This might explain some of y'all's worries about Sardis.

Notice what it says about late spawn in later May and no one fishing for them. Fish may still be deeper and scattered due to high water this year. Old habits are hard to break. May have to change the areas you fish this year are wait till later May. Maybe the sky ain't falling after all.

MDWFP electrofishing last week found numerous crappie 1 – 3 ft deep between Clear Creek and the dam finally spawning after a cold winter and a cool, cloudy spring. Most fish were 1 – 2 pounds. Females were either still full of eggs or flowing; only a few had spawned out, and those likely that day. Fish on beds will stay put even with the water rising; fish deeper for them. Expect another wave of crappie spawning shallow as soon as the lake quits rising so fast. They have held off so long it may be over pretty quickly. This year is similar to last year; after the cold 2013/2014 winter, MDWFP sampling found crappie still shallow spawning in good numbers May 19 and nobody was fishing for them.

Guess that make sence.......????

I agree I caught em 2 weeks ago in 3 ft water on a bed. Last weekend I caught em in 7 ft of water in the same spot. They didn't go anywhere.

That may explain why in SW AR they're experiencing some weirder than normal spawning behavior. The water has been in the high 60's and low 70's but due to the cold spells, rain and the rising and falling water, this week a friend of mine caught 50 or so on the bank and most were females, mostly full of eggs. Which I thought was odd because last year the spawn was almost over by mid April.

Thanks Mac. Good Honest report.

Mac is the man for sure!

Same thing here on ky lake. Same weird spring as well. Females are still full of eggs, but it this weekend it should be on like donkey kong. Water stabilized and warmer weather each day this week.

They still gotta eat, go gettem'!!

I am glad they found some spawning! I believe that the numbers of fish in Sardis are at an all time low. I do not think this will change unless this years hatch has a tremendous survival rate and they grow off in about 3 years. Higher water during spawning time for the next years will help, bu that is another story in itself entirely with the flood control thing.

I have wasted a ton of money and time fishing this year at Sardis,,, Caught just several fish and have lost a ton of money driving back and forth looking for fish,,,, It's a dead pond this year for sure,,,,, Time to move on to different waters til something changes,,,

Attachment 201212
Pitiful dead.... Y'all gonna have to expand your strike zone away from them 1 or 2 trees your pee paw showed you back in 63 and do some scouting. My vacation is almost over but this has been a pretty good week in my book!!Attachment 201220

Heck Joe,,,, no Dynomite allowed at Sardis...you musta bought those at local fish market,,,lol

There it is!!!! He smoked em!

You GO Joe!

The best day I ever had on Grenada(for big fish) was in May . A buddy of mine that fishes magnolia found these fish pre fishing for a tournament . We caught less than 30 between us but they were pigs . two were over three lbs. Most were over 2 lbs. put in at Choctaw and we were the only one to park there , no one was a south graysport . Saw one boat go down the river . we fished 7am. -2.pm. want know till you go .

Fished this morning and caught a few in 2.5 ft of water about 15 inches down..minnow under a thin bobber. My wife and I caught 17 keepers Sunday in the same places. Today's were bloody tailed males and a couple of spawned out females. This on Sardis in the cypress trees. They just don't want to hit it hard or hit a jig...just tapping it.

I know I'm a little late to this topic but this past weekend I caught several females that were still full of eggs. No, this wasn't on Sardis but in South MS on the lower Pearl River. A lot of fish were caught very shallow. I'm thinking if the spawn is still going down here where the temps have been much warmer that there's still PLENTY of spawn action left for you guys up north. They're definitely not on the same pattern I typically catch them on this time of year.

always catch spawning fish in late May they don't spawn all at the same time as ole Joekiller has stated :biggrin

How was the May 19th spawn this year?

Caught several more today in deep timber,,,,, Fish were again at 15- 20'ft of water,,, all were females, some had eggs some didn't,,,fish still are spawning,,,

Jigged 1-3' water for 3 hours this afternoon and got 1 drum. Geuss they ain't coming shallow with the lake on a rise go figure. Might be a different story tommorow. Those females you catching are they white or black crappie in that deep timber.

Them females have sandy eggs and ain't gonna do nothing with them. I have cleaned several that I thought were bulging with ripe eggs and ended up being a sack full of sandy eggs they are going to end up ansorbing. It's been a crazy year, the water came up so fast I think a lot of females stayed put and ended up only getting about half way done. This is just my opinion and I believe if the game and fish would lay the knife to the females they claim are spawning, they would change there assessment. There are still some male fish shallow but most all females have begun to retreat. Imo

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Originally Posted by bird down

Them females have sandy eggs and ain't gonna do nothing with them. I have cleaned several that I thought were bulging with ripe eggs and ended up being a sack full of sandy eggs they are going to end up ansorbing. It's been a crazy year, the water came up so fast I think a lot of females stayed put and ended up only getting about half way done. This is just my opinion and I believe if the game and fish would lay the knife to the females they claim are spawning, they would change there assessment. There are still some male fish shallow but most all females have begun to retreat. Imo

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That's exactly my observation. Caught some big males still black last weekend in deeper water also.