White and Black Crappies in Clear Lake, Summer, 1960

Studies of white crappie, Pomoxis annularis, and black crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus, showed a shift in the population in Clear Lake during the past 10 years from a dominance of black to white crappies. A decrease in the rate of growth of black crappies was shown for this period although the rate of growth of white crappies has remained constant. The food habits of white and black crappies were very similar. The three most important food items were Cladocera, fish, and insect larvae, in that order. Young-of-the-year samples indicated that the trend toward white crappies was continuing. Turbidity was suggested as a possible reason for these changes