By Don Miller, John Viar and Adam Wood

88 January/FebruaryJanuary/February 20022002 •• WWILDLIFEILDLIFE JJOURNALOURNAL Never mind the slow days of ice-fishing. Black crappies will keep you racing for flags all day. A few fisheries biologists – crappie enthusiasts themselves – tell you how to ice-fish for them.

istorically, ice-fishing in New number of New Hampshire’s water bodies. Hampshire conjures images of The black crappie is not native to our state; HH wool-clad anglers chasing flags its existence here is largely the result of for perch and pickerel on small marsh past illegal fish transfers. Fish and Game ponds, and “shanty-towns” on the big Department transfers to suitable water lakes, where anglers huddle in bobhouses bodies, as well as continued illegal trans- around a wood stove, bobbing for shad and fers, have drastically expanded the lake trout. This winter scene is quiet and crappie’s range. peaceful, shared by anglers using time- Because fish introductions can have honored methods that have been passed serious ecological impacts, transferring fish down through the generations. from one water body to another is illegal by Well, the new millennium has arrived, private individuals. The No. 1 concern is and ice-anglers have a whole new bag of the spread of disease, which can wreak tricks and gadgets to fool the fish that lie havoc on fisheries. Another concern about under the hard water. As techniques and illegal fish transfers is that the introduced gadgetry have changed, likewise we find species can out-compete the native fish in a that the fisheries in our state bear little water body. An example is Lake Sunapee, resemblance to those encountered by our where illegal introductions of rock bass forefathers. Sure, old namaycush (lake have had a widespread impact on fisheries. trout), perch and pickerel are still there, sometimes even more plentiful than the past. SO, WHAT IS A BLACK CRAPPIE? But now there are new options, such as Crappies are easily distinguishable from black crappie and rainbow trout, two other sunfish; their bodies are markedly species that have developed a strong compressed from the sides, hence the following of anglers in the last decade. nickname “slab.” Their up-turned snout, Let’s examine this “new” sunfish, the large eyes, and black-green blotches on a black crappie, and discover why Midwest silver background also readily identify them. and Southern anglers rank this species so Their coloration helps to camouflage them high on their list. in their weedy habitat — vegetated areas of lakes, ponds and slow moving rivers. WHO ADDED ANOTHER SUNFISH TO Black crappies spawn in the spring THE MIX? when water temperatures reach 58 to 64 The black crappie is a member of the degrees. A nest site is selected in 3 to 8 feet sunfish family and is found in a growing continued on next page

WWILDLIFEILDLIFE JJOURNALOURNAL •• January/FebruaryJanuary/February 20022002 99 continued from previous page of water and is usually situated in the species is perfectly suited for young, line twist. roots of aquatic vegetation on a sand inexperienced, and experienced ice- A live 1 1/2 to 3-inch shiner or mud bottom. The male guards the anglers alike – and its flaky white hooked through the lips or parallel to eggs and young fry from predators fillets are second to none in the frying the back on a #8 or #6 bait holder until they’re large enough to be on pan. hook will do nicely. Use a small split- their own. shot sinker (non-lead, of course) 6 Black crappies feed primarily on HOW DO I GET STARTED? to14 inches above the bait to help get insects, zooplankton, and smaller fish. At the very least, you’ll need basic it down. Most adult black crappies are ice-fishing equipment, such as a hand between 5 and 12 inches long and or power auger to bore through the JIGGING AND GADGETS generally weigh less than 1 pound. ice, a ladle to clean your hole, and a Although tip-ups are infinitely The state record was caught ice- line to reach the fish. Tip-ups, which patient, jigging is far more effective fishing by Tom Noyes on the Bellamy come in many different styles, allow and just plain fun. Jigging lets you get Reservoir in Madbury during the you to present bait to the fish without to, attract, and play fish much more winter of 2000. It measured 17 1/4 constantly tending your line. A flag efficiently. The term “jigging” comes inches long and weighed 2 pounds, pops up when a fish takes the bait, from the motion of the fishing rod as 12.8 ounces. and the angler pulls the fish in with a the angler imparts action to the lure; hand-over-hand motion. subtle movements are usually more WHY CRAPPIES? Standard tip-up rigging consists of effective for crappies. Numerous Since they remain more active in a main body of squid or other rela- short ultra-light rods manufactured winter than other members of the tively thick line (for ease of handling specifically for ice-fishing are sunfish family, and are a schooling in the cold), connected to a 3-to 10- currently available. fish, the black crappie offers an foot piece of 4-to 10-pound test Spool a high-quality ultra-light excellent opportunity for fast and monofilament leader. A ball-bearing spinning reel, with good drag and exciting ice-fishing action. This swivel between the two helps prevent back-reel systems, with 4-or 2-pound

