A. Crappies can spawn without cover, but thick cover draws large concentrations of fish. As a rule, cover is weeds in lakes and wood in reservoirs. Reservoirs with abundant vegetation function like lakes. Fallen trees are prime spawning sites for crappies.

B. Crappies spawn in calm areas, avoiding wind. They leave nests if strong winds arise.

C. Substrate of medium hardness is best. Crappies do spawn on rock and stumps, but rarely. A muck or silt bottom is unsatisfactory because the male can't fan the eggs without smothering them.

D. Crappies can spawn in all but the muddiest water. They generally choose water clarity with 2- to 4-foot visibility, however. As a general rule, the clearer the water, the deeper they spawn. Heavy cover like reeds or brush draws spawners shallow.

E. Crappies begin spawning when water temperature rises into the low 60°F range. Peak activity is around 70°F. Lakes and reservoirs don't warm uniformly, though, so spawning may continue for 6 weeks in a given body of water.

F. A quick rise in water level when crappies are almost ready to spawn often causes a flurry of spawning activity. They take advantage of high water to spawn around inundated brush and grass. Falling water levels disrupt spawning, and in extreme cases, beds are left high and dry.