178 Louisiana Sportsman^ | April 2015
But Chicot Lake waters had stayed very cold into the spring as
the result of a much colder winter compared to previous years.
The fact is that by April 1 of any given year, the spawn is usu-
ally over at Chicot Lake.
LDWF’s David said it’s all a matter of water temperatures.
“When water temperatures range between 58 and 60 degrees,
that’s prime for the sac-a-lait spawn,” he said. “The actual
spawn will vary depending on location. It occurs sooner in
shallow ponds, small lakes and small reservoirs especially in
the south.
“In larger reservoirs such as Toledo Bend, it may occur at dif-
ferent times in many locations due to water temperature varia-
tions in such a large system.”
In other words, there is no exact time or date when the pre-
spawn or spawn will occur.
Another misunderstanding is that female and male crappie
will all go to the shallow flats at the same time.
“It is not a one-day affair,” David said of the move to spawning
areas. “Usually it will take no more than a month in any given
location, but in larger reservoirs (e.g., Toledo Bend) it may
extend for a longer period.”
According to David, Chicot Lake sac-a-lait can average up to
a pound.
Fontenot and Lavergne regularly catch fish ranging from ¾ to
1 ½ pounds, with a few occasions reaching 2-pound.
Even if water temperatures have moved above 60 degrees this
month, there are locations in Chicot Lake to check to see ifStacking up the state fish337-433-7019
3909 HWY 90 EAST
LAKE CHARLES, LA
[email protected]>
Chris Berzas