The annual springtime fishing fling is underway at most warmwater reservoirs around the state, and that means that crappies are on the move. Now is the time for enthusiasts of this popular panfish to grab their fishing poles and head for the water.
As water temperatures rise above 60 degrees at warmwater reservoirs and ponds, crappies (pronounced “croppies”) move into the shallows to spawn and to feed, which concentrates them near to shorelines, and therefore more accessible to anglers.
Crappies are members of the Centrarchidae family of fish that includes sunfish and bass. Native to the eastern half of North America, crappies began arriving in Colorado in 1882, the same year that rainbow trout and largemouth bass were introduced. Their distribution now is widespread and they are considered abundant in many impoundments below 6,000 feet elevation.
A favorite with anglers of all generations, crappies fit the bill for a scrappy sportfish that yields sweet-tasting filets of flaky white meat. Crappies come in two varieties, black and white. Unlike the names suggest, distinctions between the two species are subtle and difficult to recognize. Black crappies have 7 to 8 dorsal spines and white crappies have 5 to 6. Other than that, the species are practically identical. Fortunately, identification is unnecessary because regulations and angling techniques are the same for both.
Crappies can grow longer than 17 inches and weigh more than 4 pounds, but the average size in Colorado is approximately 10 inches at ponds and around 12 inches at larger reservoirs. Depending on the region of the United States where you catch them, crappies may be called calico bass, sacalaitt, white perch, or papermouth. And if the specimen is heavy and deep-bodied, the locals might refer to it as a slab, a barn door, a dinner plate, or a saber-toothed crappie.
Whether shallow or deep, crappies love structure. Grass beds, sunken trees, brush piles, rock piles, boulders, piers, and boat docks are examples of the types of structure that attract them.
In spring, fish for them in water measuring 2- to 6-feet deep around cattails, brush, or downfallen trees near shore. At larger reservoirs, crappies often favor the rock-rubble faces of dams. Spawning crappies tend to move in and out of the shallows during different times of day, so if you do not find them shallow, cast into deeper water. Mornings and evenings are the best times, and on sunny days, look for them hiding on the shady sides of structure.
Crappies, as with most fish, are sensitive to sounds and vibrations, especially when they are swimming in shallow water. Walk softly along the bank, or slip quietly along in a boat while dabbling with live minnows or with small plastic grubs and tube jigs.
Without question, the king of baits for crappie is a live minnow suspended under a bobber on a light wire hook. For artificial baits, the undeniable winners are 1/8 ounce plastic grubs and tube jigs in basic colors such as black, yellow, white, and chartreuse.
The long cane poles that once were the standard in crappie fishing have been replaced in recent years by lightweight graphite poles and fly rods. A fly rod fitted with an ultra light spinning reel and spooled with 10-pound test monofilament is a good combination for dabbling with either live bait or artificial jigs. The long rod allows the angler to reach over and lower the jig into the thickest of offshore cover, and the heavy line aids in hoisting the fish out quickly.
Slip bobbers are an asset later in the summer when crappies have moved into deeper water and longer casts are necessary. Slip bobbers allow you to cast farther and to suspend the lure or bait near the bottom by moving the “bobber stop”, a short piece of string tied to the line, to the desired depth.
When summer arrives, crappies gather in schools and usually seek out structure in water 10- to 20-feet deep. At shallow reservoirs, the structure could be standing timber or flooded tamarisks. At deeper canyon reservoirs such as Pueblo Reservoir, the structure is likely to be rock piles, submerged ledges, and drop offs.
Most warmwater reservoirs, lakes, and gravel pit ponds offer fishing for crappies. The Division of Wildlife spawns them at the Wray Fish Hatchery in the spring and grows them to 2-inch long fingerlings. The fingerlings are stocked in August and September at various impoundments around the state.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
