What is the " PRE" spawn exactly ?

i often wonder what constitutes pre spawn and then the spawn ? i always took it that when they stage up somewhere close to the shallow spawning grounds in the spring that was the pre spawn . but i hear and see folks saying things that contradict my thoughts . So if black and white crappie are set up in shallow water wearing spawning colors is that still the pre spawn ? the water temp was only 51.5 so according to the various studies and etc etc the 2 limits we managed in less than 3 feet of water on beds couldnt possibly be already spawning because the water temperature isnt just right .
i am not trying to contradict anyone or start trouble in here i just dont fully understand the they are not actually spawning thing ? Will they in fact just hang around in those spots for a month or so until that magic 68 degree water temps are abundant ? The water temps yesterday did get up to 55 at 11 am when we left and it was 62 when i hit that spot last week . the cold front that came thru last week chilled it quite a bit as far as water temperatures but the fish in that spot continued to stack in there and color up .some of the females were dropping eggs in the ice chest and some of the male fish got EXTRA blackened after a bit in the enclosure . i would also say the males out numbered the females 3 or so to 1 .
the fish i might just add were not colored up near as much last week when we last visited that lake .
dont anyone go and get upset or anything i am just "fishin" for more information on this subject .
bass and bream were up shallow as well and they seemed to be sporting full dress as well and it is a small lake if that helps with the diagnosis .
please feel free to post your thoughts as i am always looking to know what the deal is with these tricky lil fish.
and YES i think they are still in a bit of a prespawn situation out there . they dont look beat down enough just yet to me to be really doing it .
have a great day ....:ThumbsUp

Fishes are much like humans, they spend most their life in the "pre-spawn mode".

I consider them to be in "pre-spawn" mode from the time they start leaving their Winter holding areas & head towards the shallows, until the males are sitting on the bed and the females are staged offshore & making trips back & forth from their staging area to the nesting area.

The actual "spawn" can be over in a few days, or due to various interruptions can last for several weeks. Not all the fish are on the same page as to what temps/conditions trigger them to head for the beds.

The fish in your picture are dressed for the dance, but probably haven't made it to the dance hall, just yet. And the eggs in the ice chest scenario "could" simply be because of the stress/strain of being caught (fighting against the rod). :dono

The whole pre-spawn to spawn to post-spawn time frame is not a linear deal. The prevailing conditions can stop, start, or temporarily reverse the whole progression.

... cp :kewl

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cane Pole

Fishes are much like humans, they spend most their life in the "pre-spawn mode".

---

I think I may be entering the post spawn age. :Doh:

When water temps rise and fish start visiting brush and stumps out from spawning areas is what a call pre-spawn or stage'n . :fish

But I seldom fish spawning fish but prefer to catch bigger females and incoming males off the banks . All of them do not spawn at once and seems like here they stage and return to same spots post spawn . We see several different false runs many spring till temps stays right . Each cold snap pushing them back out . I see big females on shallow cover up to 2 months early . I guess taking advantage of water being warmed but not near ready to spawn .:twocents

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

I consider them to be in "pre-spawn" mode from the time they start leaving their Winter holding areas & head towards the shallows, until the males are sitting on the bed and the females are staged offshore & making trips back & forth from their staging area to the nesting area.

The actual "spawn" can be over in a few days, or due to various interruptions can last for several weeks. Not all the fish are on the same page as to what temps/conditions trigger them to head for the beds.

The fish in your picture are dressed for the dance, but probably haven't made it to the dance hall, just yet. And the eggs in the ice chest scenario "could" simply be because of the stress/strain of being caught (fighting against the rod). :dono

The whole pre-spawn to spawn to post-spawn time frame is not a linear deal. The prevailing conditions can stop, start, or temporarily reverse the whole progression.

... cp :kewl

---

Ain't this what I said in one sentence?

good info crappie pappy and nimrod ...
the sand bass are sure swollen up over here ...
i think they are pretty close to doing something for sure ....
thanks for sharing

and the trinity river crappie have a tiny bit of color on them as well

and the white crappie in there are still pretty pale ...not much for colors on them just yet ...

The Cumberland River never gets above 54 degrees when they are back in generating mode and the Crappie spawn there every year. So temps are not the only factor

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dave the wave

The Cumberland River never gets above 54 degrees when they are back in generating mode and the Crappie spawn there every year. So temps are not the only factor

---

day length...water levels....water temp.....moon phase...moon position....bottom hardness...and on and on and on.....I just go and find the fish......and then I don't catch very many....and the times other than the spawn....they last a lot longer than the spawn so I fish the post spawn the most....

I tend to agree ...it seems some water bodies here are quite a bit different than the others .....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ketchn

I tend to agree ...it seems some water bodies here are quite a bit different than the others .....

---

maybe the fish down south are like the natives....they like warmer water......

I know if you fall in its better when the water is around 68 or higher for sure ....
been there done that ...LOL

Just like crappie pappy said, it's not linear. It's my limited understanding that white crappie prefer to spawn later at a little higher water temp than black crappie (I could have that backwards). And some crappie will spawn earlier than normal while others hang on way later. So between white and black crappie the pre-spawn/spawn can over lap for a good two months depending on conditions.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Will C

Just like crappie pappy said, it's not linear. It's my limited understanding that white crappie prefer to spawn later at a little higher water temp than black crappie (I could have that backwards). And some crappie will spawn earlier than normal while others hang on way later. So between white and black crappie the pre-spawn/spawn can over lap for a good two months depending on conditions.

---

I like that kind of time frame....