Crappie Fish Where Do They Spawn

by Mark Fleagle

oldfishinghole.com

Crappie Fish The crappie is primarily a nomadic species of fish and locations that were hot spots one year may not be the next. In the heat of the summer it’s damb near impossible to predict the crappie fish’s locations. That’s why most crappie fishing is done in the spring when they are predictable.


In the spring crappies move into the shallows to get ready for the spawning season. In early spring they migrate to the shallows to feed aggressively to build up their strength from the winter. They also need to fatten up to get ready to spawn.

Crappie spawn map

The one time of year that the crappie fish is predicable is spring time. Crappies will normally go back each year to the same spawning area they were the previous year, unless the habitat has been destroyed.


You would think crappie fishing would not be that popular throughout the rest of the year but that’s just not true. Even though these fish are very nomadic the rest of the year you can catch fish. Crappie are a schooling fish so if you find there location the chances are you will catch crappie.


In recent year the popularity of crappie fishing has absolutely exploded!. Much of the explosion is do to the abundance of the tasty game fish. Many states have adopted quality restock programs throughout the United States, Southern Canada, Also The crappie fish’s habitat has been expanded to states were crappies were not native before and these populations have exploded. The crappie fish is a very adaptable game fish.


There are two types of crappie fish and they are the black crappie and the white crappie. Both these species of crappie are many times frequent the same habitat but typical the white crappie prefer muddy stained water, while the black crappie prefers cooler and clearer waters.


Black crappie have higher populations in the north while the white crappie has higher populations in the south. Both species of the crappie fish prefer habitat waters that range from 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit . Both species can survive in temperatures that reach into the high 80’s.


Crappie Fish Identification: (black crappie and white crappie picture here)Although the black crappie and the white crappie look very similar there are some distinct differences you can use for proper identification. The black crappie have 7 to 8 spines on the dorsal fin and a deeper body then the white crappie. Both the whites and the blacks have silvery greenish sides and that’s probably why they have been given the nick name “specks” throughout the years.


The White crappies have 5 or 6 spines on the dorsal fin and there forehead a has a deeper “dip like depression” larger then the black crappie’s. The white crappie still has specks but they tend to form in vertical bars along both sides of the white crappies sides.

Crappie Fishing Rigging

Crappie live bait :Learn Crappie Minnow Rigging Secrets Here!

It is very important to offer your crappie live bait presentation in just the right way so as to make the crappie get excited about hitting minnow bait presentation. It is also just as important to hook your crappie minnow correctly. The Minnow needs to be hooked so it swims freely while attached to the hook. Remember, you are trying to imitate a wounded minnow so a crappie will think it is an easy meal. I want to address an excellent method of making a crappie minnow rig that is very successful. I also would like to introduce you to a little used crappie jigging technique that is rarely used these days.

Crappie rigging diagram

Making A Three Way Swivel Dual Crappie Minnow Rig

If you are not into making your own tackle, or just dont have the time, these setups can be purchased pre-made at most bait shops, or online at Bass Pro shop or Cabellas.

Step#1 You will need to have some 8-20lb fire line. For comparison, the dia. of the 20lb test is the same as 6lb mono-filament line.

Step#2 Get yourself some 3 way swivels. The three way swivel allows the crappie minnow to swim freely in a 360deg motion.

Step#3 Get some 1/4oz egg or as they are commonly called bass sinkers.

Commercial Fisherman Jobs

Are you a true fisherman and looking for a job of your life? Commercial Fishing Jobs are for you!

If you want to work in the fishing industry , this article may help you in your fishing employment. There are great paying Commercial Fisherman Jobs waiting for you in commercial fishing industry :

 Working aboard commercial fishing vessel (salmon, tuna or halibut fishing boats or crab fishing vessels) as a Fisher (Fishers usually acquire their occupational skills on the job. There are no formal academic training requirements.)
  The fishing boat captain (you need skills and experience)
The captain ensures that the fishing vessel is seaworthy; oversees the purchase of supplies, gear, and equipment, such as fuel, netting, and cables; obtains the required fishing permits and licenses; and hires qualified crew members and assigns their duties. The captain plots the vessel's course using compasses, charts, and electronic navigational equipment, such as loran systems or GPS navigation systems. Captains also use radar and sonar to avoid obstacles above and below the water and to detect fish. Sophisticated tracking technology allows captains to better locate schools of fish. The captain directs the fishing operation through subordinate officers' and records daily activities in the ship's log. In port, the captain sells the catch to wholesalers, food processors, or through a fish auction and ensures that each crew member receives the prearranged portion of the proceeds. Captains increasingly use the Internet to bypass processors and sell fish directly to consumers, grocery stores, and restaurants often even before they return to port.
 The first mate (captain's assistant ) Must be familiar with navigation requirements and the operation of all electronic equipment.
 The boatswain. Highly experienced deckhand with supervisory responsibilities, directs the deckhands as they carry out the sailing and fishing operations. Before departure, the deckhands load equipment and supplies. When necessary, boatswains repair fishing gear, equipment, nets, and accessories. They operate the fishing gear, letting out and pulling in nets and lines, and extract the catch, such as cod, flounder, and tuna, from the nets or the lines' hooks. Deckhands use dip nets to prevent the escape of small fish and gaffs to facilitate the landing of large fish. They then wash, salt, ice, and stow away the catch. Deckhands also must ensure that decks are clear and clean at all times and that the vessel's engines and equipment are kept in good working order
...and lot's of more.

