Photo by Scott Maloch

Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Mississippi Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, 2005, and though its aftermath has been fraught with various serious difficulties, dire consequences for the crappie fishing in most the state aren't likely to number among them. Crappie populations generally run in cycles, and as most papermouth lakes in the Magnolia State have seen their fish enjoy several solid annual spawns, those venues show promise for excellent action.

"Hurricane Katrina didn't affect crappie fishing in Mississippi greatly," said Bubba Hubbard, the assistant chief of fisheries for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, "because the main crappie fisheries are from the central part of the state northward. From Jackson north we saw very little damage to the fisheries from Katrina. The hurricane probably only greatly affected the area around the Pascagoula River, the oxbow lakes off the river and a few coastal streams. We had some fish kills in the coastal rivers because of oxygen depletion and saltwater intrusion from the hurricane surge."

In most state waters, anglers can catch up to 30 slabs per day in any combination of black or white crappie. Black and white crappie look very similar and share many traits. As the names imply, black crappie look darker, while white crappie tend to be lighter in color. A white crappie usually shows several vertical bars of dark color on its sides; a black crappie -- sometimes called a "speckled perch" -- is randomly spotted all over. For a positive identification, count the spines: A white crappie has six spiny dorsal fins; a black crappie has either seven or eight.

Of course, they look and taste the same when dipped in cornmeal and fried!

"Overall, the crappie fishery is in good shape in most areas," Hubbard said. "Since crappie populations tend to fluctuate in cycles, some lakes are in down cycles, but most areas should be moderate to good. We've had some good year-classes recently, so anglers should find good sizes and numbers."

Both black and white crappie generally occupy many waters jointly. They both eat the same prey, mainly threadfin shad or other minnows; black crappie may eat a few more insects. People generally use the same tactics to catch both species.

While they might share the same waters, the two species prefer slightly different habitats. In general, anglers find white crappie more in the muddier running water of big rivers. Black crappie generally prefer clear, quiet water, so anglers often find them in the oxbows and backwaters of major rivers.

Both species congregate in big schools in late winter before spawning, sometimes at depths of 30 to 40 feet in large reservoirs. You might catch a limit in one spot without moving the boat. Once one or two crappie are caught, you should thoroughly probe the area for more of their cousins. Usually, fish run in schools with others of similar size. Also, the fish tend to congregate by size: If three or four half-pound crappie are hooked in a particular spot, more of that size are probably present there. If you want bigger crappie, check other locations that might hold bigger slabs.

Mississippi anglers typically catch the largest crappie of the year in late winter, just before the spawn. Fishing for pre-spawn crappie can resemble hunting for submarines. In deep water, crappie follow schools of prey species, so search for those baitfish with your electronics. Find the bait, and hungry crappie probably lurk just below the school. A baitfish school might appear as an inverted "V" on a depthfinder.

To catch suspended fish, always dangle the bait slightly above the crappie. These fish look up to spot minnows silhouetted against surface glare. They might swim up 3 or 4 feet to hit a jig or live minnow, but they'll probably never see one bouncing just below them.