But business was brisk at Kentucky Lake's Kenlake State Park boat ramp. April is the month when crappie begin the migration from their deep-water winter holding zones to shallow shore cover to spawn.
Anglers follow the fish, which are relatively easy to find and catch.
May. This year, however, the fish appear to be spawning earlier than usual, said Paul Rister, Western District fisheries biologist for the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. His management area includes Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, the state's top crappie-producing impoundments. The optimal water temperature for crappie movement is about 63-65 degrees. An early spawn might frustrate anglers now, but it will pay rich dividends in a couple of years. The extra size often makes the difference in survival that first winter, particularly if it's long or cold, Rister said.