Black CrappieDescription Coloration of black crappie is dark on the top and silver-olive and bronze on the side and belly. They are generally darker than their close relative, the white crappie. The body is compressed and deep-bodied, with heavy, irregular spotting over the head, body, and fins. Black crappie have seven or eight spines on the dorsal fin, which is large and equal in size with the anal fin. They have large, dark eyes and wide mouths that resemble those of largemouth bass. The black crappie’s mouth, however, is paper thin and not as large relative to the body. Where They Live Black crappie prefer sandy or muddy bottoms, and may occupy depths of 1 to 50 feet, depending on time of year, water clarity and temperature, and available food. In general, black crappie inhabit deep water in summer and winter, moving to the shallows in spring and fall. They are structure and cover oriented fish. In natural lakes, they often relate to whatever aquatic vegetation is available, including cabbage and coontail weeds and bulrushes, as well as drop-offs and other structural elements. What They Eat The main component of the black crappie diet is fish, especially small minnows, shad and small sunfish. However, they will also eat plankton, insects, insect larvae, and worms, especially in ponds and sloughs where large baitfish populations are uncommon. They also eat the fry of other fishes. Black crappie have large appetites and may feed at any time of day or night. They are primarily ambush feeders, often lurking in cover and picking off minnows as they swim by. Yet they will often school in large groups to follow baitfish, especially during summer and winter, although their preferred prey usually inhabit the same areas as black crappie. When They Spawn Black crappie spawn anytime from early spring to mid-summer, once the water reaches between 62 and 68 degrees. Males will be the first to migrate to shallow water nesting sites, often in water 1 to 3 feet deep. In extremely clear water, they may nest as deep as 15 feet. During the spawn, the male will take on an almost completely black appearance, while females remain light in color with pronounced black spots.
|
