| Yes that is Crappie Spring. If you time it | | | | materials provide a food source for the new |
| right you'll think you have a bunch of | | | | crappie that are coming in the spring, not |
| crappie jumping on a spring just to get out | | | | because of the plant material but the other |
| of the water. In the middle of the United | | | | life that feeds on it. |
| States this time occurs in early to mid May. | | | | |
| Spring crappie fishing is a lot about timing | | | | Just a few words of caution when building |
| but consider other items such as bait fish, | | | | crappie beds like this, some areas consider |
| other food, water temperature, type of | | | | this illegal. Also be sure that there is no |
| crappie and shelter among other things. | | | | decoration left on it as it might cause harm |
| | | | to the habitat and possibly the crappie. In |
| Let me start with the first and that is | | | | one area we would sink trees and bales of hay |
| timing in the spring, do not wait for a | | | | with concrete blocks that we would mark with |
| specific time. In the spring the fish are | | | | empty jugs tied to the concrete. After many |
| starting to get active and are really | | | | months we would raise the concrete blocks and |
| thinking about spawning. Spawning really | | | | slowly drag the sunken and water logged brush |
| occurs when the water temperatures reach | | | | to a desired area. We would mark this area |
| about 63 degrees Fahrenheit. This | | | | on a map or in some areas we put markers on |
| temperature will vary slightly depending on | | | | the shore that with some skillful compass |
| the area and species but look for waters | | | | work you could find the perfect spot. |
| approaching that temperature at a depth of | | | | Spawning is so important that we base our |
| three to 12 feet. | | | | crappie season and bed structure around it |
| | | | but be sure to check with your local laws |
| As I have preached time and time again look | | | | before attempting any of these suggestions. |
| for vegetation and sunken brush. This | | | | |
| provides shelter and food for crappie. The | | | | While we are talking about spawning let us |
| loose soil and brushy areas provide shelter. | | | | talk about shelter as well. Crappies like to |
| Do not ever forget this as it is what the | | | | spawn in areas where there is structure. |
| crappie world revolves around. We have found | | | | This provides shelter from many predators as |
| that Christmas trees work really well when | | | | well as from currents. But not all predators |
| sunk in about six to nine feet of water. We | | | | are excluded from the shelter so keep this in |
| have used cinder blocks or other various | | | | mind for a later point. Also look for loose |
| blocks of concrete to weigh them down. Sink | | | | gravel and muddy lake or river bottoms as the |
| these in the fall and look for some minor | | | | crappie will make a nest in these areas well |
| activity the next spring but the one after | | | | if the currents and depth are right. |
| that will be even better. The rotting | | | | |