Spawners At The Big Pond

[laker67]

All this past week I did a daily check for any spawning activity. Nothing up to and including sunday evening. Come monday morning it was like they just moved in overnight. Dug out the long rod and caught 30 good keepers in about 5 hours. Kept a limit for the fryer and released a limit. My seawall is only about 125 foot long, and I am catching them in 3 feet of murky water. Windy wet and cold yesterday, but I caught and released 22 more. Monday was mostly males, and tuesday a few females in the mix. I would say by the end of today it will be over with in my area. Headed out shortly to see if the big girls have moved in. Catching them on a white maribou jig, one sixty fourth ounce, 20 inches under an indicator, in 3 feet of water. Seems to be the magic number with the murky water.

[Old plug]

It is about the same at my house. I have this belief that the length of days has about as much effect on the bite as water temperature does. The water is to cold for successful spawn at this moment but it is not suppose to be according to the length of day that I believe is their time clock. It is like they are chomping at the bit. It will not take but but a bit of warmth to set them off big time. That is coming real quick.

[laker67]

Lilacs and dogwood are late this year, but it is time for the crappie. Like you say, it could be the length of day as opposed to water temp. I think it is around 58 in the little pocket of water that I am fishing. Some of the females were dropping eggs as i took them out of the water. I have seen that occur in trout several times, but this is a first for crappie.

[laker67]

After just posting about the lilacs being late, I look out the back window and see purple on the bushes.

[crittermo]

thanks for the valuable info laker67, please keep us posted as the week goes on, i'm coming down this

weekend to turkey hunt but i would love have a mess of crappie to go with a turkey leg.

[BHowe]

My buddy went out yesterday evening and caught a limit in about 1.5 hours. That was around the 30mm or so. He said they were biting up on the banks even in the rain. I just talked to him today and he and another friend caught there limits again today. So, I'm thinking this weekend should really be some good fishing. I think go sit on the boat dock after work and see what's happening and give you a report tomorrow

[laker67]

Fished the same 100 feet of seawall again today. They must have done their thing and gone. Caught 8 stragglers from 8:30 to 2:30. I am reasonably sure that no one fished my wall after 3:00 yesterday, and for sure not before I did this morning. I left them biting last night after releasing 22 for the day. I caught maybe 30 fish today, all between 7 and 8 inches with the exception of the 8 keeper males. Had one bonus fish early that I was hoping to be a nice walleye. It fought like a walleye and the murky water kept me from seeing it until I slid the net under it. It was a dang ole drum about 7 lbs. Good fight but no walleye fillet tonight. Don't know what's up with all those little fish, I have never seen them stack on the bank before. Good luck to all.

[Old plug]

I noticed a drop off also in the fishing. But the color was brighter than the day before. I imagine a couple warm days and everything will break loose. I will take my granddaughter up to Kingdom city to be picked up by her father in the morning then do some shopping in Jeff city. Hope to be back in time to get into the evening rush that I suspect might happen if we get a warm day. next week is bass fishing for me on the channel banks.

[BHowe]

Well, my son and I fished off the dock yesterday evening and caught 4 nice ones right away and then it just quite. However, the ones we caught were all females and still full of eggs. I didn't clean them to see how bloody the eggs were, but I reckon as mentioned before a few warm days and sunshine they will hit the banks pretty hard

[Old plug]

It depends on where you are on the lake. I have been catching mostly males but they are pretty large blacks. I cleaned fish last week that were donated from the Crappiethon tournament. Most came. From above the 40 mile marker and they were realy jammed full of ripe eggs. I caught 6 last evening and I expect we're going to have some hot crappie fishing this next week. My crappie are all in pretty bright spawning colors. I suppose crappie get horny too. Just a bit more warm water it all it is going to take.