Freshwater
White Crappie
Where to find them, how to catch them and the tackle to use.
01Introduction
The white crappie is a silvery, deep-bodied panfish with several dark vertical bars, a close cousin of the black crappie and just as good to eat. It's native to the central U.S. but now lives across much of the country. White crappie tolerate muddy, warm water better than black crappie and depend less on cover.
02Where to Catch
Range: native west of the Appalachians, from southern Ontario south to the Gulf of Mexico and west to Minnesota, South Dakota and northeastern Mexico. Stocking has spread it east to the Atlantic coast and west to California.
Habitat: warm lakes, reservoirs and slow river backwaters, often turbid. They're most abundant in lakes and reservoirs larger than a few acres and don't need vegetation, though they grow better in clearer water. Look for schools around submerged trees, brush, docks and other structure, and suspended in open water nearby.
03How to Catch
Spring
White crappie nest in large colonies, usually as the water reaches the mid-60s°F (sometimes as low as the upper 50s). Fish shallow brush, stumps and docks with a minnow or small jig under a float, vertically jig cover in creek arms, or push a spread of minnow rigs slowly (spider-rigging).
Summer and fall
Crappie move deeper and school over drop-offs and open water near structure. In fall, as the water cools below about 50°F, downsize and slow down, working small jigs vertically; most bites come on the fall.
Tips
Crappie often suspend above cover, so change depth in small steps until you find them, and try different jig colors. Live minnows are the go-to bait.
04Tackle
A light or ultralight spinning rod with light line, small floats, and small plastic and hair jigs, tubes and grubs. Check your state's regulations for crappie limits.
05Questions anglers ask
How do I tell a white crappie from a black crappie?
White crappie are silvery with several dark vertical bars, a longer, leaner body and no more than six dorsal spines. Black crappie have irregular blotches, a deeper body and seven or eight spines.
Why are the crappie in my lake so small?
White crappie nest in big colonies and are very prolific, which often leads to overpopulation and stunting in small lakes and ponds.
Is a white crappie a "white perch"?
It's sometimes called that locally, but the true white perch is a different fish in another family.