Where to Catch Crappie

There are two types of crappies known as the white and the black crappie. They are very much alike with a few distinctive features. The white crappie has six spines, dark bars that run vertically along their sides and a short dossal fin.

The hump on their back is bigger than the ones found on the black crappie and they are the larger of the two. The black crappie has seven or eight spines, dark spots located all over theirs sides in no apparent order and they have a longer dorsal fin.

The white crappies prefer the dark murky waters while the black crappies tend to favor the clear waters in lakes and streams and areas that are weedy.

Nevertheless, both species can usually be found in all types of lakes, rivers and ponds. Both the white and the black crappies eat worms, crayfish, aquatic insects and their favorite food is the minnow. They are both members of the well-known sunfish family and will spawn in the spring like most species depending on the temperature of the water. The water temperature will affect the aggressiveness of the crappies as well.

Where to Find Crappies

The crappie is one of the easiest species of fish to catch. That is, once you find them. They hang out in schools so when you've found one, you've usually have found a good fishing spot. They can be found anywhere there are natural or man-made structures. Any submerged trees or brush piles found throughout the body of water is an excellent place to look for crappies.

One of the great things about crappie fishing is the fact that you can normally catch them all year long so, you can go fishing anytime. They are more abundant during the spring spawning season where they can be found close inland. This is when they're the most aggressive and the easiest to catch. In the summer they search for structures and shady spots so you can find them around anything that provides protection from the sun. However, their aggressiveness will slow down during the heat of the summer.

The crappies will move back in closer to the shoreline during the fall months and during this time of year they will slowly become more aggressive again. This is a trend that will continue throughout the winter which is why they are fished all year long. Unlike many species of fish, the daytime is a great time to seek out the crappies because they're not as active during the night. Still, the best time is just after the sun rises and just before it sets in the evening.