Thread: First Black Nose crappie

I have caught them all sizes on Pomme de Terre for years! And I have heard several stories about what they are but I just call it a racing stripe and go on. Because every reason for the stripe that I have heard so far just don't make sense to me. Normally if you catch one no matter what size it is it is normally a good fighting fish. I have never gotten one in the 14 inch plus range yet to be able to have one mounted.

I copy and pasted it off an aquaculture site. "THe black nosed black crappie as we call them were first described in the white river basin of arkansas. THey have seen been found in 13 other states. The black stripe is the result of a recessive gene, which breeds true when using black stripe brooders. THere are all kinds of claims about them being sterile, or hard fighters and such. No conclusive evidence has ever been found to support any such theories. THey breed just like regular black crappie. I believe the black stripe adds to the excitement when reeling one in and anglers get an adrenaline rush when they see one, resulting in all kinds of euphoric claims. Do not be confused, some people are using black nosed black crappie in hybridization research which results in hybrid crappie with black stripes (to indicate a successful cross, gene expression of a recessive gene from one parent). Therefore some hybrid crappie have been stocked with the black stripe and some people confuse the black stripe thinking it is the result of hybridization. Bottom line, in order for any crappie to have a black stripe it must have a black nosed black crappie parent. Additionally, I have found that 8" is the "line" for all crappie. Below 8" there is not much to eat. Above 8" the fish put on weight rather than length. This can also be found in bluegill. A 5" fish is bait (10 per pound), a 6" fish can be pan fried (4 per pound), a 7" fish can be filleted (2 per pound)and an 8" fish can be cut into steaks. Anyway to answer the obvious question, what good is the black stripe. The leading theory is that the black stripe acts much like the the black paint football players put under their eyes. It helps with vision in certain conditions ("habitats"). Perhaps the black stripe presents an advantage in the clear waters of the upper white river basin. WHy are farmers raising and selling them? They are cool and most pond owners will spend money on cool stuff, like albino cats and tiger bass."