Lake Tholocco again

[John Doe]

We had a great time this evening. As soon as the invitation was started, the wife and I slipped out he back of the church and headed out to the lake. What a beautiful day! I wasn't sure if they would bite with that front that came through. We must have caught 40 - most all of them shorts. In a couple of cases, the little 2" Bobby Garland was half the length of the fish.

We kept a few. Trying our best to fill the freezer for when the in laws come to town after Christmas.

[Ditch Basser]

Pretty fish, water must be very clear in Tholocco.

Great job and thanks for the report.

[John Doe]

Thanks. You're right - it is fairly clear water. You can see the hooked fish flashing 5' deep.

they like electric chicken and just about anything with chartreuse it seems.

[Spaceman]

Excellent! Glad you had a good time and successful catch. Thanks for the report with pics. Seems like a nice place.

[huntersdad]

I must have found the same small ones you did jon.

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[Spaceman]

Just curious. How big is that Lake? Some smaller bodies of water need a management plan for larger fish to thrive. Otherwise, some waters overpopulated and it ends up with lots of small fish.

[huntersdad]

The lake is 640 acres the creel for crappie is the usual 9in. Minimum and 30 total. Problem is that the lake is heavily fished and seems that as soon as the fish reaches the right size, in the cooler it goes.

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[Spaceman]

640 acres is a good size body of water. Taking all legal fish on a heavily fished body of water hardly gives a chance for larger fish to grow.

[John Doe]

I won't keep anything smaller than 10" on this lake. I am not sure it's the right thing to do but cutting fillets off a 9" fish is like taking a shower with your socks on - what's the point. The local bait shop guy thinks I should take everything legal out of Tholocco with the idea of keeping the crappie population in check. I respect him and his opinion but I think it's better to let them grow a bit. He thinks the lake is too small for the population and they need to be culled.

The wife wants to keep EVERYTHING over 9" but that's because her parents are coming soon and she has promised a big fish fry. A fillet from a 9" fish takes about 30 seconds to fry.

[John Doe]

The lake is 640 acres the creel for crappie is the usual 9in. Minimum and 30 total. Problem is that the lake is heavily fished and seems that as soon as the fish reaches the right size, in the cooler it goes.

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I don't think Tholocco is over fished for crappie - bass - yea, there are a bunch of anglers taking good sized bass out regularly.

To caveat.. I have fished this lake since July of this year so I haven't done the spring spawn yet nor can I comment on past years. I have fished this lake solely targeting crappie and rarely see more than five boats doing the same on the water simultaneously. There are a few dedicated night anglers parking above structure and taking limits.. I didn't witness it but the MWR guy gladly reports what he knows. I am sure there are anglers catching limits of crappie that aren't told. Bottom line for me.. I haven't witnessed a bunch of crappie taken off Tholocco in single instances. My boat hasn't seen more than 20 in the livewell in a single event but we throw back a lot.