How to catch crappie in the pre-spawn period
Just before crappies begin to spawn, you can capture a large number of them without having to wait for their feeding frenzy as they prepare the next generation. You will need to be familiar with the habits of this species in order to accomplish this. Crappies will favor river outlets, creek mouths, and the proximity of huge coves, to name a few of their preferred habitats. Remember to purchase a sonar to assist you in locating fish.
The fish can be found at a variety of depths, depending on the current temperature. Using many rods during the pre-spawn season is a good strategy to employ during this time. Make sure not to tangle your lines, and remember that crappies are attracted to a variety of various colored tube jigs, which will entice them to reach for your bait. Place the jigs over the locations where your sonar picked up on the presence of the fish. As the fish grows more active, make sure to properly regulate the speed of the boat. Crappies get more active as the water temperature rises, and you should be able to keep up with their speed.
Things to take into consideration during the spawning period
You can go crappie fishing in a lake or a river, but if you want to be successful, you must first understand the habits of fish. Because the fish are more interested in feeding and less cautious than usual during the spawning period, it is a very fruitful time for anglers. Typically, spawning fish are found at depths of 3 to 7 feet, but if you are fishing in frigid mountain waters, you may be able to find them at depths of 12 to 14 feet.
Take into consideration that crappies will prefer to produce their young in regions that are protected from the elements. This implies that you’ll find them in and around brush piles, weedy areas, boat docks, and other structures that provide the fish with the cover that they require.
As the temperature rises, fish begin to experience the usual excitement of spawning, which causes them to swim closer to the surface, where they can be easily caught with a 10-12 foot rod. Shallow waters are favoured by spawning fish because they warm up more quickly and provide the most favorable conditions for this activity.
If you want to fish in shallow water, all you have to do is keep an eye out for the fish. Crappies will swim so near to the surface that it will be able to see their tails as they move about the water. Because vision is less than optimum in the early spring, this is a sign that can be used to your advantage. Moving slowly about will assist you in locating the fish, which you can then catch with the use of a long fishing rod. During the pre-spawn time, use the same tube jigs that you would for crappie fishing.
There are still chances to catch crappie during the post-spawn period
Crappies will continue on their journey towards drop-offs as the enthusiasm associated with the spawning phase fades away. Some of these locations might be as deep as 8 feet, while others can be significantly deeper, reaching depths of 25 feet. This time has the advantage of crappies being famished after using all of their energy on reproduction, which is a significant advantage. Shad schools are their favourite companions because they are a key source of food for crappies and are therefore favoured by them. Continue to employ jigs, but do not overlook the importance of minnows. If jigs fail, they are a good alternative.