.Quote:
Originally Posted by crappiepappy
I seen 'em spawning with their dorsal fin out the water. Busy bodies for sure.
I get to see a lot of this stuff.:)
Eager Beaver......
Come this way and i will show you they will drop eggs on stumps and wood.
And yes the females dont sit on the nest they come in to drop a few and then leave. They might drop several times before they are done but they dont spawn more than once per year. I have been fishing several times during the spawn catching males and suddenly you will catch all females for a short time as they move in and then it will switch back to males. I have seen alot of cool stuff in the spawn.....
The spawn in shallow shallow stake beds if the chain gang don't come along.Quote:
Originally Posted by WestTennCrappie
In the oxbow lakes I fish the only alternatives are to spawn in mud or on wood (cypress knees, stumps, limbs, fallen down trees, etc.). There is no sand, gravel, rock or even clay. The crappie prefer wood over mud in these conditions.
In the big hill Corps lakes like Greers Ferry, there is plenty of sand, rock, etc., but even there it seems like you catch more around wood than you do in areas without it.
I live in south ga on the coast. What is the earliest crappie spawn. I caught large amount of blacks ,female, full of roe. The way they stayed on this flat for the first two weeks of Dec in 7 feet of water has got me wondering.Attachment 224490Attachment 224491
The correct answer is both. Crappie will nest on any hard and will make a nest on gravel or sand too.
As far as spawning times for Crappie go, I always thought Crappie could spawn more frequently than just in Spring, finding eggs sacks year round has made Me believe this is true or could developing egg sack possibly have more to do with water temps and weather more so than the seasons?
Most areas Crappie only spawn in the spring . They start developing eggs in the fall and they don't completely mature till spring .Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom 513
I posted a bunch of articles from In-Fisherman about the spawns, last week...Researchers have found Crappie in the South also spawn in the Fall, especially if Spring is messed up for them.
In the North after the spawns and rest period, the females start developing eggs again for the next year's spawn.
During a bass tourney during the bass spawn I mistakenly fished for a couple of fish on very well defined beds in about 6-7 foot of water (clear water lake) only to find out they where large male Black crappie on beds after catching one. I have also seen bass Bedding on top of stumps down 4-5 feet over 50 feet of water. They will use any hard bottom substrate.
Farther south than us . I had a AGFC biologist tell me here if they don't spawn before water gets too warm the eggs would not hatch any way . Never saw matured eggs in Crappie in Arkansas except during the spring .Quote:
Originally Posted by INTIMIDATOR
I see Crappie spawn on gravel bottoms as well as wood here . We build pallet stakebeds here on Nimrod which has mostly mud bottoms . The Crappie really like that wood pallet setting on the muddy bottom . The eggs must be elevated on wood or rock were there are silty or mud bottoms for them to hatch .Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Sarge
We may have three spawn seasons per year around here. Typically twice in the spring and once in the fall. This year would have been a prime candidate for three seasons, the temps have been well above normal this winter and we had a longer than usual spring with cooler temps and lots of rain.
I seriously doubt that. Your "twice in the Spring" spawn is likely an extended spawn period or an interrupted spawn. Any Fall egg sacs will likely be next Spring's spawn ... seeing as how they'll quickly go into their Winter mode as soon as the temps start dropping back down to a normal level for your area.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanr3
Biologists say that, not only does water temps have to be in a specific range, but the length of daylight is also a key factor (some saying it's a bigger factor than temp alone). I believe I remember it being something in the 13-14 hours of daylight range. Since the water temps have to be above a certain level for spawning to take place, as well as fry survival, and the temps have to be stable within that range ... it would seem to make sense that the length of daylight would factor in at keeping the temps stable & within that range. :twocents
... cp :kewl
I have to agree with CP on this one
Saw where Todd Huckaby was saying once that some bigger Crappie spawn earlier even in lower temps because of moon phase or daylight hours. I see big slabs move into shallow water some years on stumps in late Feb or early March if it is warm and some years males still on nests in early May. The spawn can be over a wide range as fish move in from deep water . Water temps we are told are a major factor but some are rethinking this . Deer hunters are learning Bucks rut accordding to length of daylight hours not temps as old wives tales taught us too.:twocents
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIHcX_dbldg
Why would you and G seriously doubt him??? Especially when research proves him right!Quote:
Originally Posted by CrappiePappy
Han3 said, they MAY HAVE 3 spawns per year....We do here in SW OHIO also!
Yes, the Spring spawns can be extended and interrupted for weeks or Months, which will result in different classes of fry...he didn't specify, he said 2 in the Spring!...then you have research showing fish netted in December that were found to be hatched in OCTOBER! Other Sates are finding the same, our lake spawn temps was interrupted twice in Spring and didn't hit spawn temp again until late July and again in September! So Han3 is actually right!
Mother Nature WILL ALWAYS FIND A WAY and she doesn't always follow the rules!
The same thing goes for where fish will spawn...sure, they have PREFERRED areas, but when the time comes, they will USE ANYTHING AVAILABLE TO THEM!
FISH EVOLVE, just like anything else!
That's why it is important to keep up with new research, ideas, etc! :)
just watch the dogwood they know when.
IMTIMADATOR , I have only been able to find one article claiming a true fall spawn . it was documented in Florida. I have never seen mature eggs in Crappie in Arkansas in the fall. I fish almost daily in good weather too . They start forming eggs in early fall . I talked with our Game and Fish biologists and the ones I spoke with said quote '' I have never seen a fall Crappie spawn this far north (Arkansas ). Please show us documentation where Crappie have been recorded spawning in the fall .
Thanks NIMROD :fish