Specks, you call em crappie

[JShane]

I've never really targeted these fish before. Giving it a go at hurdling the learning curve. Think it was an ok start. Definitely not a bad way to spend turning 50.

 

[Hem]

Nice looking fish. Looks like you are off to a good start.

 

[Dougfirtree]

I love fishing Crappie in the Spring. They're a fun challenge and tasty.

I never knew people called them "specks." Around here, that's a term you might hear for Brook (or "speckled") Trout.

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

That's my kind of birthday party.

 

[sccritterkiller]

Fit them for cornmeal overcoats and release to the grease!

2" triple threat grub in John Deer will fill the freezer quick.

 

[rjthehunter]

Delicious!

I was out on the ice on Sunday evening and caught a meals worth! I'd much rather be doing it from the boat though!

 

[howl]

Growing up those who knew about them called them calico bass. You threw to the banks when they were in or fished deep structure with minnows. Then magazine articles started being written and the yankee term took over along with spider rigging and trolling.

I spent a good bit of my time in FL trolling specks. Hard to beat a sandwich of filet with a good ripe tomato. My local lake isn't much for trolling. I don't bother with it except the fall shad run. Jigging or setting up with a stadium light puts them in the cooler if you know where. Whenever anyone asks me at the dock I say I was fishing for calicosacalait so they'll stop talking to me before I have to lie.

 

[np307]

I've had some really fun nights crappie fishing during the shad run. One night three of us pulled in 185 keepers, plus a handful of blue cats. Catching a 4lb blue cat on a crappie pole is a whole lot of fun.

 

[Nick87]

We call em delicious. every spring I say I'm gonna head south to my grandparents and get after em and I never do. I think I need a boat.

 

[.270Rem]

Guy in NC we met on the water called 'em speckled perch as I recall.

 

[Deleted member 52098]

Best eating fish out there

 

[rebjfan]

View attachment 317152View attachment 317153I've never really targeted these fish before. Giving it a go at hurdling the learning curve. Think it was an ok start. Definitely not a bad way to spend turning 50.

You did great, in Mississippi that would be called a black crappie. The best eating fish in the world in my opinion, my wife likes to catch a 14 inch crappie and eat a 9 inch crappie. In Louisiana they are called sacalait.

 

[howl]

Specks are mighty good but the title for best eating from sweet water goes to the coon tail perch.

 

[rebjfan]

Specks are mighty good but the title for best eating from sweet water goes to the coon tail perch.

What is a coon tail perch? Where do you catch them?

 

[howl]

What is a coon tail perch? Where do you catch them?

Yep, yellow perch. Haven't heard anyone call them that in years, but we're giving fish weird names in this thread and I'm fishing.

I had to Google coon tail perch. Never heard yellow perch called that
I have heard the term "convicts" and "bandits" used for yellow perch, eludung to their stripped appearance.

Taste is subjective but there's no way perch are better than crappie

I said what I said.

 

[Treeshark]

Taste is subjective but there's no way perch are better than crappie

In terms of eating, my order is Bluegill-Perch-Crappie. But I like fishing for crappie the best.

 

[longbow51]

Used to catch them with bluegill. Delicious.

 

[oxn939]

Spawn is about at its peak right now in FL. Bite was great until almost noon

 

[Knight.54]

I call ‘em yummy!

 

[tarheel]

In terms of eating, my order is Bluegill-Perch-Crappie. But I like fishing for crappie the best.

The forked bones are a nuisance, but I much prefer the taste and texture of chain pickerel over all fresh water fish.