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Black Crappie

Black Crappie

Black Crappie are one of Washington's most popular panfish species, introduced to the state in the 1890s and now widely established throughout both sides of the Cascade Mountains.

Scientific Name: Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Physical Characteristics:
  • They're easily identified by their compressed 'pancake' body shape, large rounded dorsal and anal fins, and distinctive irregular black blotches covering their silvery-gray sides.
  • Black crappie have 7-8 dorsal spines (versus white crappie's 5-6) and typically average 7-9 inches, though quality populations can produce fish up to 15 inches.
  • Lake Washington holds the state record at 4.5 pounds, caught in 1956.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • They prefer clear, slow-moving waters with abundant vegetation, submerged timber, brush piles, and structures like docks and pilings.

Key Locations

  • In Washington, they're found in numerous lakes across King, Pierce, Snohomish, Spokane, Grant, Chelan, and other counties, including major waters like Lake Washington, Lake Sammamish, Moses Lake, Potholes Reservoir, Silver Lake, and the Columbia River system.
  • Target locations include Lake Washington (especially around Gene Coulon Park and Mercer Island), Moses Lake (Parker Horn and Pelican Horn bays), Potholes Reservoir (Crab Creek area), Silver Lake in Cowlitz County, and numerous smaller lakes statewide.

Specific Spots

  • They're structure-oriented fish, often found around underwater timber, weed beds, docks, and drop-offs, moving to deeper water during summer heat and returning to shallows during cooler periods.
  • Focus on areas with underwater structure like old pilings, stumps, brush piles, weed beds, docks, and the mouths of feeder streams.

Black Crappie FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Black Crappie in Washington?

Small plastic tube jigs and curly-tailed grubs are the most consistent producers, with white, chartreuse, and hot pink being top color choices. Small spinners, spoons, crankbaits (1-3 inches) also produce results. When water is below 55°F, tip artificial lures with small pieces of bait for increased effectiveness.

When is the best time to fish for Black Crappie in Washington?

Spring (March-May) and fall (September-October) when fish are actively feeding and moving into shallow areas. Spring offers peak opportunities as fish move toward spawning areas and feed aggressively, while fall sees increased activity as they fatten up for winter.

How do you catch Black Crappie in Washington?

Effective techniques include vertical jigging around submerged structures, fan casting with small jigs, and suspending tube jigs or grubs under bobbers at varying depths (typically 2-4 feet below surface initially). The 'dock shooting' technique - skipping jigs under docks and overhanging cover - is highly effective.

What do Black Crappie eat?

Black crappie are opportunistic carnivores with juveniles feeding on zooplankton, small crustaceans, and insect larvae, while adults primarily consume small fish like minnows, along with mysid shrimp, amphipods, copepods, and chironomid larvae.

Where do Black Crappie live in Washington?

They prefer clear, slow-moving waters with abundant vegetation, submerged timber, brush piles, and structures like docks and pilings.

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