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Crappie Feeding Habits: A Complete Guide to Their Diet

By: FishUSA Staff

January 13, 2025

Crappie are opportunistic feeders, known for their diverse diet and voracious appetite. Understanding what crappie eat can help anglers select the right bait and improve their fishing success. This guide explores the dietary habits of crappie, their feeding behaviors, and tips for matching your bait to their preferences.

Crappie are opportunistic feeders, known for their diverse diet and voracious appetite. Understanding what crappie eat can help anglers select the right bait and improve their fishing success. This guide explores the dietary habits of crappie, their feeding behaviors, and tips for matching your bait to their preferences.

Table of Contents

  • The Diet of Crappie
  • Feeding Behaviors
  • Bait and Lure Recommendations
  • Tips for Matching the Hatch
  • Conclusion

The Diet of Crappie

Baitfish

Baitfish make up a significant portion of a crappie’s diet. Common baitfish consumed by crappie include:

  • Shad: A primary food source for crappie, particularly in reservoirs and larger lakes. Crappie feed on threadfin and gizzard shad.
  • Minnows: One of the most popular natural prey items, minnows are abundant in crappie habitats and are easy for them to hunt.
  • Small Bluegill: Juvenile sunfish, including bluegill, are a favored prey item for larger crappie.

Insects and Larvae

Crappie feed on aquatic insects and their larvae, particularly during the warmer months when these prey items are abundant. Common examples include:

  • Mayfly Larvae: Found near vegetation and in shallow water, these are a seasonal favorite for crappie.
  • Caddisfly Larvae: Often found clinging to submerged rocks or vegetation.
  • Dragonfly and Damselfly Nymphs: These larger larvae provide a nutritious meal for crappie.

Crustaceans

Small crustaceans like freshwater shrimp and crayfish are also part of a crappie’s diet. These prey items are more commonly eaten in areas with rocky or vegetated bottoms.

Zooplankton

Zooplankton, microscopic organisms found in the water column, are an important food source for juvenile crappie. These tiny creatures provide the nutrition young crappie need to grow.

Other Prey

Crappie are opportunistic feeders and may consume a variety of other prey, including:

  • Worms: Crappie will eat earthworms and other soft-bodied invertebrates if available.
  • Small Amphibians: In some cases, crappie may feed on small frogs or tadpoles.

Feeding Behaviors

Seasonal Patterns

Crappie feeding habits change with the seasons:

  • Spring: During the pre-spawn and spawn, crappie feed aggressively in shallow water, targeting minnows and other small prey near spawning beds.
  • Summer: In warmer months, crappie move to deeper, cooler water and feed on shad, minnows, and insect larvae near submerged structures.
  • Fall: Crappie feed heavily to prepare for winter, targeting baitfish schools in mid-depths or near creek mouths.
  • Winter: Crappie feed less frequently in cold water but still target small baitfish and zooplankton in deep areas. 

Feeding Depth

Crappie often suspend at specific depths, depending on water temperature and oxygen levels. Using electronics to locate crappie at these depths can improve your success rate.

Visual and Scent Cues

Crappie are visual feeders, relying on sight to locate prey. Brightly colored or natural-looking lures that mimic their prey can be highly effective. In murky water, adding a scent attractant can increase your chances of success. 

Bait and Lure Recommendations

Live Bait

  • Minnows: Rig them under a slip bobber or on a jig head for a natural presentation. Learn how to fish for crappie with minnows!
  • Worms: Cut pieces of earthworms can be effective for targeting crappie in shallow water.
  • Crickets: Use live crickets to mimic insects, especially near vegetation. 

Artificial Lures

  • Soft Plastics: Grubs, tubes, and swimbaits in colors like chartreuse, white, or silver work well for mimicking baitfish.
  • Jigs: Use jigs in 1/32 to 1/8 ounce with natural or bright colors to match the water clarity and light conditions.
  • Crankbaits and Jerkbaits: Small crankbaits and jerkbaits represent small, injured baitfish and can attract crappie from a distance with their flash and sound. 

See our top recommendations for the best crappie lures, jigs, and bait!

Tips for Matching the Hatch

Matching the hatch refers to mimicking the prey that crappie are actively feeding on. Observe the water conditions and look for signs of baitfish or insects. Use lures or live bait that closely resemble the size, color, and movement of the natural prey in the area.

Conclusion

Crappie are opportunistic feeders with a diverse diet that includes baitfish, insects, crustaceans, and more. By understanding what crappie eat and tailoring your bait or lure selection to their preferences, you can significantly improve your fishing success. Use the information in this guide to choose the right bait and techniques, and enjoy a productive day on the water targeting these delicious and sought-after fish.

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