Know Your Crappie on Lake Wedowee

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Lake Wedowee is a fishing favorite year-round—and if you’re out chasing crappie, you’ve got double the chance of reeling in something great. That’s because our waters are home to two species of crappie: black crappie and white crappie.

They may look similar at first glance, but these fish have some key differences that can affect how you find them, how you fish, and what kind of habitat they prefer.

Let’s break it down ⤵️

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🎣 Meet the Crappie of Lake Wedowee

🖤 Black Crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)

• Appearance: Silvery with irregular dark spots; rounder, deeper-bodied shape

• Dorsal Spines: Usually 7–8

• Habitat: Loves clearer water, especially near submerged trees, brush piles, and vegetation

• Behavior: Often stays tight to cover, moving less in open water

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🤍 White Crappie (Pomoxis annularis)

• Appearance: Paler overall with 5–10 vertical dark bars; more elongated body

• Dorsal Spines: Typically 5–6

• Habitat: Tolerates murkier water better and prefers open water structures

• Behavior: More likely to school in open areas, especially during warm weather

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🗓️ When’s the Best Time to Fish for Crappie?

Crappie fishing is excellent in early spring, especially March–May, when both species move into shallower water to spawn.
But you can catch them year-round with the right tactics!

🐟 Spring (Spawning Season)

• Target shallow flats, coves, or shoreline cover

• Use jigs or minnows near submerged brush and structure

☀️ Summer

• Find schools in deeper water (15–25 feet) near creek channels or drop-offs

• Vertical jigging or slow trolling can be effective

🍂 Fall

• Crappie return to mid-depths and are often aggressive feeders

• Try casting small crankbaits or jigs near points and underwater stumps

❄️ Winter

• Crappie bunch up in deep water near vertical structure

• Drop minnows or soft plastics slowly for best results

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🧰 Tips for Catching Crappie on Lake Wedowee

• 🎯 Use light line (4–6 lb test) to detect subtle bites

• 🧼 Keep your bait lively—especially with minnows

• 🌫️ Try different depths until you find the sweet spot

• 📍 Map structure using a fish finder or Google satellite view to locate brush piles

• 🐝 Color matters! Dark jigs for murky water, bright or natural colors for clear water

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📏 Know the Rules

Before you cast, check current regulations for:

• Size limits

• Daily creel limits

• Special seasonal restrictions (especially during spawning)

📝 You can find Alabama fishing regulations on the Outdoor Alabama website.

Originally posted by Lake Wedowee Life Magazine via Locable