Lochow Ranch offers black crappie and white crappie for pond and lake stocking across Texas, with black crappie being the preferred choice for most private waters. Known for their excellent table fare and reputation as a favorite among anglers, crappie can also serve as both a sportfish and forage species in the right pond management plan.
Crappie are part of the sunfish family and are widely recognized for their deep, laterally compressed bodies and silvery coloring.
Black Crappie: Darker in color with irregular black speckles, black crappie are better suited for private ponds due to slower reproduction rates compared to white crappie. This makes them easier to manage in a balanced fishery.
White Crappie: Generally lighter with vertical dark bars on their sides, white crappie tend to reproduce faster, making them more difficult to manage in smaller water bodies.
Excellent Sportfish: Crappie are highly sought after by Texas anglers for their strong fight and mild, flaky fillets.
Table Quality: Known as one of the best-tasting freshwater fish.
Versatile Role: Can serve as both a sportfish and as supplemental forage for larger predator species.
Adaptability: Thrive in ponds and lakes with proper habitat and management.
Crappie spawn in spring when water temperatures reach 60–65°F, similar to largemouth bass. Males fan out nests in shallow water, where females lay thousands of eggs. Fry grow rapidly and can provide forage for predator fish, though careful management is required to prevent overpopulation, especially with white crappie.
Black crappie are generally recommended for private ponds in Texas, as their lower reproduction rates make long-term population balance easier to maintain.
At Lochow Ranch, our biologists develop tailored stocking strategies to ensure crappie thrive in your pond or lake. Whether you want to enjoy year-round crappie fishing or add them as a supporting species in a trophy bass fishery, we’ll create a plan that aligns with your goals.
Fill out the form on this page to request pricing and availability, or learn more about our professional Pond Stocking Services.
