Catching the world record crappie, whether it’s white or black, is one of the most sought-after panfish prizes in North America. A 1-pound crappie is considered a nice catch. A 1 1/2-pounder is a really something. And anything over 2 pounds is one to brag about. Most states include crappies in their record-fish lists, but documenting the heftiest of the nation’s big crappies can be a daunting task.
Fact-Checking State and World Record Crappie
Records on the state and even national level are not always rock-solid, especially older records. Certified weigh scales, verifiable witnesses to the catch, accurate measurements, and cameras were not as readily available as they are today. Considering that some of the biggest fish recorded were caught decades ago, many are not documented by photo, and some that may be listed as state records are a bit thin on verifiable catch documentation.
For example, the largest record black crappie touted by many sources is a 6-pounder taken in Louisiana in November 1969 by Lettie Robertson. At one time, the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) considered the catch a world record. But no photos of the fish are available, and other information about the catch is minimal. Though the IGFA has retired the fish from its record book, the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame still lists this massive 6-pounder as the world-record.
For this review of the nation’s biggest crappie ever, photo documentation is required. So, here are the slabbiest the slabs—with photographic evidence (some admittedly of poor quality).
1. All-Tackle World Record Crappie (Black Crappie)
Ferguson fished a private small, deep, and weedy spring-fed pond in Loundon County near Knoxville when he hooked into this 5-Pound, 7-Ounce, 19.25-inch-long black crappie. It hit a Kalin’s 2-inch Triple Threat Grub on a 1/8-ounce jig head, and it took 5 minutes to land. The fish was weighed by a Tennessee wildlife officer on certified scales, and witnesses to the catch and the weighing were on hand. The fish also went through DNA testing by the state to make sure it was a black crappie, not a white crappie or hybrid. The fish is the current IGFA all-tackle record for black crappie, as well as the Tennessee state record.
Ferguson was sure to contact a Tennessee wildlife officer to weigh his catch because he’d caught a massive crappie (4-pounds, 4-ounces) previously from the same pond. Although that fish was photographed and weighed, Tennessee officials were not on hand to verify it.
2. All-Tackle World Record Crappie (White Crappie)
This massive 21-inch long, 5-pound, 3-ounce white crappie has been the IGFA all-tackle world record for the species for over half a century. It was caught in the Yocona River below Enad Dam. Bright used an Action Rod and a Denison-Johnson reel. But there’s no information on the line, lure, or bait that he used. The fish was photographed and documented by witnesses for the catch and weight.
3. The Former World Record Black Crappie
At one time, this huge 5-pound black crappie was the IGFA all-tackle record. It became a celebrity because after Hortsman caught it, he donated the fish to Bass Pro Shops in Columbia, Missouri, where it lived for years in their 11,000-gallon aquarium. The fish was affectionately named Pat and thrilled anglers of all ages who saw it. Hortsman caught the 19-inch-long fish from a private pond on a live minnow. He used an Eagle Claw rod and Zebco reel.
4. Arkansas State Record Crappie
This 5-pound black crappie is the Arkansas state record and it was caught by Donivan Echols, who was 10 years old at the time. It shattered a 35-year state record. The fish was taken from 200-acre Lake Wilhelmina in Polk County. Young Echols used a rod, reel, and tackle he’d purchased the previous day with money he’d earned working for his grandparents. A live minnow duped the fish, and it took 5 hours for state officials to weigh it. The fish reportedly lost 1 ounce in weight before it was certified. It was 18-inches long with a 13-inch girth.
5. The “Almost” Nebraska State Record Crappie
This Nebraska crappie is remarkable in several ways. First, it was caught through the ice by Moore on a 15-degree day two weeks before Christmas on an icy pond near Omaha. Moore and his brother Scott quickly measured the fish on video at 19 inches and considered taking it—alive—an hour drive away to have it certified by a state fishery official. Most remarkable is that the Moore brothers wanted to release the 5-pound fish, believing it was more valuable back in the pond as broodstock than in a skillet. They knew driving it an hour for a weigh-in and back to the pond would likely kill the crappie. So they released the potential record-breaker.
