Crappie spawn earlier than bass or bluegill. This gives them the ability as fry to outcompete the bass and bluegill for crucial invertebrate resources. Picture literally millions of half inch crappie pounding away at the zooplankton, then turning their attention to the struggling larval bluegill and largemouth bass one third their size. Not a pretty picture. Crappie are known for their staggering year-classes that dominate a pond for years. Capable as adults of living on both fish and invertebrates but too small to interest anglers...

....but they do taste good.

Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.