Kinda odd sitchiation at the rez Friday...

Was catching spawning white crappie males- and I do mean spawning- in 5 1/2 FOW, a 150 yards from the nearest grass/shore line.

I wonder if the jump in levels has some out that deep? I've always heard crappie fry don't do well hatching in water that's pushing 80+ degrees. I kinda wonder if the layer spawning fish aren't spawning deeper in cooler waters, since the mid-lake temps in the shallow grass flats were pushing 80 by midday and approaching 83 by mid afternoon.

In any case, I hate springs like this. All the critters acr funky: from crappie to turkeys and everything in between.

Bluegill were bedding in my uncles 12 acre lake 3 weeks ago. Big 10+ inchers, every cast. Peeing all over the place.

I BEEN TELLING FOLKS I THINK THEY ARE BEDDING AT LEAST SOME OF THEM IN DEEPER WATER . I HAVE BEEN CATCHING MALE AND FEMALE IN 8 - 12 FOW . CAUGHT A 15" SPECK MALE IN 12 FOW YESTERDAY . GO FIGURE YEP STRANGE .

Sounds a lot like what I have seen...

I don't see the strangeness everyone is talking about. Seems like a great spring to me. They been in the same places at the normal times to me. Atleast on Barnett they have. Catching them In the same places we caught them 25+ years ago

I think the fish are just spawning deeper, Matt and I talked about it. Fish will spawn in the right water temps at whatever depth out to 12' or so. You can't tell me the 10" females I caught about to pop were just hanging out in 8-10' waiting on water temps to get any higher. Man that lake has so many suspect areas that looked good. I could have spent a full week fishing all day trying new areas


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They have always spawned deeper than most folks realize.

They dang sure ain't been where I worn them out the last couple of years. Could just be my bad luck to

Me either DonDon. A month ago, sure, but not now.

It also has a lot to do with light penetration. In kemper lake, which is gin clear, I regularly catch spawning males in 8-10 fow. In fact, it's the norm.

I agree with the clear water spawn Slater, I have a small lake I fish and the mature fish only spawn in 6' or more of water. You can wear the immature short fish out in shallow water, but never catch one over 8 inches. Matter of fact a few told me they don't bother with fishing it no more cause the crappie are so stunted, lol, no sir it's not true, but I try not to argue. More 1 1/2# to 2# crappie in that lake then you could count.

On the other topic of comparing this years to last or previous years I cannot comment on Barnett. Up here on the lakes i fish we had somewhat of a winter in 2015-2016 and really none at all this year. Looking over my logs the water temps are way higher than they was this time last year and we also had about 15' - 20' more water in the lakes.., so who knows. It's a totally different spring here this year than it was last year, that's for sure.

I am going to need an on site visit to uncle's lake to pass judgement on this problem of funky spring . lol :biggrin

Eagle 1, anytime you wanna go just PM!

It's full of Magnolia Crappie too. Bigguns. Real bigguns.