Guide To Improving Your Crappie Fishing In Texas

All about fishing for white and black crappie.

Texas provides excellent opportunities for crappie fishing, attracting anglers who seek the challenge of targeting these popular panfish. The state is home to two primary crappie species: black crappie and white crappie. Black crappie, known for their distinct dark speckles and elongated body shape, can be found in various lakes and reservoirs across Texas. Lakes such as Lake Conroe, Lake Texoma, and Lake Fork are known for their black crappie populations. Anglers often use jigs, minnows, or small crankbaits to entice these elusive fish.

White crappie, on the other hand, are more abundant and widely distributed throughout the state. They can be found in lakes, rivers, and even urban ponds. Lakes like Lake Palestine, Lake Livingston, and Lake Buchanan are known for their thriving white crappie populations. Anglers targeting white crappie often employ similar techniques as with black crappie, using jigs, minnows, or small lures to entice these fish.

Both black crappie and white crappie offer exciting angling experiences and can provide a delicious reward at the end of the line. Anglers in Texas enjoy the challenge of locating schools of crappie, deciphering their feeding patterns, and using finesse techniques to entice bites. Crappie fishing is particularly popular during the spring spawning season when these fish congregate near shallow areas and structures. Whether you prefer the striking appearance of black crappie or the widespread presence of white crappie, Texas offers a variety of waters to explore and enjoy the pursuit of these popular panfish.

Crappie Waters In TX

Crappie make their home in most every major lake in Texas, including B.A. Steinhagen Lake, Belton Lake, Brady Creek Reservoir, Cedar Creek Reservoir, Choke Canyon Reservoir, Cooper Lake, Diversion Lake, Eagle Mountain Lake, Gibbons Creek Reservoir, Granger Lake, Lake E.V. Spence, Grapevine Lake, Hubbard Creek Reservoir, Joe Pool Lake, Lake Arrowhead, Lake Bob Sandlin, Lake Bridgeport, Lake Brownwood, Lake Buchanan, Lake Caddo, Lake Conroe, Lake Corpus Christi, Lake Fork Reservoir, Lake Granbury, Lake Houston, Lake J.B. Thomas, Lake Kemp, Lake Kickapoo, Lake Lewisville, Lake Limestone, Lake Livingston, Lake Lyndon B Johnson, Lake Murvaul, Lake Meredith, Lake O the Pines, Lake Palestine, Lake Ray Hubbard, Lake Somerville, Lake Tawakoni, Lake Texana, Lake Texoma, Lake Travis, Lake Waco, Lake Whitney, Lake Worth, Lavon Lake, Martin Creek Lake, Medina Lake, Navarro Mills Lake, O.C. Fisher Lake, O.H. Ivie Lake, Palo Duro Reservoir, Pat Mayse Lake, Possom Kingdom Lake, Proctor Lake, Ray Roberts Lake, Richland Chambers Reservoir, Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Stamford Reservoir, Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir, Toledo Bend, Twin Buttes Reservoir, White Rock Lake and Wright Patman Lake.

Click the images and links above for species details.

Top 5 Crappie Fishing Lures For Texas

Crappie jigs work well in water from 2' to 40' deep, and are the most popular artificial lure for crappie ever. When crappie are shallow, spinners, small crankbaits and underspins are the often very productive. As they move deeper, spoons are among the top producers if the crappie are active. Review details for the best crappie rig options. Understanding the seasonal movements of crappie can enhance your chances of using these lures in the ideal locations.

Texas Crappie Records

Lake Fork yielded the state record black crappie.

The state record white crappie was taken out of Navarro Mills Lake.

Crappie are actually a member of the sunfish family and can be found in many Texas lakes. Crappie are known by many different local names. Paper mouth, goggleye, bridge perch, slabs and speckled perch, are just a few.

Crappie Fishing Basics Video

Crappie are also found in most ponds, small lakes and rivers across the state as well.

Check out crappie information, by state.