Eggs in crappie

Wilbur had asked about the status of the eggs in the crappie GDG and I caught this weekend and I just wanted to post what we have noticed over the years. It seems that the older, larger crappie seem to have eggs in a much more advanced state than the smaller, younger fish, so we are assuming they spawn earlier. We have also noticed that black crappie, aka.. Specks, seem to have more advanced egg sacks early in the year also. We figure this is because they are more of a northern strain and may try and spawn in cooler water temps than the whites. What do you guys think?

Been catching them all fall and winter with good sacks in them. The smaller ones were males.
Y'all. Have a better data set to work with though

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Y'all. Have a better data set to work with though

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777[/QUOTE]


Everyone knows that!:Rofl

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Originally Posted by rducks123

Y'all. Have a better data set to work with though

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777

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Everyone knows that!:Rofl[/QUOTE]

Haha funny man
Bit it is true

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The big black mamas comes to the shallows first followed by the smaller black crappie. After you think the spawn is over the big whites hit the shallows, followed by the smaller whites. Now...this doesnt mean you wont catch any whites during the spawn for the black crappie nor does it mean you wont catch any blacks when the whites comes in. I've seen this happening over here in Ga for the past 3 springs and they can start as early as in Feb. It only takes a few warm days to get things started. I've actually followed the fish into the shallows (backs of creeks) as the afternoon sun warms things up, whereas they werent in the shallows during those same morning hours. The eggs are maturing nicely in the crappies here now...as they should be as Feb is almost here.:)

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Originally Posted by KDAVID1

Everyone knows that!:Rofl

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Haha funny man
Bit it is true

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777[/QUOTE]

You mr. sensitive now since you are sleep deprived from the dogs waking you up?:biggrin

I've always heard that black crappie spawn earlier than white crappie.

I also believe that black crappie will spawn deeper than the whites if given the chance

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Originally Posted by gabowman

The big black mamas comes to the shallows first followed by the smaller black crappie. After you think the spawn is over the big whites hit the shallows, followed by the smaller whites. Now...this doesnt mean you wont catch any whites during the spawn for the black crappie nor does it mean you wont catch any blacks when the whites comes in. I've seen this happening over here in Ga for the past 3 springs and they can start as early as in Feb. It only takes a few warm days to get things started. I've actually followed the fish into the shallows (backs of creeks) as the afternoon sun warms things up, whereas they werent in the shallows during those same morning hours. The eggs are maturing nicely in the crappies here now...as they should be as Feb is almost here.:)

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I thought that is what I just said

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Originally Posted by rducks123

Haha funny man
Bit it is true

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777

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You mr. sensitive now since you are sleep deprived from the dogs waking you up?:biggrin[/QUOTE]

Yes sleep depraved but definitely not Mr sensitive u ought to know that:p

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:biggrin

I have heard people say man those fish were full of eggs they must be spawning already! Ha. Hear it every year. Some more advanced fishermen tell me that u can tell what stage they are in by the color of the veins in the eggs, bright red meaning very advanced. I do not believe this because I catch them looking bright red from December on. I think the best method of telling the stage is how runny the eggs are. The bigger fish look more advanced because they are just that, bigger fish.

I've noticed that the bigger females spawn first followed by the smaller ones. Caught a black female last week in north Mississippi that looked like she was about ready to spawn judging by the appearance of her egg sack. I concluded that she was about ready but have to wait on water temp, etc.

I have heard the same thing, Blacks first ,cooler water then the biggest White and so on. This was written by Huckabee. Thanks Feesh

I always catch the giant whites (When I say giant I mean 2.5 lbs or better.) a good month before the "main " spawn takes place. Not to say I do not catch a giant during the main spawn, because I do. I just do not catch 3 or 4 in a day. More like 1 every other day. I have only caught the 3 pounders early nothing after late March. Just my experience.

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Originally Posted by Chilly

I always catch the giant whites (When I say giant I mean 2.5 lbs or better.) a good month before the "main " spawn takes place. Not to say I do not catch a giant during the main spawn, because I do. I just do not catch 3 or 4 in a day. More like 1 every other day. I have only caught the 3 pounders early nothing after late March. Just my experience.

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I am with chilly, I like to catch prespawn fish. Fat as they will be all year long. Aint nothin like seeing a big ole 2 and half or bigger female come to top of the water with a belly that looks like it has a baseball stuck in it!!!!:biggrin