Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Fly Fishing & Other Fish Species Need help identifying a fish

Saw an interesting looking fish today while fishing in a neighbors 1 acre pond. The pond is shallow, and was originally man made, but is probably eighty years old or so. Anyway, it was probably 3-4" whitish with black vertical stripes I believe.

My friend called it a calico bass, although I know that it is not. I read up on crappie which I thought it could be, although no lakes or ponds around here have them. Does anyone have a picture of a juvenile crappie?

It was on top of a bluegill nesting structure 6-8" below the surface. It also appeared as if it was mating with a 6-8" bluegill. They were going around in circles together but the bluegill was not chasing, they were in unison. It was odd.

I plan to go back soon and catch one, as my neighbor claims there is a lot of them. Maybe put it in an empty aquarium? Sorry no pictures, but I will try to get a few once I go back more prepared.

Did you get any pictures?

BG particularly those in spawning colors can get very vivid colorations to include being pale almost white background with dark stripes. Sounds like what you saw was a male and female BG spawning...

YOY black crappie

Try to get a photo, without one this is all mere guessing...

No, I didn't have a camera with me then. I plan to go back soon and catch one. I really have no idea now, it could be a bluegill, although it had the color of that black crappie except with a more bass shaped body and more distinguished stripes. I believe that bluegill can get this color during spawning, but he says he catches them bigger than most of the bluegill, which makes me wonder. I'll try to get pictures up as soon as I go back. Thanks.

Yeah, it is a crappie. I just have little experience with them in Connecticut.
From Wikipedia:
Other names for crappie are papermouths, strawberry bass, specks, speckled perch, calico bass (throughout New England)[9], sac-au-lait (in southern Louisiana, lit "bag of milk")[10] and Oswego bass.

I've actually caught a few, just never made the connection. I think this one will make an excellent addition to my two slightly larger pumpkinseeds.

It could be stunted adults also at 4 inches. Here are some pics from the sunfish archive.


BLACK CRAPPIE



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WHITE CRAPPIE



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