Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 45

with dark spots, which are scattered
and seem as though the fish was hit
with a paint gun, with black blotches
all over the sides with no obvious
pattern. There are also similar looking
blotches that make a wavy pattern on
its dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. White
Crappies are olive to bright green on
the back and silvery with greenish or
yellow hints on the sides.
One way to tell Black Crappies
apart from White Crappies is to
count the spines on the dorsal
fins. Black Crappies have seven or
eight dorsal spines while the White
Crappie have six.
Black Crappies that live in clear,
healthy, and well-vegetated water have
darker body markings on the sides,
while those from turbid water tend
to be lighter, looking more faded as if
fish were bleached.
Both crappie species have the same
general body shape and are laterally
compressed or flattened from side
to side. Despite this similar shape,
White Crappies are more elongate
than Black Crappies. Black Crappies
appear to be black and white, but
when looking closely, these fish
actually give off iridescent colors. The
back is olive to bright metallic-green
or a bluish gray. The sides are silvery
with dark spots, which are scattered
and seem as though the fish was hit
with a paint gun, with black blotches
all over the sides with no obvious pattern. There are similar
looking blotches that make a wavy pattern on the dorsal,
anal, and caudal fins. White Crappies are olive to bright
green on the back and silvery with greenish or yellow hints
on the sides. White Crappies often have mottled marking
arranged into 8 to 10 vertical, dark, broken bars found along
the sides, starting just behind the gill plate or operculum.
Coloration patterns and intensity of crappies can be
influenced by turbidity, where fish are often faded in turbid
water and more pronounced in clear water, and during the
spawning period when males are generally darker in color.
Males during the breeding season become darker, which is
true for most members of the sunfish family. White Crappies
are the only member of the sunfish family that have 5 or 6
spines on its dorsal fin, as well as 5 or 6 spines on its anal fin.
Both species of crappies grow to as much as 20 inches in
length and weigh several pounds. However, in Pennsylvania,
crappies are most commonly 6- to 12-inches long but
occasionally larger fish 14- to 16-inch individuals are caught.
Both Black Crappies and White Crappies spawn in
the spring to early summer. Both species spawn at water
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Black Crappies live in cooler, clear waters with solid, clean substrate.
White Crappies live in ponds, lakes, low-flowing streams, and rivers. White Crappies prefer
turbid and silted waters over clear, clean environments.
temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees F. Male crappies
prepare one or several nests using fins to fan sand and silt away
from plant roots and other substrates including small stones
and gravel. Frequently, crappies will spawn in a couple feet of
water up to moderate depths (18-20 feet). The nest may be
individual or occasionally quite crowded
Females produce anywhere from 10,000 up to 200,000 eggs,
depending upon the size and age of the female. Females of both
species will spawn in the nests of several different males during
the spawning season each year. Fertilized eggs will hatch in 2
to 5 days, depending upon water temperatures. Male crappies
will guard nests until the juveniles disperse a few weeks after
hatching. Male crappies may not feed for several weeks until the
juveniles leave the nest area.
Both species of crappies feed on leeches, crustaceans,
insects, and small fish. Small fish comprise the majority of a
crappie's diet.
The best bait for catching crappies in Pennsylvania waters
are artificial lures, jigs, and small minnows. Crappies are also
caught using streamers and nymphs with a fishing technique
similar to jigging.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * November/December 2021
45

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021

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