How To Tell The Difference Between A Male Crappie & A Female Crappie

When looking at some fish, you can easily spot the physical differences between the two genders. For example, female beta fish have a white spot on their bellies. In the case of catfish, females have smaller heads than the males. With crappies, however, it is more difficult to tell the difference between a male and female. Still, it is not impossible to tell the gender of this extremely popular member of the sunfish family..

Step 1

Look for eggs or newly hatched fish nearby. If the crappie is guarding a nest, this is a male. The females lay the eggs and then quickly leave the area.

Step 2

Check the color of the belly and fins prior to and during spawning, suggests biologist Mike Colvin during an interview with "Game & Fish" magazine. On a male crappie, these areas will change to a black color. The coloration of the female will not change.

Step 3

Look for a swollen belly prior to spawning season. Mature females can carry more than 100,000 eggs.