Quote Originally Posted by siddhartha View Post
Pappy, teach me something here please. Are White Crappie more prolific than Black? Whites are what we have here in the KY River, I've never seen a Black come out of here. Just trying to learn more about my prey........
White Crappie are considered more prolific than Black Crappie, which is why most "experts" say don't stock White Crappie in a pond or small lake. But, too ... it could depend on the conditions of the body of water (take the change in percentages of numbers of Black Crappie/White Crappie on KY Lake).
The KY River may be a whole other deal, too. It tends to get quite muddy, at times, and that may not bode well for the Black Crappie. Not that there aren't Black Crappie in the river, but their numbers may not be sufficient to sustain or create a heavy population percentage. White Crappie do tend to get a little bigger/longer than Black Crappie, while the Black Crappie tend to get thicker bodied, overall.
Under normal circumstances, Black Crappie prefer clear water/cooler water/weeds ... while White Crappie prefer murky water/warmer water/wood. But, with that being said ... Taylorsville has no weeds, and I catch Black Crappie off the wood --- while Cave Run does have weeds, and generally clearer water, but I still catch (caught :p ) more White Crappie from there. You just never know
One thing's for sure ... if they're put in any body of water, Black Crappie will do their best to survive there, even if it means going against the grain (as to their preferences).
White Crappie are mostly "fish" eaters (minnows/shad/other species fry), while Black Crappie will eat alot of other live critters (worms/craws/bugs/etc) ... but either one can be caught, at times, with most any kind of live offering. If they're hungry, or while in the midst of feeding, they're subject to munching down on a worm/grub/bug/craw/etc that's offered to them.
Neither one of them likes current, and will position themselves behind anything that will break/divert the current ... bridge pilon, stump, wing dam, deadfall, brushpile, etc. They may even seek lesser current, by going up into a inflowing creek.

... cp