You’ll find the most crappie in shallow, warm-water bays just before the spawn. During the prespawn, crappie move into these places first searching for the correct water temperature to spawn. Look for shallow bays, beaver ponds or big shallow sloughs cut off from the main river.

Fish the areas where this water re-enters the main river or lake. Warmer than the main body of water and often loaded with nutrients that draw baitfish, this water attracts large numbers of fat, prespawn crappie. On water systems with de-watering areas for waterfowl, during the prespawn, the water from these duck ponds will drain back into the river or lake. * Identify “Waterfowl De-Watering” Areas. Here are recommendations from tournament fishermen across the nation.

You can catch some nice-sized crappie in the pre-spawn, if you know where to look for them. A large number of crappie will be moving to the north ends, more specifically the northwest ends of most lakes, since these sections of the lakes often heat-up first.” Kent Driscoll of Nolensville, Tenn., another national crappie-fishing pro, says in February, “The crappie are starting their spring migration, moving from deep water, up the creeks and near the spawning flats to prepare for the spawn. In February, the crappie often start moving to the north ends, most specifically the northwest ends of lakes, before the spawn, according to Kent Driscoll. What National Crappie Fishing Pros Know about the Spawn But the major factors seem to be water temperature and light penetration.” The clarity of the water, the water temperature and the conditions on various types of water all influence when crappie spawn. For instance, if crappie are spawning in 6 to 8 feet of water in a clear body of water, and a big rain event occurs, crappie may move up and spawn in 2 to 3 feet of water to remain on the edge of the light penetration down into the water. Another factor to consider about the crappie spawn is that crappie like to spawn right on the edge of light penetration into the water.

Nichols explains, “In some areas, the black crappie will spawn a few weeks earlier than the white crappie. Although several different factors determine when crappie spawn on any body of water, Nick Nichols, Chief of Fisheries for Alabama’s Department of Conservation, says that crappie, both black and white, traditionally spawn when the water temperature is in the high 50s or low 60s.

Fishing planet louisiana white crappie