Dumb question should a guy release a large female which hasn't spawned yet? I've heard a person should an d was wondering if it really matters.
Crappie are very prolific. If the fish in question is a large female then she has contributed to the spawn at least a couple of times in her lifetime. Harvesting of larger females is not detrimental to continuation of the species as crappie mature at relatively young ages and reproduce at sizes that most anglers will throw back as shorts.