Lake Ouachita Crappie Identification Guide

• Habitat:
  Like that of the white crappie, the black crappie occupies open water with submerged timber or aquatic vegetation in standing water bodies and slow-flowing backwaters of large rivers. However, the black crappie is less tolerant of turbid water and siltation.
   
• Food:
  Feeds primarily on small fish such as minnows and young shad, aquatic insects and small crustaceans
   
• Identifying Characteristics:
  Deep bodied and strongly compressed laterally like the white crappie, but has silver sides with dark speckles and blotches not arranged in bars and dorsal fin with 7-8 spines
   
• Interesting Facts:
  Grows slower in length than the white crappie but is generally heavier at any given length
  Female black crappie may spawn with several males and can produce eggs several times during the spawning period.

White Crappie

Other Names:
Crappie, papermouth, bachelor perch, specks

• Habitat:
  Open water in or near submerged timber or other suitable cover in ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and slow-flowing backwaters of large rivers
  Near vegetation and submerged woody structure in shallow water during spawning period
   
• Food:
  Primarily small fish such as minnows and young shad; also aquatic insects and small crustaceans
   
• Identifying Characteristics:
  Deep bodied, strongly compressed laterally (slab-sided) Sides silver with 5-10 often faint, vertical bars
  Upper jaw long, reaching past middle of eye Dorsal fin with 6 spines
   
• Interesting Facts:
  Nest in colonies in or near plant growth if available. As many as 35 nests have been reported in one colony. In suitable waters, natural reproduction of crappies may be considerable.