The Characteristics Of All Different Species Of Crappie

There are two different species of crappie, black and white, but they are difficult for even the most experienced crappie angler to tell apart. These species are very similar, and they can be found throughout the United States, but there are some key differences in their biology, making each species unique in some important ways for you as a crappie angler.

The differences I am speaking about involve the natural habitats of each species. Simply put, the black crappie live in waters that are clear. White crappie live in turbid or muddy waters. This difference keeps the two species apart for the most part.

They also look different, but only marginally so. It is very difficult for even those in the know to tell them apart. The predominant physical characteristic that makes them different is that black crappie have dark spots or mottling on their sides, while white crappie have sometimes faint spots on their sides that create vertical bands on the sides, but this is iffy and difficult to ascertain.

The single best way to determine beyond doubt if the crappie is black or white is to count the dorsal fins on them. The white crappie will have either five or six spines, and the black will have seven or eight spines. It also tends to reason that if you have caught a crappie in turbid or muddy water, it is a white crappie, and if you catch a crappie in clear water, it is a black crappie. It is also important to note that if you are fishing during the spawn, the males of both species will be very dark around the throat and head. This is a mating characteristic for the males only. Females will not display this characteristic. If you pull one from the water to see it has the dark throat and head, it is a nesting male.

You might want to release it and go after a larger female instead. They will provide you with better table fare, a larger catch, and they are usually easily located nearby, offshore, but close by and at about the same depth as their male nest sitters.

In both species of crappie, the males are the ones to create and sit the nests. They hollow out a depression in the muddy or gravelly bottom of the water. The eggs are laid there. They become very protective and territorial at this time, and they will literally hit on anything that comes anywhere close to the nest, making them especially aggressive and easy to catch at this time. The nesting usually takes place when the temperature of the water reaches between sixty and sixty-five degrees. They also tend to nest in groups where there is plenty of cover to offer the nests some protection from predators.

In many states the size restrictions and catch limits differ. They are very readily kept in check, and it really does pay to go to the game and fish commission web site for your state and download a pdf format version of the regulation book, so you can be sure you are adhering to the rules and regulations governing fishing for crappie. If you plan to visit another state and fish while you are there, it is recommended that you do the same for each state. It is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to following the rules.