Thread: Harris crappie off-color filets

I haven’t been fishing on Harris Lake but have fished Jordan for 35 years and just this week cleaned some crappie and noticed one fish had a yellowish/brownish colored meat throughout. I have never see this before. I have seen post stating these filets are very strong tasting. I think I will toss these two filets and continuing reading to see if someone finds a Eason for this discoloration

I see it alot in the warm weather.

I have seen this at Harris & one other lake I fish. In the other lake the fillets were like an orangish color though, almost like a salmon. Like some have already mentioned, my suspicion is it has something to do with the eggs that are not used during the spawn. Either that or something particular that fish has eaten??? At any rate, I don't eat them but that is just in my head. Not that I believe there as anything wrong with fish from Harris. Being there is a nuclear plant on the lake, I bet that it has some of the most rigorously tested water in the state. Would be interested to hear what someone like a biologist thinks it is though.