i dont mean to sound stupid i just receaved a crappie to mount and i need to know the diferace between white and black crappie so i will know which paint schedule to use. thank you.
the number of spines on the anal fin.
6 or less black 7 or more white
Check out the spiny dorsal.
I belive I got them backwards 7 or more is the black 6 or less is the white
sorry.Ref:Freshwater gamefish of north america.Avalible at wallmart for less than $20.00 good book .
Chris,
The color patterns on a white crappie are usually more vertical with the patterns on a black being more irregular.
Greg
White crappies are usually marked with a vertical bar pattern and black crappie are marked with an irregular or spotted pattern.
After you've seen a few not only will the difference be as different as night and day, the white crappie has more length between the dorsal fin and end of head than the black crappie. That's why I question suppliers that supply one form for for both species.
Something that is not that uncommon in waters where both are found are intergrade hybrids. I have some in my area of northern Indiana. Fish culurists are also producing hybrids.
Cecil
Cecil,what do the hybrids look like? I live in NE Illinois and I mainly see Black crappies and a few nice whites .Are the hybrids closer in appearance to one or the other or are they completely differently marked?The difference between LM and SM bass with reference to the spotted bass come to mind.