Bank fishing is one of the top methods for tuning in on creek crappie. Be patient because at the right time of year, creek crappie are on the move as they swim upstream to spawning areas. (Photo: Richard Hines)
Tune into Creek Crappie
by Richard Hines
Are anglers overlooking a crappie sweet spot?
With all the lakes and manmade reservoirs, why would you consider fishing creeks?
Several years ago, I was boatless for a time so walking into the head of nearby creeks was my only option for putting a few crappie in the cooler. Even if you have a fully equipped boat, creek running crappie can provide good opportunities which may be overlooked by many anglers.
Annual Upstream Migration
Each spring as water temperatures move into the 50’s, crappie begin seeking out shallow water. Perhaps not nearly as dramatic, but it is not unlike salmon running upstream to spawn.
One research project found that 70 percent of adult crappie that had been tagged were returning to their original hatch site to spawn. Very characteristic of river fish and by all practical purposes, crappie are river fish.
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Fisheries Biologist Eric Cummins said, “Crappie are tied to rivers in numerous ways, from how they respond to currents and floodwaters to their production of eggs”
As is true with many river fish, “they jump at the opportunity to spawn in flooded conditions”.
Eggs have an adhesive that allows them to adhere to structure and remain in place during backwater currents. Depending on the maturity of the female crappie, egg production is impressive. One female can lay from 10 thousand to 150 thousand eggs, that hatch within two to five days, a necessary adaptation for spawning in temporary floodwaters.
Perfect for Paddlers or Bank Fishermen
Movement upstream is a primary response to a rapid increase in water temperatures which generally occurs faster in creeks than in larger bodies of water. The catalyst behind this spring crappie “migration” is 55-degree water. At this temperature, crappie shift into pre-spawn status which stimulates them to increase feeding. The key is finding locations where crappie are beginning this food intake in preparation for the spawn.
It’s no great secret where to find crappie, locate some woody cover and cast to it, or if you are in a boat, quietly drift into casting range and work any woody cover as you move upstream. Even when crappie are moving upstream, they generally stop and hold in woody cover during daylight hours.
Choices of boats to reach crappie are endless but I think one of the best ways to access crappie is in a jonboat or kayak. For many years, I strictly used jonboats but have since switched to a kayak at least part of the time. It allows me to move into small channels without any problem.
And don’t overlook a little hiking. On more than one occasion when the creek is blocked with brush, I have parked the boat and walked a little further up the creek. When hiking, the key is traveling light. Keep a backpack handy with some essential baits, water, snacks, and a stringer or basket for hopefully toting the catch back to your ride!
Many times, fishing creeks during the spring means fishing muddy water so lure choice is important. Some anglers may see muddy water and think fishing may not be as productive but since crappie are river fish they are accustomed to muddy water.
Lure Options
I always anticipate muddy water and two good lure options I continually go to include a selection of lures made by Road Runner®. They have a great selection of lures that incorporates a spinner under the head that provides the right amount of vibration and flash to get a crappie’s attention. I like their Curly Tail and I’m not alone.
According to Ron Stallings, Public Relations Manager at Road Runner-Blakemore, “The Curly Tail with the chartreuse head, along with black and chartreus tail is not only the best choice for muddy conditions but it has been Road Runner’s most popular color choice for crappie anglers for almost 50 years.”
As crappie are staged and prepared to move out of the creeks and back into flooded areas, baits manufactured by Crappie Monster are also a good bet.
Crappie Monster owner Jeremy Mattingly said, “Your best option in muddy conditions is our June Bug Upper Cut with the green body and chartreuse tail weighted with an orange or pink lead head. On creeks I look for an eddy and I fish as close to it as possible with a small bobber about 18 to 24 inches above the bait.”
Will Any Creek Do?
Do crappie just head up any creek?
No, because not all creeks are created equal, at least for crappie. Your best choice are creeks tied to larger rivers or creeks flowing into large reservoirs. Pick creeks with slow moving water and key in on the deeper pools of those creeks especially if these creeks have side channels and sloughs that would are connected during spring floods.
Crappie should be staged at these locations as they normally wait for ideal conditions for spawning. This is also the best time to begin fishing creeks, but it is a short window because once the spawn is over, crappie will be moving back into the deeper waters either in connected rivers or lakes.
This spring when the water is approaching 55 degrees, check out local creeks and specifically search out the deeper holes of creeks in hopes of catching crappie as they move back into their old stomping grounds. They will be hanging in these locations at least until water temperatures reach the upper 50s or low 60s and if you are successful, make plans to return the following year because there’s a good chance the crappie you missed this year may return in following years.
Richard Hines is a Wildlife Biologist, book author and award winning freelance outdoor writer and photographer. Since 1985, Hines has published hundreds of articles on hunting, fishing, conservation, and natural history. Hines is President of the Tennessee Outdoor Writers Association.
