If you happen to live in Texas and you are fond of fishing, then you might want to wait until it’s crappie season. That’s because crappie season is when this type of fish is much more common and much easier to catch. But you have to have an idea of when do crappie spawn in Texas so that you can estimate when it’s best for you to go fishing for them.
What are crappies?
The crappie is a type of freshwater fish that is much more common in North America than in any world. These fish are very popular for fishermen regardless of whether they may be anglers or commercial fishermen. And the reason is that crappies are some of the more favored pan fishes in America.
So, are crappie good to eat? Well, they wouldn’t be as popular as they are if they didn’t taste good, right? Crappies are regarded as one of the top freshwater fish in terms of taste. They are also very popular pan fishes because they taste better when cooked directly in a pan. (Read Best Portable Fish Finder)
But that’s not all that is behind the popularity of these fishies.
Crappies are also popular among different types of fishermen because they can be caught in many ways. This type of fish has a diverse diet, and they predominantly eat on smaller fish. Other than that, the crappie also eats zooplankton, insects, and crustaceans.
The crappie’s diverse diet makes it so easy for fishermen to catch, especially in season.
These predatory eaters will eat almost anything small enough to fit their mouths. You can use almost any kind of bait for crappie because they pretty much eat anything. This can include artificial lures that mimic fish, bobbers, spinnerbaits, and light jigs. Baiting for crappie is easy, and it doesn’t take an expert to know what they like.
You can find the crappie in a lot of different places across North America. They are so common that they are found in different ponds and lakes, even during the winter. That’s why they are favorites among those who prefer ice fishing.
However, crappie fishing is made easy in Texas because they are common in the different lakes found in that state. This includes Lake Fork, Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Navarro Lake, Tawakoni Lake, Somerville Lake, Toledo Bend Reservoir, and Richland-Chambers Lake. Put, if you want to fish for crappie specifically, you have to do it in Texas.
In Texas, you will come across two main types of crappie: the black and the white. A White Crappie differs from the Black Crappie because its spots are much more organized and have six dorsal fins. Meanwhile, the Black Crappie have no patterns in their black spots and have many more dorsal fins than the white variants.
When do crappie spawn in Texas?
As common as crappie may be in Texas, it still is best for you to wait for the crappie season. The main reason is that you don’t have to do any work to get a bite during the crappie season. As such, you have to know when crappie spawn so that you’ll get a big picture of when they are most abundant.
So, other than the fact that it’s easier to catch crappie when the fish is in season, why wait? Well, crappies are fond of heading to shallow water, especially when they are abundant. It is also during spawning season when they love to feed. And in areas with low bass population, they can be voracious eaters that are quite easy to catch for fishermen.
Crappie spawning depends on a lot of different factors, especially in Texas. This can include location and temperature. They love to spawn in shallow waters that are about only six feet deep. That’s why they are quite common in coves and shallow areas near the shore.
During the crappie season, it is easy to notice how much more abundant males are. Meanwhile, females are fairly plentiful as well. But that doesn’t matter when all that matters to you is the taste of the fish. (Read Best Tasting Freshwater Fish)
In Texas, spawning season for crappie usually happens somewhere between March and the middle of May. In some cases, it just depends on the temperature of the water. As long as water temperatures reach 60 degrees Fahrenheit with its peak at 72 degrees, spawning season starts.
However, because crappie spawning season depends more on the water temperature than at the time of the year, you can still catch them spawning earlier.
In some cases, they can even spawn as early as February once the temperatures begin to warm up from the winter season. But you have to understand that February is more of an early spawning season for them, and most crappies are still a bit too young.
As such, the best time for you to try to catch crappie is when the middle of March comes. That’s because it is during that time when the magic happens, and they are much more abundant and easier to catch in shallow waters. (Read Best Fish Finder for Kayaks)
So, for avid crappie enthusiasts who want to maximize their catches, it is best to schedule your fishing trips during the spring. That’s somewhere between March and May, but it may be better to fish for crappie in the middle of March.
But, as a word of advice, it still is best for you to learn where crappie love to spawn. Even if the waters are already ripe for crappie spawning season, they won’t spawn in large numbers if the spawning areas are limited. That’s why you have to go to places where shallow waters allow them to spawn easily.
