White crappies are known to attain maturity at 2-3 years old. The eggs take about 2-5 days to hatch.īlack crappies mature at 2-4 years old and are renowned for their fast reproduction rates. The females lay anywhere between 5,000 to 60,000 eggs in a season, depending on their size and age. Spawning activity ends by around 72 degrees.ĭuring this time, males will make a nest in shallow waters between 1 and 5 feet deep. The spawning process peaks in water temperatures of about 68 degrees Fahrenheit for both black and white crappies. When the water temperature is in the high 50’s to low 60’s, crappies start the journey into the shallows to spawn. In the north, crappie spawn is typically May and June. In the south, crappie spawn in late February and March. Water clarity and temperature also influence when crappies spawn each year. The spawning season for crappie varies on location. During the day, they hide in more shallow calm waters near the structure. White crappie swim in open waters in the morning and evening. Unlike black crappie, they may be found swimming in open waters, but that varies on the time of day. White crappie will live in both clear and cloudy areas. They are also fond of the sand and mud bottoms located in freshwater bodies. Black Crappie Habitatīlack crappie prefer clear, calm water with shade and heavy vegetation to hide in. They usually are in deeper water during the summer and shallower water in the spring. But during the day, they can be found in similar types of areas that have shelter. White crappie are less dependent on vegetation than black crappie. They usually reside in waters less than 12 feet deep that are abundant in weeds and rocks to inhabit. Crappie Habitatīoth Crappies inhabit a similar mix of freshwaters, including lakes, ponds, backwaters pools, slow rivers, and streams. White crappies have compressed bodies with regular dark bars running down their body and 5-6 dorsal spines. The best way to tell crappie apart is by their markings and dorsal spines.īlack Crappies have irregular dark blotches and 7-8 dorsal spines. However, they each can vary in color by being completely light or dark. How do you identify crappieīlack and white crappie can be differentiated by color in some cases, matching their respected names. The main difference between the two is their water clarity and vegetation preference, so you may find them in different areas of the same water body. White and Black crappies are very similar and often found in the same waters.
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