Guys,
As you all know I am new to crappie fishing. But with selling the bass boat and slowing down on bass tourney fishing and owning a toon now I plan of spending my time on the water with the wife and kiddos chasing crappie. I will still fish plenty of bass stuff but out of my partners boat I was tired of having two!!

Last time me and the wife were crappie fishing she caught a really nice black crappie and on the next cast caught a really nice white crappie. I dont know how you determine what make a crappie a trophy? Lenght, weight, both, ect ect? Next time she catches a nice one that would be considered a big one I would like to get her a replica mount made. She would hate it but I would love it!!! I am hoping my boys will hang into a good one soon too! Im just trying to educate myself on what truly is a nice crappie. Im not talking state record or even lake record, Im talking what you guys think would make you mount one. Thanks fellas!
Danny

I see quite a few people on here that track thier personal best as far as weight. In my opinion, anything over 3# would be a nice mount. Many Texas lake records are around 2 to 3#. Some state records run in the 4+ range. Did you measure/weigh any of the larger fish you have caught so far? Good luck!
Ivan

It really depends on the lake...The magical number is 3 lbs but many lakes have records lighter than that...For me it would be either 3+ lbs or a lake record if it was less than 3#...My big fish is 2.8 lbs...Twice...Both white crappie, one on Lewisville on a slip and the other at Grapevine...

Check the lake record for the lakes you fish...

I agree with the 3 lbs. I have yet to catch one. I recently made a print out of all the lake records of the lakes I fish. And put it in my boat. When I did that I realized that on Dec. 23rd 2009 I put the knife to a lake record. 2.45 lbs on Lake Graham. I did not have it weighed on cert. scales just the ones I keep in my tackle box. Which I check and they are pretty much on the chili. But it was enough over the record I feel pretty safe making the comment. I would have mounted it if I had done the paper work and known it was a record.

my take on any large crappie is take numerous pictures,measure it, weigh it on a certified scale and release it so another can share in the joy of a big fish

A 16in 17in or 18in make nice mounts.A trophy is in the eye of the beholder.Work your way up the ladder and you will decide what is YOUR trophy.Darrell

For me a trophy comes with tarter sauce, and a beer.

I agree with bikeman- if I end up with one that's over 16 inches and full of eggs, i'm headed to the certified scales at the fishin store. Last year, a 3.03 was caught under my boat- not by me-and the tawakoni record is 3.33- i'd love to be the one to break it

Man, that has to get you Kody....It's under your freaking boat! I remember Guy said the biggest crappie caught on his boat was by one of his customers and it was over 3lbs. at Grapevine. That would make me happy and pissed at the same time..LOL!

I also think Guy lost almost a 3lb'er at my slips last March. He was steamin' for a minute...

Definition of a Trophy

Living long enough to see your child catch their first Crappie
and then see your grand kids first one also....

They both went on the wall..

Trophy crappie are few and far between. I guess it is because most crappie over 10 inches find their way in the hot oil and most bass fisherman catch and release, thus the reason you are most likely to get a trophy bass before you do a trophy crappie.

Bit Man,
A trophy anyhting is in the eye of the beholder. As for crappie, most people don't even get to see a 2#er in their entire fishing career (a 2#er is a big fish). But in my opinion, a 2# crappie is equal to an 8# bass. A 3# crappie (which I've never 'finished' catching) is equal to a 10# bass. I think you'll know it when it happens. Carry a good digital scale with you while fishing and make sure it has fresh batteries. When the time comes to use it....you'll know it.

Mine trophy would be a TEXAS 3#er....not just a 3# from any State.
Eventhough a 3#er from anywhere is awesome, however, I've dying to land a 3#er from any body of water within a State of TX. Of course, the reason for that is becaus it is so HARD to come by.
After all these years (15yrs) of fishing for crappies exclusively and religiously at so many different bodies of water, my biggest is still only 2#15oz from Tawakoni... To me a 3#er around here doesn't just take skill, it also takes LUCK!!!

Thanks all, I will definetely be on the look out for a 2+ pounder, if my wife or kiddos catch one of that status out of Brownwood its going on the wall for sure. For me Ill look for something in the 2 and a quarter or larger range. Thanks all and I cant wait for next Thursday to come so we can leave for an Easter crappie extravaganza LOL
Dano

A 3 lbr is a definite trophy, but I have only caught two in 45+ years of fishing. IMO with todays fishing pressure a solid 2 pounder would be considered a trophy.