Earnings & Wages for commercial fishing jobs are :
Salmon fishermen can earn up to $10,000 to $20,000 in three months
Cannery & processor workers can earn up to $5,000 per month
Deck hands can earn up to $10,000 per month fishing for cod, halibut, and pollock
Crab fishermen can earn up to $15,000 per month

You should know that these job opportunities you are looking for,  may bring you income from $2,000 to $3,000 per month, up to $10,000 - $20,000 or more monthly, but you will work under various environmental conditions, depending on the region, body of water, and the kind of species sought . And that can be dangerous!

How to catch crappie

Want to know How to fish for crappie? Short manual for beginners.

Well it's easy enough to catch crappie, even for beginners. Before you catch your first crappie,  you need to know some facts about them. Crappies are found practically in all lakes in USA and Canada. They like warm water and are normally found in all types of cover. They are 5-12 inches fully grown, but in some places they can reach up to 18''. Big crappies are referred to as a "Slabs". Good fishes are 1\2 to 1.2 pound weight in some lakes, but biggest ones are up to 6 pounds!
There are two sub-species to the common crappie. The black crappie, which gets its name from its slightly darker appearance, and the white crappie. The black crappie is usually white or gray with dark gray or black spots covering most of its sides. It has 7-8 dorsal spines on the top of its back. The white crappie tends to be lighter in color and often has distinct vertical bars of gray extending down its sides. It has 5-6 dorsal spines. Both of the sub-species have nearly the same feeding patterns and spawning time. The black crappie tends to prefer clearer water than the white crappie does. Its diet, as an adult, also tends to be less dominated by other fish than that of the white crappie. The black crappie's range is uncertain, since it has been widely transplanted, but it is presumed to be similar to the white crappie's. As of 2005, populations existed in all of the lower 48 states.

Crappie are versatile feeders, eating most types of insects, worms, and small crayfish and minnows. This variety of forage makes choosing baits for crappie fairly simple. Just about every angler has one bait that he or she swears will outfish any other. This is because that person probably uses that particular bait much more than any other. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however, because having confidence in your bait is almost as important as having a bait at all. As a rule of thumb, if the fish are eating it, keep using it. When the fish seem to stop eating it, don't keep using it.
The easiest time for catching crappies is April-July.

If you are going to fish for crappie, you should remember several things.

Little things sometimes make big differences
Crappie hang out around piers, brush piles, logs, and underwater drops and channels.  Most of the time, you will find them suspended, so don’t fish on bottom as a general rule.
Use Lightweight line.
Fish in 3 feet to 18 feet of water.
Locate underwater shelters such as man-made submerged objects or brush piles. Because crappies like such places
Create lots of movement to attract crappie. When the fish seem to stop eating it, don't keep using it. If the fish aren't biting, you can try three things:Try a different presentation, Try a different color lure,Change baits completely.
Pull steady when the fish bites.
Bring it to shore or boat by reeling steadily.
Boat docks usually attract crappies
In winter months, crappie like brush piles in deeper water.
The lighter weight you use, the better.
When jig fishing, drop your jig by a stump or pier, and let settle to the bottom
Probably the best jig color is anything with chartreuse in it. Start with that, and then experiment with other colors.  If the water is muddy or heavily stained, go with the bright fluorescent colors.  If it is clear and a bright sunny day, the more flashy silver hues may work best.  Cloudy days may call for dark colors.  Just experiment and be patient.
Get a lightweight rod or cane pole.

What about baits? You should try different, and find a best for you and crappies. That's fishing.
Start with Maribou Jigs,Curly-tail Grubs, try different spinners. You can also use live baits such as worms or minnows or wax moth. They work well. Try to experiment, and you'll catch your crappie for sure.

Related articles:  

•  Crappie Fishing Rigging               

• Early Spring Crappie Fishing Tips   

This video will be usefull for begginers, who want to fish for crappies .

Practice "catch and release" on the bigger crappies for continued bountiful fishing.
I hope this brief info explained a little how to fish for crappie.

Navigators we use. Furuno 1650.

Navigators on the lookout for the latest in multifunction displays need to look at the Furuno MU series. These units offer high-definition screens in 15 and 19 inch sizes and provide a wide range of interfacing options. Naturally they can play nice with black-box fish finders, radar and automatic Identification System features, but Feruno also equipped the MUs to handle entertainment and monitoring systems. You'll find inputs for RGB DVI and NTSC\PAL, givind you the oppurtunity to watch everything from water world to underwater fish cams, right at the helm.
The MU series uses backlit color LCD for screens, and both models feature built-in scaling. The MU190HD has a SXGA screen with 1290 by 1024 pixels, and the MU150HD has an XGA screen with 1024 by 768 pixels. Each unit also has the ability to display a customizable picture-in-picture, so you won't miss one moment of the big game, even as you keep an eye on thet baitball 50 feet below the surface. But the price for these new devices is too high for me . It is about $6,400 for the MU150HD and $7,400 for MU190HD

So nowdays I still use Furuno 1650. It is compact, waterproof and durable. I use it for about 7 years and it still works good for me.