(Lewis) Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Biologist John Lorenzen reports the Crappie spawning season is nearly complete. During Saturday’s DNR report on KSOM, Lorenzen provided updates on the spawning activity of several fish species.
He noted that crappie typically reach peak spawning around Mother’s Day weekend. Largemouth Bass have already finished spawning, while Channel catfish and bluegill are just beginning. Male bluegills have started building nests, and some fish are already on them, with activity expected to increase over the next week.
Lorenzen recommends that anglers target species actively spawning, as they tend to be more aggressive and easier to catch. Crappie will gather near rocky areas and aggressively defend their nests from intruding fish.
Lorenzen says crappies congregate on rock habitats and actively chase away and attack other fish coming closer to their nests.
Meanwhile, Lorenzen knows people are getting out and fishing because the fish cleaning stations at area lakes are heavily used, not to mention the calls from people wanting to know what is biting. Lorenzen says he spoke with people in eastern Iowa, Kansas, and Texas who are planning trips to Prairie Rose to fish for giant bluegills.
