Fishing Tip: Crappie anglers planning for the spawn typically go by the adage, "When the dogwoods are blooming, the crappie are spawning." While this holds true in many years, anglers can fine-tune their fishing trips by keeping a closer eye on water temperature than the trees. When the water temperature reaches a steady 55 degrees, crappie will begin to move to shallow timber. When it hits 62 to 65 degrees, the spawn will be in full swing.