White Crappie
White crappie are well-suited to North Dakota's reservoirs and are found near the northern extent of their continental range. They're more tolerant of turbid water conditions than black crappie.
Scientific Name: Pomoxis annularis
- Distinguished from black crappie by having only 5-6 dorsal spines versus 7-8, and their dark spots are consolidated into vertical bars rather than scattered patterns.
- White crappie typically reach 12 inches in length, with occasional fish reaching 14-17 inches after 4-5 years.
- They can live up to 14 years in North Dakota waters.
Fishing in North Dakota
Missouri River
Lake Oahe
Heart River
Sweet Briar Lake
Apple Creek
Nelson Lake
Little Heart River
Cannonball River
Long Lake
Square Butte Creek
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- North Dakota's reservoirs, found near the northern extent of their continental range.
Key Locations
- Lake Tschida, Patterson Lake, Jamestown Reservoir offers excellent white crappie fishing with multiple public access points.
Specific Spots
- Commonly found suspended in stream channels or relating to structure like submerged trees and vegetation in reservoirs.
- Fish structure like submerged trees, brush piles, and vegetation in reservoirs.
- In North Dakota's turbid reservoirs, white crappie congregate in schools and can often be found suspended in the water column relating to creek or river channels.
White Crappie FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for White Crappie in North Dakota?
Small jigs (1/16-ounce) with twister tails, small minnows, small plastics, paddle tail plastics, minnow imitations, bug imitations on jigs, hair jigs made of marabou or bucktail, small jigs tipped with plastics, waxworms, or spikes.
When is the best time to fish for White Crappie in North Dakota?
Spring and fall when they're most active. During winter ice fishing, focus on deeper water areas. Spawning occurs in May (avoid fishing during this reproductive period).
How do you catch White Crappie in North Dakota?
Use small jigs with twister tails for a slow presentation, or try vertical presentations with small minnows beneath a bobber. Small plastics jigged slowly are effective. During winter ice fishing, use small jigs tipped with plastics, waxworms, or spikes.
What do White Crappie eat?
White crappie are omnivores feeding on aquatic macroinvertebrates, small fish, and zooplankton, with fine gill rakers that filter plankton from the water.
Where do White Crappie live in North Dakota?
North Dakota's reservoirs, found near the northern extent of their continental range.
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