Few decent largemouth

[Broad Bill]

Duffman and Gerry, thanks for the courtesy of your replies. I agree with your responses to a degree. There's still enough older members here who could answer a simple question about what they're seeing with the crappie spawn yet nada. Maybe it's privacy or something else but I don't think these older members are the type people you're referring to in your replies who have changed their social media habits over the years. Personally I'll share anything with anyone other than specific spots fished but will do that with people I know who reciprocate the same courtesy.

Gerry to your question, my go to is a 4" keiteck paddle tail on a 1/4 jig head as you said low and slow in tight and through grass or along weed lines. Mike's were on chatter baits worked around structure in shallow water near drop offs

Water temp is obviously key right now, a degree or two of thermal warming between morning and afternoon makes a difference. The window can be as short as half an hour for the bite.

[Godrew1972]

Nice LM, got some good bellies. Good catch. I hit dallenback lake the other day got a bunch of crappie, but no size plus a few tiny largemouth. It good to get out.

[Broad Bill]

Godrew that's why I asked. We had quality fish 2-3 weeks ago, then water temps dropped and it seems to have delayed the spawn. Question we've had is did the big females drop their eggs in deeper water or will they move in in the next few weeks when temps increase. Personally I think it's the latter but was curious what other people were seeing.

[dales529]

Nice Fish one way Hope you find those Crappy soon!

[Broad Bill]

Thanks Dave, bass fishing has been pretty good. It's only going to improve leading up to their spawn and when the herring start schooling up and preparing for their spawn. I'll call you, we need to get you out. This upcoming week, in my opinion, is when the crappie fishing will break wide open if they haven't already dropped. Just don't think they have but we'll find out soon.

[Godrew1972]

7-8 years ago Davidson lake used to be perfect crappy and nice perch, since covid i haven't seen any. I don't want to blame the bucket guys solely, but they were there a lot with multiple rods sitting by that dam.
today looks like sweet temps for anyone getting out.

[Broad Bill]

Godrew same in a few lakes I'm fishing. Crappy have held up fairly well but perch populations have declined significantly. What perch there are are jumbos but quantity has taken a big hit. Fish have either relocated within the system or something happened to the younger age class fish or spawn, not sure which. When I fish Hopatcong, and other bodies of water with yellow perch, I almost always see perch ribbons on fallen trees in coves in late March or early April and gravel beds with some amount of weed growth or brush in tight to the shoreline. In the lakes I've seen a drop off in, I see no ribbons which means either the perch are spawning deeper or for some reason not spawning at all which would be a concern. The big girls we've caught are loaded with eggs, what's happening to them we have no idea.

With today's temps and next week, hopefully increased water temps will get the crappie spawn in full gear and put bass in a pre spawn mode. Best of luck to you. Heading out now, hopefully report to follow.

[Pondhopper8]

Nice big bellied buckets! I fish river mostly and temps in Delaware have been holding in mid to upper 40’s and looks like it’s gonna push it over 50 this weekend into high gear although smallmouth bite has been good.