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In this week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report, host Nick Williams checks in with Josh Gunter of Steele Creek Bait & Tackle and Dip McMillan of Dippy Outdoors. The focus is on the Delta’s early spring transition—warming trends, water temperature triggers, and why 2026 could set up for one of the best crappie spawns in recent memory if the river stays low. Dip also shares a youth hunting highlight (a standout Baldwin County buck) and a fresh crappie report featuring deep, suspended fish and the advantages of forward-facing sonar.
Conditions Recap
The Delta is sliding quickly from winter into spring. Nick and Josh both noted a noticeable warm-up over the last couple of days—more birds singing, plants blooming, and a general “spring has sprung” feel. Even with warm air temps, both guests emphasized that water temperature is still the key driver for crappie and catfish movement. Fish are showing classic late-winter behavior: holding deeper, staging in creek channels, and starting to transition as temperatures climb.
The big wildcard for the coming weeks is river height. Josh’s optimism hinges on one thing: if the water stays low and stable, anglers may finally get a true, fishable crappie spawn window instead of watching it get washed out by high water and heavy current.
Crappie Spawn Outlook with Josh Gunter
Josh believes 2026 could produce the best “fishable” crappie spawn the Delta has seen in years, mainly because many recent seasons have been impacted by high water events that make it hard for anglers to access the right areas at the right time. He explained that crappie are looking for the same basic ingredients every year—water temperature, sunlight, and suitable structure—but if current is ripping through the trees, the spawn may shift into backwaters that anglers can’t reach…