CommonNativeSecure
5
Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus · Centrarchidae
Paper-mouthed, school-schooled, skillet-bound.
Common
8–12 in
Max
16 in
Weight
Up to 3 lbs
Best Bite Windows
When black crappie feeds · time-of-day read
Right now · 12:00 PM · MIDD window
GOOD70%feeding activity
First & last light · minnows under a float
24-hour bite curvetaller = more feeding · scrub the clock
12a6a12p6p12a
DAWN
73
MORN
83
MIDD
71
AFTE
76
DUSK
58
NIGH
50
Daytime sight feeder · loves overcast
Solar + LunarMED-HIGH lunar pull
Major feeds7:53p – 9:53p5:20a – 7:20a
Minor feeds5:39a – 6:39a8:03p – 9:03p
Solunar window 8:08p – 9:38p
Full MoonNew Moon
Day · Clearer water preference — target submerged grass edges and brush in 6–12 ft. Full Moon concentrates spawning in spring.
Night · Night biting under lights near Full Moon. Favors slightly deeper structure than White Crappie after dark.
Habitat
LakesReservoirsOxbows
Range
Standing timber, brush piles, dock pilings.
Diet
Minnows, small shad, aquatic insects.
Tackle box · top lures
Top picks · Spring pattern
1
Bobby Garland Baby Shad (1.5" on 1/32oz jighead)
1.5" on 1/32oz jighead
Slow fall through timber. Chartreuse/white or monkey milk.
AGFC2
1/32oz Crappie Jig (pink/chartreuse)
pink/chartreuse
Vertical jig under dock lights at night.
AGFCLures from AGFC reports + species data — verify regs at agfc.com/fishing.
Ready-to-fish boxes for Black Crappie
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Tale Waters & Tides
The home water for Arkansas anglers
Pocket Fishing Guide is powered by Tale Waters & Tides — gear, guides, and the stories behind the water. Plan your next trip with us.
How to fish it · techniques
Count down to depth
Move until you find the school
Vertical on brush
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Rileys White & Buffalo Outfitter
Your White & Buffalo River outfitter
Guided float trips, canoe & kayak rentals, and riverside cabins on the White and Buffalo rivers.
Fun fact
Black crappie love clearer water than their white cousins. Side-by-side in the same lake, they'll hold deeper and tighter to cover.
Status
Secure
Native · Centrarchidae
Regulations
Statewide Crappie Regulations — Arkansas · Statewide — all public waters in Arkansas
10″ min length30 per day
AGFC regulations Always confirm current size & daily limits with AGFC before keeping fish.