Have the Crappie Spawned Yet?

It's hard for me to beleive that the crappie may not have spawned yet. Pete mentioned a few days ago that they were just starting to head to the banks at High Rock. Someone else mentioned that they were "still deep" at Badin. I know that for the last 10 years or so, I would not be fishing for spawning fish at this point as the dogwoods are done, the azalea's are mostly done, and the water temp has been in the mid to upper 60's for quite a while. I'm headed to Norman this weekend. Should I be fishing the shallows for spawning fish, or more of a post spawn pattern.

Thank you,
TW

The short answer is NO....at least not all.

There are several waves that spawn. The first wave always comes in when that water temp starts to hit the 60s and so on. and then more show up with each extended warm period. Cold nights like we have had will back them off!

One of the best ways to know for sure is having a good network. If guys that are die hard trollers are catching big females in 10-25ft of water still fat and full of eggs, then they havent quite made it in yet.
The last few trips, ive caught many males on the banks that havent showed much of their "tuxedo" (I know this after filleting them out). This tells me that they are fresh on the bank now, and looking for a place to make their beds. The females will follow days later.

Traditionally, Lake Norman is about a week or 2 behind the other lakes.

This year they are a bit behind schedule, oddly because we have actually had a "spring" for once!! I think next week will be the time to be on the water!

The water levels also affect what they do. High Rock has been up and down with some cold nights recently. That has moved some off. I'd say this weekend will be good but this rain tonight might mess them for a few days. I've caught spawning fish up close to memorial day before. It just depends on the weather, water levels and etc. Black crappie will go last.

I would've thought it had been over for several weeks now

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At Gaston water is 63. I have only caught 3 fish near the bank and it's certainly not for lack of trying. I saw a large school on a main lake brushpile the other day in 27 feet so I have no clue what the fish are doing. A friend told me a guy fished the banks on Roanoke Rapids lake yesterday and filled a cooler with crappie.

Fished High Rock Tues,Randallman Wed.Slow and steady at the Rock,Slower at Randallman.Seems the ones we caught that had spawned were the smaller fish,Bigger fish still holding eggs,the 1lb.+ fish.Water temps, have been crazy this yr. with the cold fronts rolling in twice a week.

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Originally Posted by Tarheelwx

It's hard for me to beleive that the crappie may not have spawned yet. Pete mentioned a few days ago that they were just starting to head to the banks at High Rock. Someone else mentioned that they were "still deep" at Badin. I know that for the last 10 years or so, I would not be fishing for spawning fish at this point as the dogwoods are done, the azalea's are mostly done, and the water temp has been in the mid to upper 60's for quite a while. I'm headed to Norman this weekend. Should I be fishing the shallows for spawning fish, or more of a post spawn pattern.

Thank you,
TW

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Caught some quality fish Tue. On the Rock. All in about 14 ft of water. Females still full of eggs.


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Originally Posted by LoweBro

Caught some quality fish Tue. On the Rock. All in about 14 ft of water. Females still full of eggs.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by pete

The short answer is NO....at least not all.

There are several waves that spawn. The first wave always comes in when that water temp starts to hit the 60s and so on. and then more show up with each extended warm period. Cold nights like we have had will back them off!

One of the best ways to know for sure is having a good network. If guys that are die hard trollers are catching big females in 10-25ft of water still fat and full of eggs, then they havent quite made it in yet.
The last few trips, ive caught many males on the banks that havent showed much of their "tuxedo" (I know this after filleting them out). This tells me that they are fresh on the bank now, and looking for a place to make their beds. The females will follow days later.

Traditionally, Lake Norman is about a week or 2 behind the other lakes.

This year they are a bit behind schedule, oddly because we have actually had a "spring" for once!! I think next week will be the time to be on the water!

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It's wierd. At Falls it seems to be over, however, OK? HOWEVER! I hear that Hi Rock is still on fire especially BIG fish. It's interesting since High Rock is South of Falls. You'd think it would be the other way around!

Thanks for all the input. I'm guessing Falls is a shallower lake leading to warmer water, and therefore the crappie may spawn out a bit quicker. I"m headed for Norman for the weekend and I never would have given a thought to hitting the banks in May. I guess I'll at least give it a try and report back.

TW

I fished Norman Friday night, Saturday afternoon, and Saturday night. I caught 0 crappie in shallow water. Every crappie I caught was 14' or deeper. Biggest was 15" Saturday afternoon on a minnow 14' deep in 18 fow. Then Saturday night, I caught about a dozen with half of them 11-14.5". Basically those at night were on the bottom in 18 fow and on a chartreuse jig.

Sunday was a madhouse at Norman. Unfortunately, there was a drowning - one boat driver, three guys on a tube - one or maybe all 3 of the tubers fall off and one 41 yr old never resurfaces. No pfd on the guy that drowned. I thought you were required to have at least 2 people in the boat, one to drive and one to spot, if pulling someone behind the boat. Is that still the case?

TW

TW

Yes the rule is 3 to ski. That is a guideline I believe not the law, could be wrong. I went Monday night caught 5 long lining in MC. The jetski's and wakeboard boats in full force. Might have to switch to night fishing!

^ Unless you have a mirror.

The spawn here on Badin has been very odd this year. With the cold fronts and rain, just as soon as you think they are going to make a push, they fall back in deeper water. We've caught some very good ones deep throughout March and the first half of April, but I have yet to find them shallow. And I know which docks they prefer. I know there have been a couple of days when they could be found shallow based on reports from others, but we have yet to hit it on one of those days.

I usually catch the majority of my crappie on docks last week of March or April. I have caught 3 (!?) total crappie on docks at Badin this year. Caught more on HR. Most fish have been 15-30' deep.

I'm glad to see other people are struggling and it's not just me. The temps for the next 7 days are below normal so that won't help much. The deep crappie I have seen are very skittish. If you park a boat over them they are gone immediately. I'll be glad when the weather calms done and the crappie will allow you to catch them literally right under the boat.

Greetings Crappie Hunters!!
So glad to finally see some of the parks are opening and the lakes so I can get out on the water!! Just need to be on piers now or on a boat. Need to get me one of them, even if its a small one. I need to get out on the water and catch some fish!! This crap virus has had quite a few peeps ready to go out on a building with a sniper rifle if we don't open our states up!! I'm ready to camp out all week on the water!!:pray