Crappie

Crappie



Crappie is a genus of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (family Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes. The type species is P. annularis, the white crappie. The common name crappie ( /ˈkræpiː/ or /ˈkrɒpiː/ )[1] [2] refers to either of the Pomoxis species, both of which are popular game fish.

Both species of crappie as adults feed predominantly on smaller species, including the young of their own predators (which include the northern pike, muskellunge, and walleye). They have diverse diets, however, including zooplankton, insects, and crustaceans.[3] [4] By day, crappie tend to be less active and to concentrate around weed beds or submerged objects, such as logs and boulders; they feed especially at dawn and dusk, moving then into open water or approaching the shore.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-natureserve_white_4-0">[5] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-natureserve_black_5-0">[6]

The Pomoxis species are highly regarded game fishes and are often considered to be among the best tasting freshwater fish. Because of their diverse diets, crappie may be caught in many ways, including casting light jigs, trolling with minnows or artificial lures, using small spinnerbaits, or using bobbers. Crappie are also popular with ice-fishers, as they are active in winter.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-natureserve_white_4-1">[5] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-natureserve_black_5-1">[6] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ufl_6-0">[7]

The genus name Pomoxis derives from the Greek πώμα (cover, plug, operculum) and οξύς (sharp). The common name (also spelled croppie or crappé), derives from the Canadian French crapet, which refers to many different fishes of the family Centrarchidae. Note that the plural form of the name, crappies, tends not to be used, by analogy with fishes, except to refer to types of crappie. Other names for crappie are papermouths, strawberry bass, speckled bass or specks (especially in Michigan), speckled perch, calico bass (throughout New England),<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7">[8] sac-au-lait (in southern Louisiana, lit "bag of milk")<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8">[9] and Oswego bass.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[citation needed] {| class="toc" id="toc"

Contents
[hide] *1 Black crappie
 * 2 Fishing
 * 2.1 Crappie angling
 * 2.2 Commercial fishing
 * 3 Pictures
 * 4 Notes
 * 5 Further reading
 * 6 External links
 * }

[edit] Black crappie
The black crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus (Lesueur, 1829), is very similar to P. annularis in size, shape, and habits, except that it is darker, with a pattern of black spots. It is most accurately identified by the seven or eight spines on its dorsal fin. The oldest recorded age of a specimen is fifteen years, although seven years is a more typical life span for the species.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fishbase_black_3-1">[4]

The black crappie's range is uncertain, since it has been widely transplanted, but it is presumed to be similar to the white crappie's. Its native range is in the eastern United States and Canada, and as of 2005, populations existed in all of the 48 contiguous U.S. states.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ufl_6-1">[7] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fishbase_black_3-2">[4] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tx_black_9-0">[10] The black crappie habitat occurs in lakes, reservoirs, borrow pits and navigation pools in large rivers. They prefer areas with little or no current, clear water, and abundant cover such as submerged timber or aquatic vegetation.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-harrisonfishery_10-0">[11]

The black crappie tends to prefer clearer water than the white crappie does. Its diet, as an adult, also tends to be less dominated by other fish than that of the white crappie.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fishbase_black_3-3">[4] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-tx_black_9-1">[10]

The breeding season varies by location, due to the species’ great range; breeding temperature is 14‒20 °C (58‒68 °F) and spawning occurs between April and June.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[citation needed] Spawning occurs in a nest built by the male, who guards the eggs and young.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-fishbase_black_3-4">[4] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-natureserve_black_5-2">[6]

Like P. annularis, P. nigromaculatus is very prolific and can tend to overpopulate its environment, with negative consequences both for the crappie and for other fish species.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[citation needed] A commercial supplier of the fish, however, claims that it can be safely stocked in ponds as small as one acre (0.4 ha) in area.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dunnsfishfarm_11-0">[12]

[edit] Crappie angling
Angling for Crappie is popular throughout much of North America. Methods vary, but among the most popular is called "Spider Rigging," a method characterized by a fisherman in a boat with many long fishing rods pointing away from the angler at various angles like spokes from a wheel.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-in-fisherman_12-0">[13] Anglers who employ the Spider Rigging method may choose from among many popular baits. Some of the most popular are plastic jigs with lead jig heads, crankbaits or live minnows. Many anglers also chum or dump live bait into the water to attract the fish hoping the fish will bite their bait. Crappie are also regularly targeted and caught during the spawning period by fly fishermen, and can be taken from frozen ponds and lakes in winter by ice fishing.

[edit] Commercial fishing
A commercial fishery for crappie exists at Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee. It is one of the few commercial fisheries for crappie.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[citation needed]