??? for D10 on gray crappie eggs

I lucked out and got a limit of 30 crappie last Friday. When I cleaned the fish, 26 were females all which had eggs. However, some of the eggs - maybe half the females- seemed underdeveloped and almost gray in color. I talked to a buddy that said he had seen the same thing. Water temp is upper 60's. Some say they are re-absorbing their eggs. Are these fish not going to spawn? Seemed that the bigger the fish, the grayer the eggs and the more underdeveloped. Why would this happen if that is the case?

Opinions appreciated.

It sounds like they are reabsorbing the eggs. When optimal conditions for spawning are not present when the eggs are ripe, some species of fish, such as bass and crappie reabsorb the eggs and put that energy into growth rather than going through the motions and wasting the eggs (energy). Often this happens during springs like this year when temperatures have been up and down a lot. I was working on two lakes yesterday in central Arkansas and the water temps were 80 degrees. It went from 65 to 80 in a blink of an eye. This means that there will be below average crappie spawns around the state this year. But don’t worry, this is a good thing. Crappie fisheries need below average spawning years to increase growth rates of the crappie that are already in the lake. Thanks for the question.


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Great info!

See you just proved that this is educational not an addiction like everybody keeps telling me

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Originally Posted by D10

It sounds like they are reabsorbing the eggs. When optimal conditions for spawning are not present when the eggs are ripe, some species of fish, such as bass and crappie reabsorb the eggs and put that energy into growth rather than going through the motions and wasting the eggs (energy). Often this happens during springs like this year when temperatures have been up and down a lot. I was working on two lakes yesterday in central Arkansas and the water temps were 80 degrees. It went from 65 to 80 in a blink of an eye. This means that there will be below average crappie spawns around the state this year. But don’t worry, this is a good thing. Crappie fisheries need below average spawning years to increase growth rates of the crappie that are already in the lake. Thanks for the question.


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So how do the top Crappie lakes in the country grow bigger Crappie with the larger than normal minimal length regulations with this theory? It seems as if they would over populate.

Thanks D10. I'm afraid we are having a very minimal spawn on Dardanelle this year based on what the eggs look like that I am seeing.

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Originally Posted by Hammmerhead

So how do the top Crappie lakes in the country grow bigger Crappie with the larger than normal minimal length regulations with this theory? It seems as if they would over populate.

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That’s what most don’t understand. The reason why the Mississippi flood control reservoirs (Big 4) grow such large crappie with higher than normal length limits is because they are in productive water (lots of forage) and recruitment is low (below average spawns most years) due to annual drawdowns. Several years ago I was asking the same question as you. So I talked with the biologist in Mississippi who manages these lakes and he told me about the poor recruitment.


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Originally Posted by Lawnmowerman43

See you just proved that this is educational not an addiction like everybody keeps telling me

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Does this mean that I get to classify time spent on the forum as work time? ;)


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Originally Posted by D10

Does this mean that I get to classify time spent on the forum as work time? ;)


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Yes sir just clock your time to outreach education

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Originally Posted by D10

That’s what most don’t understand. The reason why the Mississippi flood control reservoirs (Big 4) grow such large crappie with higher than normal length limits is because they are in productive water (lots of forage) and recruitment is low (below average spawns most years) due to annual drawdowns. Several years ago I was asking the same question as you. So I talked with the biologist in Mississippi who manages these lakes and he told me about the poor recruitment.


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Thank you for the explanation.

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Originally Posted by Lawnmowerman43

Yes sir just clock your time to outreach education

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Done!


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Originally Posted by Hammmerhead

Thank you for the explanation.

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You are welcome!


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They have spawned just not completely empty and reabsorbing the remains .

Do crappie dump eggs multiple times during a spawning season or does it happen all at once, Just a good question for our D10 to answer from a scientific standpoint.......

A female crappie with attempt to spawn with multiple males over a several day period. This is a reproductive strategy that a lot of fresh water fish utilize to increase the chances of their offspring having good genes.


