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Pronounced – “Crop’e  or  Crap’e”   ( I prefer Crop’e, do you really want to call the fish you are eating crappie? )

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Halloween Crappie
By Ketchn

Texas crappie fishing can be a very enjoyable experience, especially since the state has so many locations that can provide outstanding catches for the Texas angler. You will find crappie when you fish the many ponds, streams, creeks, rivers and lakes of Texas.

Black Crappie – scientific name – Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Black Crappie

Adult size – 12 to 18 inches      Record size =  4 lb. 8 oz.

Life span– Black Crappie can live up to 8 years.

Description: Black crappie closely resemble white crappie, but have deeper bodies. Furthermore, their head, back, and sides are mottled with dusky or black blotches. These blotches do not form vertical bars as on white crappie. The most reliable characteristic, however, is that black crappie have seven or eight dorsal spines compared to the five or six of a white crappie. The dorsal fin is also set further forward on the body of a black crappie than it is on a white crappie.

Location: Black crappie can be found in Texas rivers, reservoirs and large lakes.  They prefer heavy cover such as submerged trees, stumps and rock piles.  They can be found around brush piles created from natural materials such as cane and tree limbs or wood stake beds or from brush piles created from artificial materials such as PVC pipe.  Look for them on or near creek and river edges or channels in the lakes when they are not spawning in shallow water.

Spawning Conditions: They spawn in early spring, when water temperatures are between 60-65 degrees.  They spawn before white crappie.  After spawning they will move back to their normal structure patterns.

Food source: Primary food source for black crappie is shad and small minnows. However they will readily strikes artificial jigs and grubs. They will sometimes strike small crank baits and  small spinner baits.

Size Limit: Under current Texas law they must be 10″ or longer in order to keep them for eating.

Bag Limit:  Under current Texas law you may keep 25 crappie per day.  This is a combination limit for black and white crappie.  The total for both species can not exceed 25 fish in one day.

White Crappie     –     Pomoxis annularis

White Crappie

Adult size– 12 to 20 inches   Record size= 5 lb.3 oz.

Life span – White Crappie can live up to 9 years.

Description: Whitish back ground vertical black strips, have 5 or 6 spines on dorsal strip.

Location: White Crappie live primarily in Texas rivers and reservoirs, but can occasionally be found in small streams.  They like all types of  cover.

Spawning Conditions: White Crappie will spawn in the spring when the water temperature hits 65 to 70 degree in shallow water.  After spawning white crappie move to creek and river channels in the lakes and stay around heavy cover.

Food source: Primary food source for white crappie is shad and small minnows. However they will readily strikes artificial jigs and grubs. They will sometimes strike small crank baits and  small spinner baits.

Size Limit: Under current Texas law they must be 10″ or longer in order to keep them for eating.

Bag Limit:  Under current Texas law you may keep 25 crappie per day.  This is a combination limit for black and white crappie.  The total for both species can not exceed 25 fish in one day.Black crappie and white crappie are both consider excellent fish to eat.

Crappie are caught by many methods, by anglers of all ages.  Some people will only fish with minnows under a float, others will only fish minnows without a float,  other people prefer to use jigs for vertical jigging or casting, some prefer to troll jigs and/or minnows, still other people prefer fishing around and under docks while a large number of people fish from river or lake banks.

Crappie love to hide in and around stumps, submerged trees,  man-made wood stake beds and brush piles made from wood or pvc pipe, under bridges, rock piles, creek and river channel ledges.  Crappie can be found cruising flats near deep water.

Texas Crappie fishing can be fun for all ages and is a great way to hook kids on fishing.  Crappie fishing does not require fancy equipment or even a boat.  Many dedicated crappie anglers fish the banks of rivers and lakes while others fish the fishing barges found on almost all Texas lakes.  So it is a great way to start kids fishing and Texas crappie fishing is the most fun way to start fishing.

Be sure to visit our forum to discuss Texas crappie fishing and find out what is happening at area lakes, rivers and streams.

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