BLACK CRAPPIE (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)

N.H. STATE RECORD A.K.A. calico bass, slab Length: 171/4 inches Weight: 2 lbs., 12.8 oz. Large eyes and an up-turned snout help distinguish the black crappie When: Feb. 9, 2000 from other pan fish. Where: Bellamy Reservoir, Madbury Angler: Tom Noyes © DUANE RAVER/USFWS

The silvery sides are mottled EFFECTIVE BAIT with black-green blotches. • Shiners • Maggots A small jig rigged with a shiner head or tail will produce • Worms great results. Remember to use non-lead jigs only.

10 January/February 2002 • WILDLIFEILDLIFE JJOURNAL to Fish and Game’s “Freshwa- ter Fishing Guide” for a complete listing of water bodies by good containing black crappies. This handy summer habitat, such as old pocket-sized book is available at weedbeds, drop-offs, and sunken Concord headquarters and regional timber. offices. test line and Crappies are notorious for sus- you’re in for a pending at different depths as they MORE QUESTIONS? real treat when hold in their deep water winter Feel free to call (603) 744-5470 or battling feisty “refuge” areas, so make sure to check e-mail Don Miller crappies. all depths – a sonar unit will tell you [email protected] or John Viar Match your lure or lure/bait immediately where to start fishing. [email protected] at Fish and combination to the activity level of Crappies may hold closer to the Game’s Region 2 office in New the crappies. A good start is a small structure listed above early and late in Hampton if you have any questions or Swedish pimple or Kastmaster rigged the season. want more details regarding crappies with a shiner head or tail on a single Above all, always stay mobile – or other fishing opportunities in the hook. When crappies get finicky, a keep drilling holes and checking Lakes Region. ■ small glow-in-the-dark teardrop jig different areas until you find the fish! tipped with a wax worm, maggot, or Don Miller is Fish and Game’s large worm can save the day. WHAT WATER BODIES CURRENTLY lakes fisheries biologist; John Viar is As in all fishing, experiment until HAVE FISHABLE CRAPPIE a fisheries biological technician; you find what pattern is working. POPULATIONS? Adam Wood is a seasonal fisheries A gadget that will literally triple The middle to northern end of biological aide. All are avid crappie your ice-fishing success is a good Moultonborough Bay of Lake anglers. portable sonar unit, or “fish-finder.” Winnipesaukee boasts an Sonar allows you to monitor fish excellent crappie popula- position in the water column, deter- tion. Other water bodies mine fish activity levels, know the with fishable populations precise depth and bottom composi- include Balch Pond in tion, find weedbeds or other structure, Wakefield; Pemigewasset © JAMES VIAR PHOTOS and simply see if the fish are under Lake in New Hampton; your hole! Monomonac Lake in Newer liquid crystal display (LCD) Rindge; Surry Mountain or flasher types work equally well. Pond in Surry; Crystal The key is to not skimp on your Lake in Manchester; battery system. A 12-volt 10- or 12- Horseshoe Pond in amp motorcycle battery will keep you Merrimack; Baboosic fishing throughout the coldest days. Lake in Amherst; and Lake Joe Sylvia/Clement WHEN AND WHERE DO I LOOK Pond in Hopkinton. FOR WINTERTIME CRAPPIES? Many other water As with many species, early and bodies also have good late in the ice-fishing season are the populations. Please refer best times to catch crappies, although they can still be caught in good numbers during mid-winter. With their large eyes, crappies are well suited to feeding during low-light conditions when they ambush prey. They are especially active at dusk and If you set up in the right place into the evening. Dawn can also be (you may have to drill a few good, and they will bite throughout holes to do this) you can have the day in some water bodies, a productive day chasing tip especially under ice cover. ups and catching black When choosing a spot to start ice- crappies. John Viar, above, fishing, look for relatively deep basin uses a fish finder and a jigging water (20 feet or more, depending on rod. the particular water body), surrounded

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