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� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � second edition • Nebraska Pond Management • 29 winter. If stocking redears and depending on bass management goals, a mixed stocking rate of two-thirds bluegills and one-third redears is usually used to ensure bluegill become established and provide adequate food for the bass. Their availability is somewhat limited in the state and anglers may find them more wary and less aggressive than bluegill. Redears feed primarily on snails, clams, and crayfish, and are commonly called "shellcrackers." They can help to control snails, which are a required host in the life cycle of yellow and black grubs. Although these grubs often show up in the fillets of fish, they are not harmful to humans (see page 73). Redears require clear water with abundant vegetation for preferred food items to flourish and sufficient depths to avoid winterkills. Crappie There are two species of crappies: black and white. Both are silvery colored with black markings. Black crappies have seven or eight hard dorsal spines with black spots scattered randomly over their bodies. White crappies are usually slimmer and have five or six hard dorsal spines with black spots arranged in vertical bars on their sides. Spawning male white crappies become very dark and boldly marked, and are often mistaken for black crappies. Spawning behavior is similar to that of largemouth bass and bluegills. White crappies usually predominate in somewhat turbid waters, while black crappies do better in clear water. Although crappies are very popular with anglers, they can become a problem in ponds. Since crappies feed primarily on small fish and invertebrates, they compete with bass for food. In clear water with large numbers of bass present, black crappies can grow rapidly to lengths of 10 to 12 inches and provide quality fishing. A good rule of thumb is to avoid stocking black crappie unless your pond produces bluegills over 8 inches long. This is a good indication that the largemouth bass population is dense enough to control crappies as well. Hybrid Sunfish Hybrid sunfish are a cross between two sunfish species, generally green sunfish and bluegill. They produce offspring that typically do not overpopulate, grow larger than either parental species, and are easier to catch due to their aggressive feeding habits; however, the growth difference is usually slight without artificial feeding. Because hybrids do not produce enough offspring to support desirable largemouth bass populations, they should be stocked in combination with bluegills. Hybrids do not breed true, spawning produces second generation offspring that can be undesirable and exhibit a wide range of characteristics. Hybrids will have BLACK CRAPPIE WHITE CRAPPIE HYBRID SUNFISH Crappies tend to overpopulate and grow slowly if predators do not reduce the number of young, especially when turbid water prevents their detection.