Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations How and where do crappie spawn?

I've seen much discussion and cussin' of crappie on here, but I don't recall seeing anything about how and where they spawn. I'm sure it has been discussed, but I can't find it. Do they make beds like bass and bluegill? How deep do they spawn?

I got to thinking about this when I went to the pond today and saw a crappie right on the bank with its nose toward the shore. It couldn't have in more than a foot of water. It would stay there until it noticed me, then swim off. Within a minute it would come back to the same spot and stay pretty much motionless until it noticed me again. It sure wasn't interested in any lure I tried. This went on for about 15 minutes. Was it spawning or just being friendly? :p :p

Hard to say what the hell that fish was thinking or doing but, I have crappie in my pond and they are spanning. I have lots of little minnows swimming around the edges of the pond. Crappie like to spawn there eggs on structure such as trees, branches, rocks, ect... I have never seen one on a spawn bed. I know that there the first to spawn from what I have read and seems to be true from what I have seen. Look very closely around the edges of the water and if you look hard enough you should be able to see little minnows. My wife couldn't see them untill I pointed them out for her.I have 5 cedar trees weighted down with cinder blocks around one of the edges for structure for fish and I think thats where they like to hang. The pond is 16' deep where the trees are weighted and rarely do I see any crappie swimming in the water, They seem to stay deep. I know that the perch ,bg, and bass are enjoying all the little crappie and maybe thats why they stay by the edge of my pond due to survival tactics.ha ha..lol