we store our crappie in the freezer submerged in water and let them defrost that way in a bowl in the fridge , they never have any color to speak of . I prefer to let fish die slowly in the ice bath myself , likely a bit more humane , hate to have to smack them in the head to hold still while I whack on them and that there "twitching" thing and soft flesh makes for a poor way to get the meat off them well anyway ....
did see a video back when were a fella was letting them bleed beside the boat on a stringer , he used scissors to cut the gills , and it was winter time , seems like wasted time to me though , just saying