Never caught one or seen one in person, but we did have someone post a pic of one on here not too long ago.

If the Blacknose passes on the genetic trait to regular Black Crappie they breed with, and a Black/White crossbred offspring is possible (and we know it is), then why couldn't the marker gene of a Blacknose get transmitted to a White Crappie (might take a generation or two, but it is possible)

I don't think Biologists fully understand the evolutionary benefit of the black mark ... but I have a theory : it serves the same purpose as the eye black grease used by football players -- to reduce glare. And it may also be an extra bit of camouflage.