Fishermen seldom bother to distinguish between the white crappie and it’s twin the black crappie. Taken together as one fish, the crappie is one of the most popular panfish throughout the area. Generally, the white crappie is found in more southern waters whereas the black crappie is more common to northern waters and in some areas they overlap.

Crappie grow to about three pounds, although there have been larger fish recorded. In our area, the average crappie will generally run between one and two pounds with some fish weighing in at heavier weights. Crappie are very popular among winter ice fishermen and many claim that they are one of the best tasting of all the panfish. Crappie can be found in a wide variety of waters including small, weedy ponds, large lakes, slow streams, clear and muddy waters.

The black crappie is flattened in appearance and has silvery sides, grading to dark olive or black on it’s back. Spots or blotches are scattered irregularly on it’s sides and on the dorsal, anal and caudal fins. There are six anal spines and seven or eight dorsal spines. The black crappie is a fish that prefers quiet waters and seeks more vegetated areas. It also travels in good sized schools. The black crappie is strictly carnivorous, feeding on small fish, aquatic insects and crustaceans.

Crappies are generally predacious. Their main diet consists of small fish. Anglers are quite successful when they drift small shiners and minnows. These live baits are generally between an inch and an inch and a half. One of the most common baits used in this area during the ice fishing season are called pins. They are small shiners.

Spawning takes place during the late spring or early summer in saucer-shaped nests excavated in aquatic vegetation. A half pound female will produce between 20,000 and 50,000 eggs. Maturity is reached in two years. The growth rate of the crappie is 1 to 3 ½ inches the first year, 3 ½ to 8 inches the second year and it generally requires about four years to reach twelve inches.

The best crappie fishing usually takes place in the spring during the pre-spawn periods as crappie tend to congregate in large schools. Trolling with small minnows or a spinner/fly combination can be productive. Flies and poppers presented at dusk will also take good numbers of fish. The preferred method for catching crappie in this area remains fishing with small shiners presented below a float.

Crappie can be caught all day long but the best fishing is generally from just before dusk, well into dark. During the summer months crappie can be observed feeding on the surface as the water dimples with the fish taking aquatic insects. During this period they will also move into the shallows to feed. When the crappie action can be observed on the surface, this is the time when artificials can be the most effective.

In larger waters, fishermen will often present flies with varying degrees of success and a white streamer seems to be the most effective of all the flies. The presentation is random with a slow retrieve.

Light tackle should be used in order to experience the full fighting power of this popular panfish. The fish must be handled carefully and can not be horsed in as it has attained the nickname "papermouth" because of it’s relative ease in tearing free of the hook. The crappies mouth unfolds into a rather large size but is paper thin and exceedingly thin. In this area it is also known as the calico bass.

During the winter, crappie fishing through the ice is most productive during the first part of the season. As winter wears on, the diet of the crappie changes to very small organisms and is less likely to be aggressive although crappie are caught throughout the season. Because the crappie are school fish, once the first one id caught, it is likely the action will continue for some time. Crappie schools roam freely so when the action slows it is a good idea to change locations until another school is located. Even though small minnows are the standard baits for ice fishermen, worms and other baits including perch belly strips and small pork rinds are also effective.

So if you like plenty of action and a good meal, try crappie fishing. This is one type of fishing that will cure the cabin fever of winter.