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White Crappie

White Crappie

White Crappie are native to Tennessee and are one of the most popular panfish species in the state.

Scientific Name: Pomoxis annularis

Physical Characteristics:
  • They have a silvery-olive coloration with 5-10 dark vertical bars along their sides, distinguishing them from black crappie which have irregular spots.
  • White crappie have 5-6 dorsal fin spines compared to black crappie's 7-8 spines.
  • They typically grow 9-10 inches long and weigh around 2 pounds, with Tennessee's state record at 5 pounds, 3 ounces.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Found throughout Tennessee state in major reservoirs.
  • They prefer areas with little aquatic vegetation.

Key Locations

  • In Tennessee, they're found throughout the state in major reservoirs including Kentucky Lake, Barkley Reservoir, Woods Reservoir, Dale Hollow Lake, J.
  • Percy Priest Lake, Old Hickory Lake, Douglas Lake, Chickamauga Lake, Watts Bar Reservoir, and Reelfoot Lake.
  • On Kentucky Lake, focus on deeper water areas around Green Island and Caney Island during winter, moving to shallower Swan Basin and Grooms Pocket areas in spring.

Specific Spots

  • Target structure including submerged brush piles, standing timber, stake beds, creek channels, points, and boat docks.
  • Fish depths of 6-20 feet depending on season and water clarity.
  • Target deeper water or areas with current in summer.

White Crappie FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

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

Effective lures include small leadhead jigs with soft plastic bodies, tube jigs, small crankbaits, and hair jigs. Popular colors are chartreuse, pink, white, red and chartreuse combinations, and blue and white patterns. In clear water like Dale Hollow, use natural colors.

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

The best time to fish for white crappie in Tennessee is spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) when they're actively feeding. Spring offers excellent action as they move shallow before spawning, while fall provides aggressive feeding as they prepare for winter. In summer, fish during cooler periods.

How do you catch White Crappie in Tennessee?

Primary techniques include vertical jigging with 1/16 to 1/32-ounce jigs tipped with minnows, spider rigging with multiple rods, and fishing under slip bobbers. In clear water like Dale Hollow, fish 15-20 feet deep with long casts away from the boat.

What do White Crappie eat?

Their diet consists primarily of small fish like minnows, young American shad, threadfin and gizzard shad, along with insects, freshwater shrimp, amphipods, crayfish, and hellgrammites. They use a pause-and-travel search strategy, swimming intermittently and only searching for prey when stationary.

Where do White Crappie live in Tennessee?

Found throughout Tennessee state in major reservoirs. They prefer areas with little aquatic vegetation.

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