Crappie spawning question

[Whitetail70]

Do specks spawn on the gravel (beds) or in the weeds?

[SPARTY8607]

Depends, can be both, most will go into a river channel or canal or bay and whatever is on the bottom is where they will spew their eggs.

[Westlakedrive]

The preffered area is timber and brushy cover along the shore.

[sirslurpee]

I'm just wondering too... will they come very shallow or do you need to be at least 2fow or what?

[SPARTY8607]

It depends, just cast out and work it back in and you will find out where they want to hit it. I fish canals and I always cast to shore from my boat and they usually hit it close to shore.

Chris

[NorthWoodzAngler]

It has always been my experience they tend to spawn in the heaviest cover they can find somewhat close to deep water. My general rule is start at the drop off and work closer to shore until I find them.

[Whitetail70]

It has always been my experience they tend to spawn in the heaviest cover they can find somewhat close to deep water. My general rule is start at the drop off and work closer to shore until I find them.Going this morning to do exactly that start at drop off and move on in. It's a small lake with no timber but tons of cabbage weed at/near the drop off. Thanks for all opinions, I'm not new at it just wanted to expand my knowledge of it all! Hey NorthWoodzAngler you and Fish Eater (I think) share the same avatar.

[mrlucky]

Are they spawning yet. Can't seem to find them in the shallows anywhere. Fished a little lake tonight, that i know hold a ton of crappies but they are no where. Fished around every log in the water with minnows and waxies.

[Whitetail70]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/529/medium/april_2007_009.jpg Went Sat morning to hit some specks but were nowhere to be found, the gills were though. Water temp was 53-54 degrees. 5yr old daughter caught on quick ripping poppers across the surface. The expression on her face was priceless each time a panfish chased her fly!

[tdduckman]

The crappies have been shallow now for two weeks

Look for dark bottom cannals and bays, the more sheltered the better


They are close to or in cover, weeds or down trees or docks are all holding them.



I have been catching a releasing them almost every day on lakes in the Irish hills. Every now and then I keep a few but I try and throw the big ones back.





http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/crappie_07.JPG

Most of these came on a fly rod with a black and olive wooly bugger


also a 1/16 once jig with tube body has been deadly as long as it is suspended only 10 inches below the bobber


Last Crappie Trick ----- they will swim up for a bait 3-4 feet but will not swim down

If you are fishing 2 or 3 foot down in less than 5 foot of water you are fishing too deep in the water coloumn.


TD

[Whitetail70]

tdduckman, nice fish! I too was in the Irish Hills area, the only problem I have on the lake is that there is no canals or fall downs.

[NorthWoodzAngler]

Going this morning to do exactly that start at drop off and move on in. It's a small lake with no timber but tons of cabbage weed at/near the drop off. Thanks for all opinions, I'm not new at it just wanted to expand my knowledge of it all! Hey NorthWoodzAngler you and Fish Eater (I think) share the same avatar.

Whitetail,

I limited out the last 3 days in a row, but none of my fish came very shallow. Fished drop-offs with good amounts of cover using 1/32 oz. tube jigs. I personally have not found many Crappies here in southwest Michigan spawning. The fish seem to be void of their spawning grounds yet. Water temps. ranged 54-58.

[NorthWoodzAngler]

The crappies have been shallow now for two weeks

Look for dark bottom cannals and bays, the more sheltered the better


They are close to or in cover, weeds or down trees or docks are all holding them.



I have been catching a releasing them almost every day on lakes in the Irish hills. Every now and then I keep a few but I try and throw the big ones back.






Most of these came on a fly rod with a black and olive wooly bugger


also a 1/16 once jig with tube body has been deadly as long as it is suspended only 10 inches below the bobber


Last Crappie Trick ----- they will swim up for a bait 3-4 feet but will not swim down

If you are fishing 2 or 3 foot down in less than 5 foot of water you are fishing too deep in the water coloumn.


TD

TD,

Great fish and way to go on releasing the big ones. Myself I always release them if they are over 13". Got to have those big ones in the lake to keep things balanced...

[Whitetail70]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/529/medium/april_2007_009.jpg Went Sat morning to hit some specks but were nowhere to be found, the gills were though. Water temp was 53-54 degrees. 5yr old daughter caught on quick ripping poppers across the surface. The expression on her face was priceless each time a panfish chased her fly!http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/529/ms_ceana_fly.jpgAccidently took the pic out of the gallery and had to repost the pic.

[NorthWoodzAngler]

Whitetail,

Looks like she had a great day!

Kory

[UncleTed]

Anyone know how the crappie are hittin on HL? Any other mid-michigan lakes?

[SPARTY8607]

I'll bet they are hitting very well, just get into the canals and let er rip.

[UncleTed]

I've used minnows before, but what other lures are effective for catching crappie?

[SPARTY8607]

1/32 to 1/64 oz hair jigs and plastic work well, so does crawlers on a bare hook if you are into them good. They will bite anything if they want it. I've caught them trolling #7 shad raps on Holloway Reservoir in July.

[UncleTed]

Do you use a bobber to keep the worm higher in the water column?

[Westlakedrive]

Use a bobber preferable smaller so you dont scare the fish when casting also road runners. Fish marabou jigs under the bobber not a worm you can tip it with a crappie nibble.

[UncleTed]

I went out saturday morning with some minnows and wax worms. Got into the channels where i saw guys catching em last weekend, but nothing produced. I used small bobbers with no.4-6 hooks and one rod with a teardrop. Any suggestions?

[Westlakedrive]

Not sure where you are located at but I have not really gotten into the crappies yet to good. Water temps 51-53.

[Whitetail70]

These 70 degree days coming up should do the trick!

[Rumajz]

how shallow do they go? Do they make beds like bluegills? or is crappie fishing during spawn different then gills? Just trying to get my kids on some fish besides bluegills. Thanks