Pre-Spawn crappies

[hydro]

Welcome to the new forum everyone! I wanted to post something in hopes of getting a discussion going. 

Outside the grass is green and the lilacs are starting to bloom, so the crappies will be staging for the spawn. Look for them in areas near the shallow mud bottom bays that they gather in after ice out, and close to the weedy bull rush areas where they will set up to make their nests. 

Let's see some reports of what you are finding out there!

[jstrommen13]

Found this beauty about a week and a half ago up in the pin reeds on Sylvia went just over 13 and a half caught a few others that were 12 inches and some pretty black ones but didn't get pics of them. Not to sure if they will still be there

[ozzie]

We have been finding them in the shallows from 1-5ft deep on the whitefish chain in Crosslake.  The males have been black for a couple weeks but the females are still holding tight on the eggs and many look like they aren't even carrying eggs even thought they are.  I will be back out this weekend to give it another go.

[jigginjim]

Found the same on many area lakes, males really black and staging close to the shallows. The weeds have really came up in the past two weeks. 

[Rick G]

Finding more of the darker colored crappies on my favorite lake as well. Key has been to work super close to pencil reeds or brush piles. Willow trees with branches hanging in the water can also hold spawning crappies at times. Please remember to release some of those larger crappies to fight again

[Juan Grande]

I like that she's cradling that slab crappie like a baby

[hydro]

A little update......Was out on Clearwater today and found no crappies in the shallows, and very few sunfish. Looks like we need some sunshine to bring them in shallow!

[Nix769]

Warmer temps on the way!