White Crappie Really Worse than Black in Ponds? - 05/18/18 08:03 PM
Hi Folks,
Despite all the cautioning against it I have gotten over the years, my wife and I are determined to create and manage a fishery (2-3 are pond here in northern Virginia) primarily for crappie, simply because that is by far our favorite warmwater species, and we just can't stand catfish, bluegill, or largemouth. We also have such great memories of catching good-sized crappie out of various farm ponds in the woods where I grew up that hadn't been stocked or tended in over a century, and still produced great fish.
We will be using smallmouth (we actually kind of like eating them, and love fighting them) as the apex predator to keep numbers in check; are going to place a ton of artificial habitat (pallets for FHM and shiner spawning, gravel and spawning discs for the game fish, Pond Guy Honey Hole Trees, Logs, and Shrubs for cover, etc.); and a forage pond for FHM, crawfish, and PK Shrimp. Therefore, with us harvesting a lot of crappie and good pond design - and we are sparing no expense on that - we think we can get a good, sustainable crappie fishery.
My question is, I have read from many sources lots of conflicting information about the differences and similarities of management of black and white crappie in small impoundments. Most tend to agree that crappie are difficult at best in small waters, but the divergence seems to be on whether both species (Black and White) are about the same in pond suitability, or whether the BCP are significantly better.
I was initially planning to play it safe and just stock BCP, but it seems all the good hatcheries around here (Zett's, Delmarva Aquatics, etc.) only have mixed-species supply. Although the farm pond crappie I grew up catching and to which I introduced my wife in her first experiences with warmwater fishing are all BCP, my biggest crappie ever was a WCP, and I have a special place in my heart for them.
BCP and WCP are both pretty fish, and it would be nice to have the variety in our pond, but I want to hear from you fine folks on what you think and have learned about whether BCP and WCP are equally challenging in ponds, or whether I should find a source that is free of WCP. As much as I think having both could be cool, if it gives me a better chance for a well-managed pond, I will gladly stick to BCP.
Thanks!
Despite all the cautioning against it I have gotten over the years, my wife and I are determined to create and manage a fishery (2-3 are pond here in northern Virginia) primarily for crappie, simply because that is by far our favorite warmwater species, and we just can't stand catfish, bluegill, or largemouth. We also have such great memories of catching good-sized crappie out of various farm ponds in the woods where I grew up that hadn't been stocked or tended in over a century, and still produced great fish.
We will be using smallmouth (we actually kind of like eating them, and love fighting them) as the apex predator to keep numbers in check; are going to place a ton of artificial habitat (pallets for FHM and shiner spawning, gravel and spawning discs for the game fish, Pond Guy Honey Hole Trees, Logs, and Shrubs for cover, etc.); and a forage pond for FHM, crawfish, and PK Shrimp. Therefore, with us harvesting a lot of crappie and good pond design - and we are sparing no expense on that - we think we can get a good, sustainable crappie fishery.
My question is, I have read from many sources lots of conflicting information about the differences and similarities of management of black and white crappie in small impoundments. Most tend to agree that crappie are difficult at best in small waters, but the divergence seems to be on whether both species (Black and White) are about the same in pond suitability, or whether the BCP are significantly better.
I was initially planning to play it safe and just stock BCP, but it seems all the good hatcheries around here (Zett's, Delmarva Aquatics, etc.) only have mixed-species supply. Although the farm pond crappie I grew up catching and to which I introduced my wife in her first experiences with warmwater fishing are all BCP, my biggest crappie ever was a WCP, and I have a special place in my heart for them.
BCP and WCP are both pretty fish, and it would be nice to have the variety in our pond, but I want to hear from you fine folks on what you think and have learned about whether BCP and WCP are equally challenging in ponds, or whether I should find a source that is free of WCP. As much as I think having both could be cool, if it gives me a better chance for a well-managed pond, I will gladly stick to BCP.
Thanks!
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