MS Black Crappie Fishing Guide

Black crappie are deeper bodied than the white crappie, and bluish green or gray in color on top with white or silver underneath. Irregular black spots are scattered on the body. A small percentage of black crappie in some lakes has a distinctive dark stripe running from the top (dorsal) fin to under the mouth. These “blackstripe”?or “blacknose”?crappie are a genetic color variation and are not a hybrid or subspecies. Black crappie have seven or eight spines on the dorsal fin, whereas white crappie have five to six spines. The black crappie is most easily confused with the white crappie, especially the white crappie males in breeding season. Black crappie weigh 1 to 3 pounds, grow to 12 inches or more, and can live up to 10 years.

Habitat & Range

Black crappie are most active at night or in the early morning. Adults feed on insects, insect larvae, and fish, such as sunfish and minnows. Black crappie prefer shallow water lakes and sloughs and are more abundant where there is clear water and aquatic vegetation. They spawn in early spring when water temperatures are between 58°F and 65°F.

References

• Mississippi — Black Crappie