This California slab is the most recently caught record crappie on our list. Dave Burruss, the owner of Clear Lake Outdoors in Lakeport, California, was fishing on Feb. 17, 2021. Conditions were partly cloudy and 58 degrees. According to theLake CountyRecord-Bee, Burruss said, “It had been a slow day bass fishing, but I saw a few bigger fish on the Garmin Livescope that I thought were maybe bass. But these fish were suspended 6 to 10 feet deep in 25 feet of water. They ended up being huge crappies. There were two other crappies with this fish the same size that I couldn’t get to bite. I used a4-inch Keitech Easy Shineron aCool Baits Down Underspin.”
7. Alabama State Record Crappie
This 4-pound, 9-ounce white crappie is barely the state record for Alabama, edging out second place by a single ounce. It’s also one of the heaviest angler-caught white crappies photographed. It was taken on the sprawling 39,000-acre Lake Martin—a deep, clear, heavily fished reservoir on the Tallapoosa River in central Alabama.
Read Next: Tactics for Catching Crappies in Hot Summer Weather
8. The Show-Me-State Slab
Missouri angler Samuel Barbee landed this remarkably heavy 4-pound, 9-ounce white crappie on March 5, 2000.
9. Illinois State Record Hybrid Crappie
Southern Illinois’ Kinkaid Reservoir in Jackson County has a rich history of giving up stout crappies, and it yielded this 4-pound, 8.8-ounce state record hybrid (white/black) crappie for Povolish, besting the previous state record that held the top spot for 40 years. Povolish’s fish took a ½-ounce green swim jig he’d tied on for bass while working water near a grass bed.
10. The Former World Record Crappie (and Current Nebraska Record)
This one-time IGFA world record black crappie is still the top fish in Nebraska. Paap caught it on a farm pond near Nebraska City in Otoe County. The fish struck a popular Road Runner jig that Paap cast using a Shimano rod and Zebco reel. It took five minutes to land the 4-pound, 8-ounce slab, which measured 18.5 inches in length.
11. The Alabama Monster
This hefty white crappie was caught on Guntersville Reservoir, a big TVA impoundment in far northern Alabama near the Tennessee border. Guntersville is a popular fishing spot and is heavily fished. But Grant found a way to boat this impressive 4-pound, 8-ounce catch.
Read Next: How and Where to Catch a Limit of Crappies
12. The “Almost” Tennessee State Record Crappie
Lionel “Jam” Ferguson (again) caught this 4-pound, 4-ounce giant black crappie two years prior to catching his 5-pound, 7-ounce world record in 2018. This fish wasn’t certified by state fisheries officials, so it was not accepted for record status. But Jam got a photo of the heavy slab. Then he took it home, cooked it, and ate it. But this photo of the fish tells the story best.
It's official, Lionel Ferguson's 5-pound, 7-ounce black crappie is the new IGFA All-Tackle world record! Caught on May 15, 2018 in Richeison Pond, in Loudon County. Ferguson's monster crappie replaced the previous record of 5 pound which was set back in 2006.
though most mature in their third to fourth year. In Wisconsin, most crappies don't live much past their fifth year, grow larger than 12-14 inches, or weigh more than a pound.
Angler Fred Bright was fishing Enid Dam in Mississippi when he landed the heaviest recorded white crappie in history. Bright's IGFA certified all-tackle world record weighed in a 5 pounds, 3 ounces (2.35 kg).
Now I tend to keep them between 10'' and 12". In PA, a 12 inch crappie is usually about 8 years old but a 14+" fish is nearly 20 years old. A 10-12 inch fish makes a good fillet but it takes far less time to replace that fish. I now release those bigger breeding fish and keep the smaller ones (under 13").
The best states for crappie fishing include Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri — in no particular order! Indiana – Also a great hotspot and some of our favorite locations are Sylvan Lake, Webster Lake, and Worster Lake.
The best time of year to catch crappie is during the spawning season which takes place from February-May. During the spawn, both male and female crappie move from deep locations into shallow and concentrated spawning areas. This makes them very easy to target, as they are actively feeding and defending their nests.
Enid is where the world record white crappie of 5-pounds, 3-ounces was caught in 1957, so this lake holds a certain mystique when discussing crappie fishing. It's often overlooked as there are so many top destinations for crappie in the state of Mississippi.
One way to tell the difference between white and black crappies is by their size & body shape. Black Crappie tend to grow larger than white crappie overall. They are usually thicker and more dense than White Crappie.
Crappie baits are injected with old-school anise oil. Toledo Bend Guide Jerry Thompson's a big fan of accenting his live minnow rigs with Berkley Powerbait Crappie Nibbles — a tactic he calls “adding cheese to the burger.” Chartreuse is his favorite, but pink gets bit, too.
