Spawn, Technical Question for the crappie bios.

[sparky197]

I have read several articles on the health of crappie populations and spawning in a body of water. The lake I fish regularly is overpopulated with black crappie and mostly males. This spring I have caught quite a few large white females but very few white males. My question is there a cross species that I would call a hybrid that comes from a cross between the two or do white females only lay eggs in white male beds and thus the white male fertilizes and protects its kind?

[foul hook]

I would like to hear a good answer to that one.

[sparky197]

I can't find any articles that address a cross, I believe different species of bluegill cross.

[feelay]

I do know there are hybrid crappie here in Ms, but not knowlegeable as to how they are produced.

[jaxsprat]

We have hybrid crappies in some of our lakes here in ILLinois, they are officially classified as a hybrid and are a cross between black & white crappie. In fact state record hybrid was caught thru ice last year---15.+ inches.

[Chill]

Hey Sparky, as a novice I have basic questions about the crappie spawn and stuff. Where do I click to read articles like you are referring to?

[booger1]

read
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/main-...d-crappie.html

[Crappie Reaper]

Are you positive the Black males you're seeing are not actually White Crappie? The White males turn a very dark color during spawn and most mistake them for Black Crappie.

[CrappiePappy]

Are you positive the Black males you're seeing are not actually White Crappie? The White males turn a very dark color during spawn and most mistake them for Black Crappie.

It's not uncommon for spawning male White Crappie to be confused with Black Crappie. However, there is a pretty easy way to tell them apart ... count the spines on the front of the top fin .... 6 or less = White Crappie -- 7-8 = Black Crappie. White Crappie have their side coloration pattern in saddle strips (bars), whereas the Black Crappie have evenly spaced black blotches (spots). Black Crappie don't change color, or get more black coverage on their bodies, during the spawn. White Crappie males get more black on their fins, body and face. White Crappie females don't change color.

.. cp

[yankee doodler]

It's not uncommon for spawning male White Crappie to be confused with Black Crappie. However, there is a pretty easy way to tell them apart ... count the spines on the front of the top fin .... 6 or less = White Crappie -- 7-8 = Black Crappie. White Crappie have their side coloration pattern in saddle strips (bars), whereas the Black Crappie have evenly spaced black blotches (spots). Black Crappie don't change color, or get more black coverage on their bodies, during the spawn. White Crappie males get more black on their fins, body and face. White Crappie females don't change color.

.. cp

I think the black males DO get darker prior/during the spawn, at least up here. See my post on black males. They are definitely blacker than males caught in same lake earlier/later in the season.