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'''Pomoxis''' 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' (pronounced ),
^[1]
[2]
refers to either of the ''Pomoxis'' species, both of which are extremely 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]
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[5]
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.^[5]
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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.^{5 7 8
[9]}
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 crappies are papermouths, calico bass, strawberry bass, white perch, specks, sac-a-lait, rock bass and Oswego bass.

Contents

White crappie

Black crappie

Crappie Angling

Pictures

References

Notes

White crappie

The 'white crappie', ''Pomoxis annularis'' Rafinesque, 1818, is native throughout the eastern half of Canada and the United States, and has been widely introduced in the west as well.
The dorsal fin of the white crappie has six spines. The maximum recorded length for a white crappie is really 53.0 cm (21 in), with a maximum weight of almost 2.35 kg (more than 5.18 lb); it can live as long as ten years.³
These species prefers slower-moving water, often turbid, whether a backwater of a small creek or a large lake.
When spawning, the white crappie deposits its eggs on plant surfaces³ or in poorly-defined nests in shallow water.⁷
This very prolific fish may overpopulate fat small bodies of water under 40 ha (100 acres) in area.^[10]

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.^{4 5}
The black crappie's range is uncertain, since it has been so widely transplanted, but it is presumed to be similar to the white crap's;
as of 2005, populations existed in all of the lower 48 states.^4
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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 fishes than that of the white crappie.^{4 11}
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.⁵
Spawning occurs in a nest built by the male, who guards the eggs and young.^{4 8 5}
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.⁵ 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.¹⁰

Crappie Angling

Angling (or Fishing) 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.^[12]
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.

Pictures

References

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★ The Sunfishes-A Fly Fishing Journey of Discovery, , Jack, Ellis, Abenaki Publishers, Inc., 1993,

★ America's Favorite Fishing-A Complete Guide to Angling for Panfish, , F. Philip, Rice, Harper Row, 1964,

★ Panfishing, , F. Philip, Rice, Stackpole Books, 1984,

★ Fly-Fishing for Panfish, , John, Malo, Dillon Press Inc., 1981,

Notes

1. Crappie American Heritage Dictionary
2. Crappie Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
3.
4.
5. Pomoxis nigromaculatus: Information
6. Pomoxis nigromaculatus: Information
7. Comprehensive Report Species - ''Pomoxis annularis'' NatureServe Explorer
8. Comprehensive Report Species - ''Pomoxis nigromaculatus'' NatureServe Explorer
9. Black Crappie
10. Types of Fish: Black Crappie
11. Black Crap
12. Super Crappie Systems