| The crappie a few years ago was a relatively | | | | quite often done near vegetation such as bull |
| unknown fish. In this article I hope to make it a | | | | rushes. The females will then lay their eggs and |
| little clearer on what a crappie is and why its | | | | then disappear. The males always stick around to |
| popularity has gotten so big in the last few years. | | | | guard the nest and the young until they are big |
| In the last few years the sport of crappie fishing | | | | enough to go on their own. |
| has taken off beyond most anglers beliefs. You | | | | Crappies tend to feed on plankton suspended in |
| see crappies on the front of fishing and outdoor | | | | open water. They also eat small fish and a variety |
| magazines. And in the last few years the crappie | | | | of different insects. This would be a reason they |
| tournaments have popped up all over the place | | | | are always on the move. |
| with huge prize amounts. | | | | The crappie population tends to go in certain |
| Most anglers tend to focus on spawning time | | | | cycles. The fish will be very abundant for years |
| when it comes to crappies. The reason for this is | | | | and then all of a sudden it will seem like the fish |
| because the fish are so hard to find any other | | | | have totally disappeared. Nobody really knows |
| time of the year. They rarely stay in one place at | | | | why this happens but they do know that when |
| a time for more than a day or so. However when | | | | the fishing gets tough its time to stop fishing |
| you do find them they tend to be a very easy | | | | crappie for that season. |
| fish to catch | | | | In the north black crappies are more abundant |
| Right after ice out the crappies start to move | | | | and in the south it's the white crappies. They will |
| into the shallow bays. Most guys think this is for | | | | overlap in different areas. The crappie is also one |
| spawning but actually they are moving in to feed | | | | of the prettiest fresh water fish in our lakes. |
| on bait fish. The bait fish are brought there by the | | | | In articles to come I will attempt to help you get |
| warming waters. The spawning doesn't actually | | | | to know the crappie better by giving you tips on |
| start until the water reaches about 65 degrees. | | | | where to find them and how to easier catch |
| The male makes a nest by cleaning off the | | | | them. |
| bottom on sand or gravel bottom. This is also | | | | |