Crappie are actually a member of the sunfish family and can be found in all the continental states. They are known by many different names, typically based on geographic location. Paper mouth, goggleye, bridge perch and speckled perch, just to name a few.
Biologists categorize the many varieties of this specie into two main categories. Both have been introduced in many waters both north and south and they tend to adapt to most environments.
The black crappie is darker, has seven or eight dorsal spines, has spotted sides and is typically found more in the northern states. The black prefers larger, deeper impoundments.
The white crappie which is light in color, has six dorsal spines, has eight or nine vertical bands on its sides and is found primarily in the southern states and prefers quiet backwaters.
Both the black and white crappie grow to over five pounds while three quarters of a pound to a pound is more typical. Visit the crappie fishing videos section for videos about crappie fishing.
Crappie are school fish and can be caught by still-fishing, casting, trolling or drifting. Spring is the best time to catch crappie as they are involved in their spawning runs. They love cover, so locate brush, stumps or artificial cover at appropriate depths and you are likely to find crappie. At dawn you may find them close to the surface. As the sun hits the water they drop to 5 or 10 feet deep depending on water clarity. As the sun gets higher in the sky they may retreat to deeper water, 25 feet or more. As the sun begins to set they will move back up to the shallows and finish the day at the surface as dusk turns to darkness. Typically they return to deeper water for the night and may occasionally do some feeding during the dark hours.
Baits which imitate minnows, insects, worms or small crustaceans will attract crappie. The more aggressive the crappie are, the faster you can move the bait to cover more water.
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