Thread: Help with identifying crappie!!

HG88 .... IMHO - what you're "likely" to see is white dots, depending on the settings you're using on your unit.
What you may be lucky enough to see is something like this :



You "may" be able to discern whether or not they're Crappie, by the relative size of the images or the pattern of those images (sometimes Crappie gather in loose schools, but are likely to be within a limited upper & lower depth range).

Of course, depending on what fish species are in your waters, it could be several other species ... ones of similar size, predilection towards certain types of cover, or water depth/temp preferences.

Putting a bait in their vicinity "may" be the optimal way to determine what species you're seeing.

But, that's just my opinion ... others may disagree.

... cp

Thanks a lot! That's pretty much what I'm seeing the only difference is I'm seeing that on a weed bed in the lake. But I think your right I'm just going to have to fish it to see.

I have seen bass together underwater, especially smallmouth over a rocky hump etc. But they usually show up as a lone fish. Crappie are almost always together and stacked on different levels. One of the reasons they are relatively easy to see in side imaging is that they dont move much until they see something to eat and they are in a group. Pretty much any medium sized fish, grouped up/stacked, especially when relating to some structure is gonna be crappie. Step number one is being on a lake that actually holds crappie.

Here are a few of mine both down imaging. The first one is crappie, the second is not. The third is a small group of crappie being watched by a chain pickerel.

I think the reason I was getting confused is all the pictures I've looked up shows the nice perfect Christmas tree stacks that are real tight. I think I was looking for the wrong thing, because what yaw are showing me is exactly what I've been seeing. I'm new to using fishfinders so I appreciate the help.

This is kind of a generic shot of a few crappies on brush.

HEY MONTE SS,GREAT PIC'S