Also known as slabs, papermouths, specks.
Crappies are the most popular panfish species across North America. They’re a fan favorite, pursued for their abundance and availability. Touted as quality table fare, crappies are among the most consumed freshwater fish in the United States.
While they’re a great target for beginners, they’re also a worthy adversary for advanced anglers. Those who have spent any time chasing them are familiar with that distinctive crappie “thump.”
Facts and tips provided by Blake Tollefson, onX Fish Ambassador.
Crappies—both black (Poxomis nigromaculatus) and white (Poxomis annularis)—are found across North America in everything from lakes and ponds to reservoirs and rivers. Native to the eastern and central portions of the United States, crappie have expanded their range to most of the United States, as well as Canada and Mexico.
The greatest challenge in crappie fishing is locating the fish. Once found, they tend to cooperate more than most. To help you locate more crappies, here is guidance on finding new lakes.
Crappies are found across a range of waterbodies, including lakes, ponds, rivers, and reservoirs. Everything from shallower, stained environments to deeper, clearer haunts offers equal opportunity when it comes to crappies.
Top locales include:
Water temperature has a direct correlation with crappie activity levels. Similar to bluegills, crappie are active throughout the entire year, but optimal temperatures are found in the 50°F to 70°F range.
Spawning activity generally occurs in the 60°F to 70°F range.
Crappies are a popular target for panfish anglers across the United States. They’re highly abundant in a number of waterbodies. By and large, they are relatively easy to catch and offer fast-paced action.
With a moniker like papermouths, one can only assume that a finesse approach is best. However, expert anglers employ a variety of techniques to coax slab crappies into biting.
Black crappies and white crappies are members of the sunfish family. Like most members of this family, they’re a schooling fish. If you find one, you’re likely to find more nearby. Crappies use this schooling behavior for protection and feeding.
Crappies are roamers and constantly on the move. While they might be in a specific area today, they could be in an entirely different one tomorrow. Seasoned crappie anglers are all too familiar with the phrase “here today, gone tomorrow.”
There’s no better example of boom or bust fishing than crappies. When they’re hot, they’re hot, but when they’re not, things are downright frustrating.
Common forage preferences for crappies are similar to other panfish species, with a mix of aquatic invertebrates, insects, and baitfish. In many waterbodies, baitfish and minnows make up the bulk of a crappie’s diet.
The best fishing techniques for targeting crappie vary and depend on several factors, including seasonal dynamics, forage preferences, and waterbody type.
Top tactics generally involve small jigs and plastics, whether fished by themselves or under a float. Advanced anglers employ a range of techniques tailored to specific situations, like working jerkbaits for pre-spawn fish or trolling crankbaits over expansive summer weed flats.
– Jig and plastic combinations, including paddle tails, minnow imitations, and bug imitations.
– Hair jigs, like marabou, bucktail, or synthetic options.
– Small hardbaits, like crankbaits and jerkbaits.
– Small minnows.
– Waxworms and spikes (commonly used in winter).
– Attachment knots are ideal for securing lures. Options include the improved clinch knot, Palomar knot, and loop knot.
– Connection knots are designed to connect leader lines to main lines. Options include the FG knot, Alberto knot, blood knot, and uni knot.
The best time to catch crappies is anytime you can be on the water. Jokes aside, it’s a topic of great debate. If you polled a number of anglers, you’re likely to get a number of varying answers. Crappies can be targeted year-round, and every season offers its mix of challenges and opportunities.
While crappies often make the move to deeper water during different times of the year, healthy, standing vegetation can hold fish at any time. With mapped vegetation types like weed beds, submerged grass, lily pads, and more, the onX Fish App Area Insights feature can help anglers understand where to fish for crappie based on where they like to live and feed.
Crappies tend to be cooperative throughout the majority of the day. Though, dawn and dusk can kick things into high gear, particularly in deeper, clearer lakes (versus shallower, stained lakes).
In terms of the best weather for fishing crappie, stable patterns often result in the most consistent bites. Drastic weather changes can definitely have an impact on a bite. Cold fronts often shut down a bite and drive fish to deeper water. A rising barometer often leads to stubborn fish, while a falling barometer can kick things into high gear.
The Fish App uses local, real-time weather data to provide accurate predictions. Springtime crappie bites are driven by weather and water temperature. Knowing how quickly things are warming up or where the wind is piling up the warmest water is immensely helpful when searching for spring crappies. Customize your Waypoints to display wind direction and speed.
Crappies are a common target during the winter months. With Recent Imagery, you can build a game plan before you hit the ice. The Fish App’s Recent Imagery updates every two weeks, and maintains a record of past weeks, so you can look back to plan ahead. Compare satellite imagery across time to figure out how ice is forming, and see where people are—and aren’t— fishing.
Open the map. Find the structure. Time it right.
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Like many freshwater species, crappies spawn during the spring. Ideal water temperatures for spawning are in the 60°F to 70°F range.
The world record black crappie is 5 pounds, 7 ounces. The world record white crappie is 5 pounds, 3 ounces.
There are two species of crappies: black and white. While they inhabit many of the same waterbodies, black crappies generally prefer clearer water and vegetation, while white crappies are found in more turbid water and are less dependent on vegetation.
Black crappies have a darker complexion with black spots, and white crappies have a lighter complexion with vertical barring. In terms of dorsal spines, black crappies have seven or more, while white crappies have six or fewer.
Black and white crappies can reproduce in systems where they both exist, resulting in hybrid crappie.