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Originally Posted by D10

A female crappie with attempt to spawn with multiple males over a several day period. This is a reproductive strategy that a lot of fresh water fish utilize to increase the chances of their offspring having good genes.


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I dated many of crappie ladies in 90's

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Originally Posted by Lawnmowerman43

I dated many of crappie ladies in 90's

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That sounds a little fishy to me.

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Originally Posted by Lawnmowerman43

I dated many of crappie ladies in 90's

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Those crappie ladies also dated lots of crappie dudes

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Originally Posted by Lawnmowerman43

I dated many of crappie ladies in 90's

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I kind of was expecting a comment like that! :)


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Originally Posted by D10

I kind of was expecting a comment like that! :)


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I really had to think hard to keep PG 13

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Originally Posted by Lawnmowerman43

I really had to think hard to keep PG 13

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Thanks for that

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Originally Posted by goblerblaster

Thanks D10. I'm afraid we are having a very minimal spawn on Dardanelle this year based on what the eggs look like that I am seeing.

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I agree. I’ve caught over 100 crappie in the last week on Dardanelle and 98% of the females had eggs.


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Originally Posted by CMelder

I agree. I’ve caught over 100 crappie in the last week on Dardanelle and 98% of the females had eggs.


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Some still have some a few eggs but bulk of eggs already laid , rest left are being absorbed . They seem to have had a good spawn . They were busting at the seams with eggs and now just have what's left . They were spawning over a week ago . Saw them dumping eggs as they were swung into the boats . Gobblerblaster does not understand egg sacks never completely empty .

I am sure I don't understand. That's why I'm asking the ????. I know when they have 2 egg sacks are as big as my thumb that makes me think they have'nt got rid of them. But, Like I say,,, I am no crappie spawning expert. I'll just try to catch my limit of 8 or 10 a day whether they have spawned or not, May be time for a road trip to western Yell county this weekend !!

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Originally Posted by D10

A female crappie with attempt to spawn with multiple males over a several day period. This is a reproductive strategy that a lot of fresh water fish utilize to increase the chances of their offspring having good genes.


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Trollops...

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Good to know!!


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D10 do they absorb their eggs if the water temp gets above the preferred water temp like in the mid 70's like it did this year in a short time in some areas. Guess the question is what is a maximum water temp they will spawn in

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Originally Posted by TimY

D10 do they absorb their eggs if the water temp gets above the preferred water temp like in the mid 70's like it did this year in a short time in some areas. Guess the question is what is a maximum water temp they will spawn in

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Yes, once the water temp is consistently above 70 degrees (literature says 68) they are done spawning and will absorb their eggs. I have been seeing surface temps around 80 this week on some of my central Arkansas lakes. One thing to remember is that most sonar transducers are just measuring the surface temperature. Water temps a few feet lower can be several degrees cooler.


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Thank you sir

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Originally Posted by D10

Yes, once the water temp is consistently above 70 degrees (literature says 68) they are done spawning and will absorb their eggs. I have been seeing surface temps around 80 this week on some of my central Arkansas lakes. One thing to remember is that most sonar transducers are just measuring the surface temperature. Water temps a few feet lower can be several degrees cooler.


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Crappie don't just spawn in a couple feet of water or less . I have pulled slabs from 12' of water on brush piles spewing eggs on my boat . They will find the right temp water . :twocents

Thanks for reaffirming the point I was making.


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The lake we fish most has several water level fluctuations every spring. It could rise or fall several feet in a few days depending on inflow or release. Crappie tend to spawn from 3 to 10 ft deep in the lake because of water level changes. Reason I asked about the water temp was the shallow water coves were unproductive this year. With the 90 deg temperatures, the surface temp went from the high 50's to the mid 70's in a short period of time. The maximum spawning temp of 68 deg would explain why the shallow bays / coves were unproductive this year that are normally great spawning areas with the perfect lake conditions we finally had this year after several bad years