With crappie season in full swing, most anglers don’t fish any differently, or even care what the differences are between white and black crappie. But ignoring the differences between these two sub-species can cost you in terms of fish at the end of the day.
Some novice anglers may have a hard time distinguishing between the two, but most agree that with a little experience, it’s easy to tell the difference.
• Black crappie have irregular, dark blotches or speckles on their sides and either seven or eight dorsal fin spines. Because of these markings, they’re often referred to as “specks.”
• White crappie have five to 10 vertical bands and only five or six dorsal fin spines.
• The distance from the eye to the dorsal fin is equal to the length of the dorsal fin base in black crappie. The distance from the eye to the dorsal fin is greater than the length of the dorsal fin base in whites.
• Black crappie have a smaller mouth structure overall and often prefer smaller baits. White crappie have a larger mouth structure making them more adaptable to larger baits.
• White crappie tolerate murkier water better than black crappie and prefer a more open-water habitat.
• Black crappie thrive in clear water and can tolerate a higher salinity level, as well as showing a preference for shallow weedy areas.
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