Quote Originally Posted by CUonthelake View Post
Yes that is odd looking for sure and looks like it has some deformaties. I think I count 7 dorsal spines in the photo where the lady is holding it which means black crappie. However this would also be a candidate for a cross between black vs white or perhaps it has physical alterations for some reason. Never saw one like it though.

this is the response we got from TWRA biologists Mike Jolley
Candi ... looks like it has some spinal deformation, kinda like a lot of the little Smallmouth Bass we used to catch up on Watts Bar a few decades ago. (& I'm talking waaaay before the 18" size limit)

Almost looks like it might have some Flier genetics (the coloration & pattern) .... but, the dorsal fin count definitely says Black Crappie or Hybrid Crappie.