What is considered a "big" or "trophy" crappie?

[joetucker803]

Hey there,

I'm always targeting bass this time of year, but always end up catching some Crappie along the way. My Crappie experience is very limited -- just coincidental since I am not targeting them. I've caught maybe thirty Crappie my entire life, never anything that was "big." Today while fishing for Largemouth, I caught two that were (I thought) big. The biggest went 14.5 inches and weighed 1.36 pounds. It was a Black Crappie, I believe. At what point is a Crappie considered to be a trophy around here?

Thanks for any information

Joe

[Amx]

state record according to this web site: http://www.landbigfish.com/staterecords ... Washington" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ;

Black Crappie 4 lbs 8 oz Lake Washington John W. Smart 5/1/1956

so I'd say 2 pounds.


and the WDFW records say the same size;

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/records/sear ... View=fresh" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Sideburns]

I've been occasionally targeting crappie for a few years and if I caught one like that (and nobody was around) I'd be doin a little dance!

I've heard stories of good crappie fishermen being able to find 14-17 inch crappie in Lake Washington, but not seen 'em personally.

The slabs that got me hooked on crappie fishing were big to me at 12-13 inches, <1lb, from a little nearby pond...

Nice fish!

[Sideburns]

Can we get a report? I've never had any luck finding crappie in my area until late/mid summer.

[TrackerPro16]

I catch them that size all the time...
Ha, ha ,hA,HA,HA,Ha,ha,ha, ha... Kidding. I think the biggest I have caught was still under a pound. Don't get used to that size. That is a big one! 'Trophy' is kind of in the eye of the beholder me thinks. Unless it is a State record...

[zen leecher aka Bill W]

I'd say 12 inches is big and 14 and over is trophy.

[joetucker803]

Thanks for all the input guys! And trust me Trackerpro, I won't be getting used to that size anytime soon. The other one I caught was .92lb. I did not measure it. I guess for a complete rookie on Crappie, you could say "beginners luck."

[jbball50]

Ones I catch over 15 inches I consider trophy size. I'll catch some that size out of potholes every year when I go there for crappie. Most of the time one or two every trip. I swear I always get those ones in the middle of the day, when the fishing has died down, it's 100 out, and the schools are gone.

I have another pond that produces 13/14 inchers on the regular early in the season. I tried it last weekend and it still hasn't produced yet. I fished another pond before that and caught some crappie, there was a school that kept popping in and out of the area the two hours we fished it Sunday.

[Salmon King]

I know this is an older thread but I’d be VERY interested in finding Crappie in Snohomish, Skagit, or Whatcom counties over 12”!
Tips and pms would be greatly appreciated!

[fishinChristian]

Between me and the Jigmeister (recently passed on), we considered 2 lbs a good fish, 3 a bragging fish, and above 4 a trophy. There were very few years we didn't have at least a few in the 3+ and a couple in the 4+ range, but he was one of the best I've seen, and I've been lucky/blessed to learn from several of the best. The real answer though is whatever impresses you or is a personal best, is a trophy. I remember a trip where Jiggy and I caught 2 crappie around 3 lbs near where a little kid was excited about his 1 lb personal best. We looked at each other and quietly slipped the fish over the other side of the boat. His fish was much bigger than ours were.

[crappiemaster]

I think the bigger crappie will be the river crappie . Personally, I believe the snake river holds some records. The upper Snake above Wawawai where there are coves and backwater that are accessible by boat are really good to fish in the spring.

[crappiemaster]

13” crappie in April

F9F3787F-2446-4148-ADD2-130C9586EBC7.jpeg (54.47 KiB) Viewed 9892 times

[Salmon King]

Crappiemaster....you get those in Western Washington?
We need to get together!!

[crappiemaster]

No, eastern Washington. But come on over bite is really good right now It is a little tougher this week with high water but they are still in there!! Walleye was good last weekend too

[TMBob]

Have had a few nice one lately here on the west side.....12” broke my personal best. Next trip had a nice 11.5” but not as thick. Thinking that I did not catch the largest one in the lake so I will try some more.

[Sideburns]

I havent caught any over 12 inches this year yet! 12 inches is a nice crappie. My pb is 13.5. Usually dont get em that big in my local west side waters till august and september... when I find them trolling in the middle of the lakes/ponds.

[tedfisher]

F9F3787F-2446-4148-ADD2-130C9586EBC7.jpeg

great catch

[Sideburns]

yeah, caught a legitimate 12 incher last night!