The Black Crappie option is the most complicated of pond stocking combinations. Crappie are a favorite of many fisherman and most pondowners wish to stock crappie in their ponds. However, crappie can be difficult to manage in small ponds due to their ability to reproduce rapidly and overpopulate. Successful crappie ponds are greater than 5 acres with abundant habitat (brushpiles) and numerous small (less than 1 pound ) largemouth bass. Black crappie do not produce as many eggs as white crappie and are therefore better suited to fishing ponds.

     Black crappie serve as both predator and prey because they feed on small fish and produce large numbers of offspring. Bluegill, redear sunfish and fathead minnows should be stocked as forage for black crappie. Largemouth bass should be stocked at increased numbers to control the crappie population. Black crappie handle best in cold temperatures and therefore should be stocked October through April.

     A successful black crappie pond must be stocked in the proper sequence to ensure the development of the predator/prey relationship. Small (1-3 inch) black crappie, bluegill and redear can be stocked into new ponds during fall or spring (October –March). Black crappie will begin to spawn in April and bream will begin to spawn in May and June. Once bream spawning has occurred, small (1-3 inch) largemouth bass may be stocked during that summer or fall (May-September).

           Fathead minnows should be stocked with the black crappie, bluegill and redear to serve as forage. Once bass are stocked minnows will disappear quickly. This is ok because the bass will feed on the young crappie and bream. Minnows can be stocked periodically in the spring and fall to supplement your forage population. Channel catfish can be stocked if you desire to fish for catfish. Catfish may compete with crappie for food so they should be stocked at low densities. Grass carp should also be stocked in fall or spring to control aquatic vegetation before it becomes a big problem.

     Mature black crappie can be expected to grow 1/2 to 1 pound a year with bass staying in the 1/2 to 1 pound range to control crappie populations. Mature bluegill and redear should grow 1/4 pound per year with many younger bream staying in the 1-2 inch size range to feed the crappie (see black crappie management).

     Feeding ponds stocked with black crappie/bass/bluegill/redear allows bluegill and redear to grow larger, produce more forage and grow bigger crappie. Bluegill and redear should be fed a high protein feed with at least 38-40% protein and 8–10% fat. Ponds without aeration should not be fed more than 10-15 pounds of feed per acre per day. Aerated ponds may be fed up to 20-30 pounds of feed per acre per day.

    Hybrid bream are not good forage for black crappie and will breed with other bluegill and redear producing inbred fish that do not grow. DO NOT stock hybrid bream in black crappie ponds. (see hybrid bluegill option)!