Most fishermen I’ve talked to are tethered to fishing for certain groups of fish. Even though all have caught many different types of fish, they eventually gravitate towards what they enjoy doing the most. You have those that fish primarily for several species of bass, striped bass, catfish, trout, crappie and bream. Many prefer to fish in lakes or ponds, while others enjoy rivers, creeks and bayous. When it comes to professional fishermen, they dominate the realm of bass fishing, as these sporting fish always put up a fight. They also just happen to be where the money is. At this level, competition among fishermen is fierce and has produced many legends, including Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, Roland Martin, Kevin Van Dam and Ray Scott, to name a few.

Is there any other species of freshwater fish that has produced professional fishermen? Yes, there is! The crappie is a much sought after game fish, especially for the table. Two species are present in Alabama, the white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) and the black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus). These fish can be found throughout the state in most large rivers and impoundments. Some, such as Logan Martin, Weiss Lake, Neely Henry Lake and the Alabama River can be considered “world class” for crappie fishing.