Crappie Fishing 5-5

[blacknoseddace]

Common guys tell him the truth.

Ranger Dave - I use 2 things. An hourglass figure and the eyes. If they give you a squinty "I'll kill ya if you go fishing again!!" That's a female.

darn your eyes or something like that. Lol!

[slab slinger]

Males take on a black coloration gills,chest,and belly During the spawn. Dont know for sure but i think it's from guarding nests in shallow water. But i have also caught crappie in a foot of water in summer and don't have the black coloration. Females usually remain same color all year. They they lay and return to deeper water. Don't know how to tell a 10" spawned out male from a female.

I know for a fact that the clearer the water the deeper the spawn. Most that don't know that think the spawns over and they are just fishing to shallow. I have seen nests in 8fow to 10fow on BS arm with males in them, when lakes clear. The best thing i can tell you is is you arnt doing well move out deeper and SLOW DOWN!!! Thats the best rule this time of year slowing down. The fish are everywhere doing everything. You'll find fish spawning shallow, fish staging to spawn, post spawn fish suspended in open water, post spawn fish in pole timber, and fish in brush piles. Just try several depths locations and presentations till you find them.

[slab slinger]

The lakes already plenty warm for them to spawn. Thw rain won't hurt unless it's a toad choker then it will. Might be a different story on far upper ends of lake in the dirtier water. I switch to mid lake this time of yr but thats just what works for me. All i mentioned is toward mid lake fish.

[Sac River Jim]

the males take on the dark coloration to attract the females to their nest is what i was taught. black and whites species of crappie have a different pattern and a couple of fishing addict's crappie look like black females.

[ten_scoach]

Put in at cedar ridge today. Finder read 58 all morning.

[crappie-hunter]

Will this amount of rain turn the crappie off? I had planned on driving up and fishing out of CC with the kids this evening, but don't want to drag them up there if the fish are gone be tight lipped.