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Discover Nature (Missouri Department of Conservation)

Discover Nature: Crappie

KBIA | By Kyle Felling
Published April 27, 2021 at 11:54 AM CDT
A white crappie sits, suspended in dark water, with a white body and black vertical stripes of scales.
White crappie are spawning in Missouri waters this week across most of the state.

This week on Discover Nature, crappie are spawning in shallow water across Missouri.

These popular panfish occur nearly statewide in open water or near submerged timber or other suitable cover in ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and slow-flowing backwaters of large rivers. 

During the spring spawning season, these fish find vegetation and submerged woody structure in shallow water.  

Crappie are most active in evening and nighttime, but can be observed at all times of day. 

Individuals usually live no more than three or four years, but occasionally can live eight years or more. They nest in colonies in or near plant growth, if available, with as many as 35 nests being reported in a single colony. 

Crappie primarily eat minnows and young shad, as well as aquatic insects and small crustaceans. 

In Missouri white crappie are more prolific than black crappie, and its size and prevalence make it one of the most popular fish species in the angler’s creel. 

Learn more about both white and black crappie species, including where to find them, how to catch them, and recipes for putting fresh, wild-caught food on the table with the Missouri Department of Conservation’s online field guide.

Discover Nature is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation. 
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Arts and Culture Discover Nature
Kyle Felling
Kyle Felling’s work at KBIA spans more than three decades. In 2025, he became KBIA and KMUC's Station Manager. He began volunteering at the station while he was a Political Science student at the University of Missouri. After being hired as a full-time announcer, he served as the long-time local host of NPR’s All Things Considered on KBIA, and was Music Director for a number of years. Starting in 2010, Kyle became KBIA’s Program Director, overseeing on-air programming and operations while training and supervising the station’s on-air staff. During that period, KBIA regularly ranked among the top stations in the Columbia market, and among the most listened to stations in the country. He was instrumental in the launch of KBIA’s sister station, Classical 90.5 FM in 2015, and helped to build it into a strong community resource for classical music. Kyle has also worked as an instructor in the MU School of Journalism, training the next generation of journalists and strategic communicators. In his spare time, he enjoys playing competitive pinball, reading comic books and Joan Didion, watching the Kansas City Chiefs, and listening to Bruce Springsteen and the legendary E Street Band.
See stories by Kyle Felling
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