coloring?

[bdiddy]

Just wondering if anybody has any suggestions as to what causes variation in the hue of a crappie when compared to other crappies from other lakes this time of year or for anytime as a matter of fact. I understand that a male crappie will generally be a darky in the pre-spawn period, but we are a ways away from that. Does water clarity, acreage or depth of the body of water being fished have anything to do with it?

[oil painter]

All of the above, plus bottom substrate and water color. the darker bodies of water will usally have darker fish {Rainy lake}also time of year they can be lighter or darker as they approach spawn.They really are a beautiful fish!

[CrappieJohn]

I think too that the deeper you catch them the darker they will tend to be. ....kind of like a natural camo that helps to mask their presence.