Crappie

One of the Most Sought after Species

          Crappie has been distributed throughout the lower 48 states and Canada and has turned into a great sport for catching these fun game fish. We know that there are two species of crappie, the scientific terms are Pomoxis nigromaculatus-black crappie and Pomoxis annularis -White crappie, both species will hang together.

These fish are deep-bodied and silvery in color ranging from silvery-green or even a dark green on the back and has dark bands vertical bars or rings around the body and is a good looking fish with large well fo rmed and armed fins. The black crappie has seven to eight dorsal spines where white crappie have six dorsal spines and both can grow to lengths of 18 inches or more in their average 7 year life span. White crappie can grow in excess of 4.5 pounds where black crappie reached 3.9 pounds. Crappie is the third most preferred group overall, only ranking behind bass and catfish and are sought after both bank and boat anglers year round.

Minnows are the preferred bait usually producing monumental results when crappie are located, usually around submerged trees, brush piles, boat docks, bridge pillars, creeks & ponds, using small jigs and small spinnerbaits such as roadrunners, beetle spins and small tube baits. They are opportunistic feeders, depending on the season both will feed on small fish, water beetles, nymphs and small shrimp and you will need to match the hatch. Find the right size, colors & type of artificial bait that matches what they are feeding on at the right depth. These are moments your whole family can enjoy. These fish usually suspend in mid-depth ranges and seldom will they come to the surface, they are most active in 70 to 75 degree water temperature. Most of their food source comes from the structure that they are holding on to that are close to creeks, points and boat piers.

Like other members of the sunfish family, white crappie are nest builders, similar to bluegills that they have a tendency to nest in large beds. This occurs when the water temperature reaches 60 to 68 degrees or March though April each year. Fact is, crappie can lay 20,000 eggs with a hatch rate of 3 to 7 days, all of the hatchlings will not make it to adult stage, these hatchlings will be food for other fish like brim, bluegill and bass. You can see that going fishing on a regular basis protects the eco-system of the lake, reservoir or pond to keep it from being over populated, not to mention delicious when prepared for a meal, tender white flaky meat is great baked or deep fried.

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