Chief among them is Alabama's Weiss Lake, which is known by many as the “Crappie Capital of the World.” Although Weiss has experienced a couple down years in productivity, it's still kicking out 2 and 3 pound fish to anglers longlining crankbaits or live bait along channel bends and points.
Most crappie fishermen are using as light as 2-pound test up to about 6-pound test for the occasional bass, pike or other big fish that decides to take your presentation. Many find 4-pound test to be an ideal line when paired with a quality reel and rod combo.
The most popular crappie jighead size is the 1/16 ounce. From it, the next is either going up to a 1/8 ounce, or down to a 1/24. Most crappie anglers use jigheads somewhere in the range of 1/32- to 3/16-ounce. Although jigheads are similar in form and function, all are not made equal.
The best water temperature for crappie fishing is between 68 °F to 72 °F when the crappie spawn and post-spawn feed period seems to be at its highest point. This means the northern areas of the country can see this peak around early June while the southern areas can see it as early as early March.
This species is known to live at least 15 years. During the first four years of life, young black crappies grow quickly in the warm waters of the southern US while growth is slower in cooler northern U.S. waters. Black crappies reach maturity at 2-4 years of age.
Crappie spawn at different times each year depending on their location. In colder climates such as Canada, they might even spawn twice per year while those in Florida may only spawn once during the warmer months from May to August.
Jigs and minnows are often the best baits when fishing for crappie. Because of the diverse diets of crappie, they can be caught in many different ways, making them an excellent species for almost any angler to experience using their favorite technique.
All-chartreuse, lime-black, brown-orange and greens are my primary colors. In deeper water, blue-white and purple-white are excellent. In stained water (coffee color or with tannic acid) with bright-light conditions, my four predominate crappie catching colors are: green, chartreuse, lime and orange.
A Quick Summary. As you can see, we generally recommend gold, bronze, and red Aberdeen hooks in sizes #1, #2, and #4 for crappie. They offer the characteristics most anglers need, most of the time, when chasing spring slabs.
At fourteen inches, the typical black crappie weighs 1.7 pounds and will be 14.3 years old. A 14-inch white crappie will be 1.4 pounds and 9.1 years old. And a 19-inch black crappie, like the one that stands as the state record fish• It will have been swimming around for about 19 years.
The state records for Crappies are: Black Crappie: 5 pounds even and White Crappie: 3 pounds, 15 ounces. Anglers love Crappies. Though the walleye is the state fish, crappies are one of the fish that are caught most often. Crappies bite readily and produce sweet-tasting fillets.
The best time of day for crappie fishing is just after sunrise as well as an hour before sunset during warmer months. Nighttime can also produce good crappie fishing during warmer months. During colder months, midday, when the air temperature is warmest, seems to work best for both black and white crappie.
Crappie will move in shallower during low-light periods and back out to deeper areas during the day. Cooling water will have crappie transitioning to deeper basins.
Crappie may stop biting for these 4 reasons: 1. They were spooked by the angler or another predator, 2. They followed their food source elsewhere, 3. They are moving in relation to cold or hot weather, 4.
Trophy versions sell for 315 raw and 475 cooked. Blackcloud: Common fish, can be caught at any time of day. Can be sold for 150 raw and 225 cooked. Trophy versions sell for 375 raw and 565 cooked.
Home to the unrivaled "Arc of Slabs," which includes the hallowed waters of Arkabutla, Enid, Grenada, and Sardis, the Magnolia State could easily argue for top honors on the list. Perhaps nowhere else on the planet do anglers have a better shot at catching big white crappies, including giants topping 3 pounds.
When the water temperature is 50 to 56 degrees, most crappies will be found staging on flats ranging from 6 to 15 feet deep. “Whenever anglers start catching fish shallow they often think the fish must be spawning.
Sack of Milk is the English interpretation of “sac-a-lait”, the Cajun French name for crappie. The fish are called “white perch” in north Louisiana, but in both places they are so esteemed for their mild, sweet flesh that the Louisiana legislature has declared them the official state freshwater fish.
Most anglers agree that Bluegill taste slightly better. They have more fIavor and their flesh is firmer and flakier. Crappie, on the other hand, have a soft meat which some people find bland.
Golden Crappie: When it comes to golden crappie, they are the rarest of the crappie species, with one or two documented cases and a handful of legit pictures in circulation. Sometimes it is referred to as albino crappie, it is mostly gold sometimes with a black lining from its lips all the way to the dorsal fin.
