Many novice crappie anglers have a hard time distinguishing between a black crappie and a white crappie, so adding a third species to the mix can be a bit confusing.
Here are some distinguishing characteristics between the two main species of crappie:
• Black crappie have irregular, dark blotches or speckles on their sides and either seven or eight dorsal fin spines.
• White crappie have five to 10 vertical bands and only five or six dorsal fin spines.
• The distance from the eye to the dorsal fin is equal to the length of the dorsal fin base in black crappie.
• The distance from the eye to the dorsal fin is greater than the length of the dorsal fin base in white crappie.
• Black crappie have a smaller mouth structure overall, and often prefer smaller baits.
• White crappie have a larger mouth structure, making them more adaptable to larger baits.
• White crappie tolerate murkier water better than black crappie and prefer a more open-water, or pelagic, habitat.
• Black crappie thrive better in clear water and can tolerate higher salt content, as well as showing a preference for shallow, weedy areas.
Magnolia crappie, on the other hand, have a blended appearance, sporting characteristics of both black and white crappie — and some of their own.
Sixty percent of Magnolia crappie inherit the black stripe that runs along the top of the fish from the nose to the dorsal fin. This is also a rare, naturally occurring, recessive trait of black crappie.
Magnolia crappie also have the body shape of a black crappie, meaning more of a rounded shape than the long shape of a white crappie.
Lastly, Magnolia crappie sport both the vertical bars of the white crappie and the mottled spotting of a black crappie.
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