UTERBlack crappie fishing in California freshwater
In California freshwater, black crappie peak February–April and September–November and are around year-round, spawning in April, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. April: Colusa to Knights Landing for stripers; Eastern Sierra trout.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Black crappie in California freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchPeak
- AprilSpawningPeak striper run; Sierra opener. Colusa to Knights Landing for stripers; Eastern Sierra trout.
- MayLeaving
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberAround
Where to fish black crappie near Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, Clear Lake, Lake Oroville
The Delta's tule-lined sloughs, Clear Lake's trophy bass, the foothill spotted-bass reservoirs, the Sacramento's salmon and striper runs, the Sierra's trout streams and high lakes, and the southern reservoirs' Florida-strain giants.
What to use for black crappie
- Minnows (fatheads, shiners)Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers.
- Grass shrimpTwo or three on a #6 hook under a small cork — the bream, crappie, sheepshead and mangrove snapper bait nobody sells.
- Leader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 38–86°F water, best at 56–72°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch black crappie in California freshwater?
Peak season is February–April and September–November, with fish spawning in April (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Black crappie are here year-round.
Where do black crappie hold in California freshwater?
Look on lake, reservoir, dock / pilings, bridge, river, pond / pit — around Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, Clear Lake, Lake Oroville, Bullards Bar, Lake Shasta, Eastern Sierra.
What is the best bait for black crappie in California freshwater?
Live bait: minnows (fatheads, shiners), grass shrimp. Minnows (fatheads, shiners): Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers. Tackle: leader 10–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for black crappie in California freshwater?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and change — read the current rule at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing.
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All about black crappie · California fresh water, the whole year