Regardless if you are fishing during the day or at night, a minnow on a bobber is still the go-to bait source for crappie fishing. Other baits that can be used are worms and insects, but the best bait for night crappie fishing is a minnow on a bobber.
Yes, fish likes garlic but it depends on the type of fish. Some fish are attracted to the scent of garlic, while others are repelled by it. It is thought that the main reason fish are attracted to garlic is because of its sulfur content. In addition, the amino acids in garlic can also make it a very effective bait.
The black crappie would weigh an astonishing 5 lbs 7.68 oz, making it not only the new Tennessee state record (previously held since 1985) but the world record.
It's official, Lionel Ferguson's 5-pound, 7-ounce black crappie is the new IGFA All-Tackle world record! Caught on May 15, 2018 in Richeison Pond, in Loudon County. Ferguson's monster crappie replaced the previous record of 5 pound which was set back in 2006.
Ideally, crappie ponds should have a surface area of at least 2 acres. If the available area is smaller, the pond should not be stocked with large numbers of sunfish or bass on top of a small density of crappies, unless these are introduced as predators and are intended for population control.
They are known for their distinctive taste. Crappies are safe to eat and known among the most delicious species out there. They have high amounts of healthy fats – also good tasting, but they also provide lots of protein, so they are great from a nutritional point of view.
The common name (also spelled croppie or crappé), comes from the Canadian- French “crapet,” which refers to many different members of the sunfish family. The fish was originally native to Canada and northeastern parts of the U.S., but has since been transplanted to, and fished for in 48 U.S. states.
At fourteen inches, the typical black crappie weighs 1.7 pounds and will be 14.3 years old. A 14-inch white crappie will be 1.4 pounds and 9.1 years old. And a 19-inch black crappie, like the one that stands as the state record fish• It will have been swimming around for about 19 years.
Generally speaking, though, a 20 incher weighing around 5 pounds is definitely not the biggest species swimming around in most lakes and rivers! However, crappie are extremely popular game fish despite their fairly small size.
The best states for crappie fishing include Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri — in no particular order! Indiana – Also a great hotspot and some of our favorite locations are Sylvan Lake, Webster Lake, and Worster Lake.
I will ease in and pitch to fish from 15-25 feet away. And finally get over them and vertical jig. Most of this I will do with a 7 to 8-foot spinning rod. I like a longer rod with medium light action give me enough load and tip to send a small 1/16-ounce jig.
Enid is where the world record white crappie of 5-pounds, 3-ounces was caught in 1957, so this lake holds a certain mystique when discussing crappie fishing. It's often overlooked as there are so many top destinations for crappie in the state of Mississippi.
This species is known to live at least 15 years. During the first four years of life, young black crappies grow quickly in the warm waters of the southern US while growth is slower in cooler northern U.S. waters. Black crappies reach maturity at 2-4 years of age.
One way to tell the difference between white and black crappies is by their size & body shape. Black Crappie tend to grow larger than white crappie overall. They are usually thicker and more dense than White Crappie.
The best water temperature for crappie fishing is between 68 °F to 72 °F when the crappie spawn and post-spawn feed period seems to be at its highest point. This means the northern areas of the country can see this peak around early June while the southern areas can see it as early as early March.
The best depth to find crappies is anywhere between two and six feet underwater where there are plenty of places where they can hide. To catch crappie, you should cast your bait very close to the actual structures or places where they hide and give them time to get attracted and to strike the bait.
It's time for great fishing. Check your water temperatures often. Any shallow coves or bays can warm quickly and become a hotspot. Seven-time crappie classic champ, Ronnie Capps from Tennessee, says, “My fishing seems to be great until the water temperature hits 59 degrees.
The most popular crappie jighead size is the 1/16 ounce. From it, the next is either going up to a 1/8 ounce, or down to a 1/24. Most crappie anglers use jigheads somewhere in the range of 1/32- to 3/16-ounce. Although jigheads are similar in form and function, all are not made equal.
In most cases, 1 inch long to 2 inch long minnows are best for crappie fishing. Therefore, hooks and sizes from #6 down to #2 work best. The float is then attached to the line 2 feet to 3 feet above the hook. If required, a tiny split shot can be added near the hook to keep the minnow down.
Introduction: My name is Tyson Zemlak, I am a excited, light, sparkling, super, open, fair, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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