Determining the sex of crappie.

[crappiedoc]

Sexing crappie- why? do they taste different? From my research standpoint this is what I've learned. The genetics thing is so wrong, its scary. I'm really not even going there, because most of us are just plain wrong. Having stated this- male crappies "generally return to the area or spot they were born". Thats right! The sows move to other areas to prevent inbreeding. No fish dumps all there eggs in one basket, they intertwine themselves with the school for extended periods, having many suitors and areas. This is how they "plan" for the future, its built right in. It helps control or overcome the many variables like genetics, weather, or even habitat. Imagine a cloud front rolling through and dropping the water temps, some areas it will drop to far and kill the fry, while others hang on because of the wind blowing water into an area thats still warm enough. Theres so many varibles that genetics are even outnumbered. Selective harvest to me is, eating the ones you kept, but not all. Or, for some the ones needed for dinner. The filling the freezer days need to end, theres just to many people anymore, and our short-sighted government isn't building impoundments fast enough or at all.

[beagle man]

dont know

[BigMack]

OK experts, here's a male & female from this weekend.

Thumbs Up

[FROSTY]

[kansasmedic]

Correct me if I am wrong (and I am sure some will) but:

Sexing is a important conservative method to increase egg/fry production. By removing the females - your removing the ability of these fish to spawn. The older the female the more eggs they produce. Males are able to spawn with multiple females - thus the more conservative choice.

How you tell them appart is obvious in the spawn as noted above - but not sure how this would be accomplished year round.

[popperonahead]

female crappies have larger mouths.