Laker, I think the beat up tails and dark spots on the males is what has him believing they are in spawn mode.
Hatter, Have you seen any beds in the shallows with crappie on or around them ? I have no explanation for the vividly colored males with bloody tails, but there is no Fall spawn to my knowledge. Even if they did the hatchlings would probably not find sufficient forage during the winter. I have never witnessed a school of fry in the Fall/Winter, anywhere.
You've misunderstood. It isn't a specific length of daylight hours that trigger spawning activity, it is the LENGTHENING hours of sunlight, and WARMING and STABILIZING water temps.
Night time water temperatures drop drastically in the Fall at depths where there is sufficient sunlight penetration. Crappie don't do it, Bluegill don't do it, snakes, frogs, crawfish and turtles don't do it.