I've always understood it to be : bright yellow is "not quite ready" & orange is "ready to lay" & dark orange to an orange/brown color is "dead" & being absorbed.
... cp :kewl
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Dang, Tiger ... I didn't even notice this until I saw the picture on the Facebook page of Crappie.com .... but, some of them fish AIN'T SUPPOSED TO BE IN THERE !!
I see some White Crappie, and some that might even be hybrid Crappie, in your picture :yikes
Ain't supposed to be anything but Black Crappie (& a few Blacknose) in Cedar Creek !!
... cp :kewl