Thread: White/Black Crappie

Good point, I fished in front of Truman Dam a couple times last year and about everyone crappie I caught was black. Thanks for the reply guys.

Originally Posted by MBaylessTrumanMgr

Our fall sampling information shows and increase in the number of blacks in Truman. White crappie are more tolerant of muddy water and higher temperatures that blacks, therefore more blacks are caught on the lower in of the lake. I mainly fish the upper end of the lake around Clinton. I'm also noticing an increase in the number of blacks up this way. One theory I have, and it's only a theory. With the high water years that killed much of the larger timber on the lakes shorelines, more dirt has been washed off the shore. Over time the rocks on the lower lake have shifted to less dirt and more exposed rock. If this is the case, clarity on the lower lake has likely improved as the lake has aged. The heavy siltation on the upper lake has also allowed for more plants to grow on the flat areas way up the lake. An example is the amount of willows and other plants on the upper Osage up and downstream of Osceola. If this truely is the case, more silt is being trapped in these areas allowing for clear water on the lower lake. This is just one of the factors that could be playing into the noticeble increase of black crappie.

Mike, you've noticed an increase in the number of Black crappie. But is there an increase in the estimated number of crappie per acre? Or do you think there is a corresponding decline in the number of White crappie, keeping the total estimate of crappie/acre about the same?