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White Crappie

White Crappie

White Crappie are one of Missouri's most popular and abundant panfish, found nearly statewide in large reservoirs, rivers, streams, and smaller ponds.

They're more widespread than black crappie in Missouri and rank as one of the most important fish in the creel from large impoundments and natural lowland lakes.

Scientific Name: Pomoxis annularis

Physical Characteristics:
  • Distinguished by their silvery coloration with 5-10 dark vertical bars along their sides and typically have 6 dorsal fin spines (versus 7-8 in black crappie).
  • They average 9-10 inches and about 2 pounds when adult, with maximum lifespans of 8-10 years.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Found nearly statewide in large reservoirs, rivers, streams, and smaller ponds.
  • Generally outnumber black crappie in areas with little aquatic vegetation.
  • Most abundant in lakes and reservoirs larger than 5 acres, and in slow-flowing backwaters of large rivers.

Key Locations

  • Top Missouri waters include Truman Lake (excellent for both numbers and size), Mark Twain Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake, and Stockton Lake.

Specific Spots

  • Prime locations include brush piles, standing timber, creek channels, boat docks, and areas with submerged woody cover.
  • Around standing timber, brush piles, and concrete bridge piers.
  • Shallow protected coves near vegetation or woody structure during spawning.

White Crappie FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for White Crappie in Missouri?

Small 1/32 to 1/16 ounce jigs with soft plastics (particularly effective colors including chartreuse combinations and contrasting color patterns like monkey milk), live minnows under bobbers (especially fathead minnows, emerald shiners, and rosey reds), small jigs (1/16 ounce most versatile), tiny spinners, small...

When is the best time to fish for White Crappie in Missouri?

Spring (mid-April through May) best for shallow-water fishing. Summer requires deeper structure fishing. Fall (October and November) particularly aggressive feeding periods. Winter fishing in 20-40 feet of water but move shallower on warm days.

How do you catch White Crappie in Missouri?

Vertical jigging into brush piles, casting past cover and slowly retrieving through structure, using bobbers for nearly motionless presentations, vertical jigging with minnows, extremely slow retrieves in winter, night fishing during hot summer months around lights.

What do White Crappie eat?

Diet consists primarily of small fish like minnows and young shad, plus aquatic insects and small crustaceans.

Where do White Crappie live in Missouri?

Found nearly statewide in large reservoirs, rivers, streams, and smaller ponds. Generally outnumber black crappie in areas with little aquatic vegetation. Most abundant in lakes and reservoirs larger than 5 acres, and in slow-flowing backwaters of large rivers.

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