What's a good size crappie?

Keeping the 9-10" fish is usually better for a fishery than keeping just the biggest you catch because there is more meat on them... I hate it when people criticize others for keeping 8-9" crappies but then they put an 8" male bluegill in their bucket. More meat on an 8-9in crappie and it wont hurt the fishery at all.

What is the average size of a crappie?

Crappies are typically about 4–8 inches (10–20 cm) long. The current all-tackle fishing world record for a black crappie is 2.47 kg (5 lb 7 oz). The maximum length reported for a black crappie is 19.3 inches (49 cm) and the maximum published weight is just under 6 pounds (2,700 g).

Is a 13 inch crappie big?

In central-IL, 10.5" is a good Crappie, & excellent eating! A 10.5" black crappie will have nice filets. On my home-lake, 1-2 fish over 10" in a day is a good day. Crappie do get larger, & I consider 13" very good, but not so big that I feel bad about keeping it.

What is considered big for crappie?

A 1-pound crappie is considered a nice catch. A 1 1/2-pounder is a really something. And anything over 2 pounds is one to brag about. Most states include crappies in their record-fish lists, but documenting the heftiest of the nation's big crappies can be a daunting task.

How old is a 14 inch crappie?

At fourteen inches, the typical black crappie weighs 1.7 pounds and will be 14.3 years old. A 14-inch white crappie will be 1.4 pounds and 9.1 years old.

A Brief Guide To Selecting The Right Size Crappie Jig…

How long is a 1 lb crappie?

While the average size of crappie is somewhere between 8 and 12 inches and 1/4 and 1lb, they can reach a maximum length of about 20 inches and a maximum weight of a little over 5lb. Crappie with a length of 13-15 inches and a weight of 1.5 to 2lb are generally considered trophy fish.

How big is a slab crappie?

A "slab" crappie has different connotations in various parts of the country. Anglers in some regions classify a 13-incher as a slab, while others use the term for fish surpassing 15 inches.

Do black or white crappie get bigger?

One way to tell the difference between white and black crappies is by their size & body shape. Black Crappie tend to grow larger than white crappie overall. They are usually thicker and more dense than White Crappie.

How do you catch big crappie instead of the little ones?

What's the largest crappie ever caught?

The black crappie would weigh an astonishing 5 lbs 7.68 oz, making it not only the new Tennessee state record (previously held since 1985) but the world record.

How big is a trophy black crappie?

Speaking in generalities, however, any crappie over 1 1/2 pounds is an exceptional fish, and for most anglers in most waters, a crappie over 2 pounds would be the trophy of a lifetime.

Are crappies good to eat?

Not only is crappie delicious, but also very healthy to eat. Crappie contains thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, B12, D, and calcium. We know they taste divine when deep-fried, but a more healthy option is to steam them with asparagus and other vegetables.

What is the best bait for crappie?

Minnows, worms, insects—just about anything can catch a crappie's attention. You don't have to worry about the color of the bait, and you're only throwing them what they would be eating anyway. Minnows are hands-down the favorite used by most, and some even tip a jig with a live minnow for a double-whammy.

What is a gold crappie?

Golden Crappie: When it comes to golden crappie, they are the rarest of the crappie species, with one or two documented cases and a handful of legit pictures in circulation. Sometimes it is referred to as albino crappie, it is mostly gold sometimes with a black lining from its lips all the way to the dorsal fin.

Do white crappie breed with black crappie?

Crappie can cross-breed, which produces hybrids that have characteristics of both Black Crappie and White Crappie. When a Blacknose Crappie and a White Crappie cross-breed the dark stripe apparently comes through on some of their offspring.

How old is a 12 inch crappie?

Now I tend to keep them between 10'' and 12". In PA, a 12 inch crappie is usually about 8 years old but a 14+" fish is nearly 20 years old. A 10-12 inch fish makes a good fillet but it takes far less time to replace that fish.

Which lake has the biggest crappie?

Top here is Grenada Lake, a shallow, 36,000-acre Corps of Engineers impoundment 82 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee on I-55. It produces more trophy crappie than any other fishery in the country. Big fish are so common the local tourism board has nicknamed the lake “Home of the 3-Pound Crappie.”

How long does it take for a crappie to get full size?

Fingerling crappie that are stocked as 3 to 4 inches in the fall will grow to 7 to 9 inches in a year. Depending on the food supply, these could be 10 inches by year two and large enough to enter the catch. I have seen crappie in small pounds larger than 2 pounds.

What state has the best crappie fishing?

What's the lifespan of a crappie?

This species is known to live at least 15 years. During the first four years of life, young black crappies grow quickly in the warm waters of the southern US while growth is slower in cooler northern U.S. waters. Black crappies reach maturity at 2-4 years of age.

How deep are crappie right now?

You're likely to find the crappie hanging out in waters 6 to 12 feet deep and remember, finding structure is not as important as finding food for the crappie.