Eastland -- the guys already partially addressed this, but to directly answer your question, I would expect the female black crappies to develop viable eggs each year. They can resorb eggs if spawning conditions are not right. However, I would expect them to spawn and nest each year. However, weather conditions have to be right for eggs to hatch, the fry have to have food, predators can get them, etc., as the guys have already mentioned. My work in ponds from KS up to SD has lead me to expect more consistent production of year classes than what apparently happens in more southerly ponds. I don't know why that is, and I haven't seen a good study that would explain it.
