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White
Crappie
Habitat and Diet:
White crappies live in lakes, ponds and sluggish sections of
streams and rivers. It doesn’t need the cooler, clear waters with
hard, clean bottoms that black crappies prefer, and it doesn’t
associate with underwater vegetation as much as the black
crappie.
White crappies eat crayfish, leeches, crustaceans, insects and,
most especially, small fish. Fish are the largest part of its diet.
Relationship to humans:
The white crappie, like it's cousin, the black crappie, is a
popular fish to catch and very good to eat. They may also be
caught during the winter months through the ice.
Fun/Unusual fact:
Although similar in appearance, white crappie tend to have
markings that resemble vertical bars on their sides, while black
crappie appear more randomly spotted. To be sure, however,
count dorsal spines: White crappie typically have six dorsal
spines, blacks have seven or eight.