Black crappie are most abundant in reservoirs, oxbow lakes and backwater of large rivers. They thrive among woody cover or aquatic vegetation along the shoreline. Adults feed on fish but also eat insects. Spawning begins when the water temperature hits 64 degrees. Males build nests and guard the eggs and fry. When less than a year old, crappie often migrate into open water of lakes, probably to escape bass and other predators along the shoreline. White and black crappie are among the most popular panfish in Arkansas and second only to largemouth bass as sport fish. They are prized for their sweet flavor.
White crappie are found in natural and man-made lakes, as well as slow-moving streams and river backwaters. They can tolerate murkier water than black crappie. White crappie spawn when the water reaches 62 to 65 degrees in spring. They feed primarily on minnows and other small fish. Most anglers focus on crappie only in spring, when they’re up shallow spawning, but some anglers have learned to chase them year-round by trolling crank baits or dragging jigs and minnows on multiple poles (spider rigging). White crappie and black crappie are some of Arkansas’s most prized sport fish, thanks to their delicious flavor. Both have large mouths with a thin membrane behind the lips that gives them the nickname, “papermouths.”
