Systems For New Water

Bullock tries to keep a pulse on these cycles, to hit the highs and miss the lows on various bodies of water. In some, crappie cycles are based on region-wide water levels, droughts, and excessive hot spells, so waters in the region follow a similar pattern. But other lakes feature cycles based on their own biological food webs that end at their shores.

“Maintain contact with top anglers around the lakes,” he advises. “Some will be able to predict upcoming cycles and help you pick a good time to visit. I usually don’t hire guides, but often they give me some excellent background information even without booking a trip. Of course, they may hope that you will end up hiring them or recommending their services.

“Most state fishery agencies run Master Angler programs like In-Fisherman’s, giving awards for trophy-size fish. These lists are a great source of information on top trophy waters for all species of fish, but particularly valuable for panfish that vary so much in size potential from one lake to another.”

Timing

“Pretrip planning always pays off, “Bullock says. “I call several marinas around the lake and talk to bait-shop operators. They like to talk about hot lures and recommend various guides, but what I’m really trying to find out is when the spawn typically occurs. To catch the biggest crappies in a lake, I recommend fishing during the early phases of the actual spawn, when a few fish have started nesting. Like bass, the biggest crappies often nest first.

“At this time, the biggest crappies are shallow and typically easier to locate, usually holding in thick cover such as brushpiles, stumpfields, and thick beds of emergent grasses. You can trust that your well-honed crappie instincts will lead you to the fish.

“Of course, the timing of the spawn can vary from year to year, based on weather and water levels. I strongly advise planning a trip on the early side of the spawn because the prespawn also is an excellent time to find and catch big crappies. Better to be too early than late.”

According to biological studies, extended water temperatures of at least 60°F draw crappies into spawning areas. Peak spawning activity for both black and white crappies occurs around 70°F. Crappie spawning in Florida may begin as early as February, while in the northern edge of their range, early June is typical.

The farther south the location, the longer the duration of the spawn—up to ten weeks in central Florida. In Minnesota, beds may be built and abandoned in less than 10 days. Keep that in mind when planning a trip to target spawntime slabs.