Thread: Finding Some Crappie While Working

Those are really cool pictures of some nice fish. You guys do a great job and we appreciate your efforts, thanks for sharing the pics and story. Now go catch some of those big specs.

Good work guys thks for all you do!

Wow, very nice report and pictures.

Did you get a new boat Matt? I was following a camo boat with a susuki down 89 headed to train dogs and it pulled into the game and fish building. Thought it might be you.

Sounds like Matt's boat. He has an Xpress, I believe.

Thanks for the info and pics Matt. Looks like there's some good'ns out there for sure.

Originally Posted by Minners N Jigs

Matt, I'm not sure how long you've been with the AGFC, or how much those trophy caliber fish can be directly credited back to you as a result of your doings, knowledge, or actions. I do know this, your work and effort is well documented and much appreciated by many and most. You're seeing these type fish while these lakes are on your watch. So for that fact alone, there's definitely some due credit to be taken. In one sampling you've provided photo evidence of 3 different species of fish that could easily be personal bests for many weekend and recreational anglers. That bass and obviously that trout could probably serve as some angler's "catch of their lifetime". Those photos serve as motivation, inspiration and fuel the "hope" for me that one day I'll land a trophy 3+ lb. black. All BS, brown nosing, and fairy tale talk aside: You should be proud of the results of your work and effort that you're witnessing. Those photos should serve as both reminder and motivation to you as well to continue the great effort and appreciate the resources you're responsible for ! You're doing a fine job ! Thanks for sharing !

Thanks for the kind works all! We definitely love our jobs and sampling is the greatest aspect our what we do. I especially enjoy telling/showing anglers the results of our catch. I think yall get more and enjoy this more than a scientific report filled with statistics. I have been a fisheries biologist for 10 years. Three in the trout program out of Mt. Home and the last seven back home in Central Arkansas (Fish Heaven!). My co-worker Matt Horton has been in D-10 (District 10) for 11 years and our supervisor Tom Bly has been here for over 28 year. Matt and I only have a couple more years to soak up Tom's institutional knowledge and use the latest fisheries techniques to maximize what we already have. To be honest with yall, we are already blest with great fisheries to manage. Some are more difficult than others. Really it is our job to monitor (sample) and maintain this fisheries to the best of our ability. The take home message is that we not only manage these lakes for yall, the angler and future generations. We also manage them for ourselves, because we love to fish as well!

Originally Posted by Rookie40

Did you get a new boat Matt? I was following a camo boat with a susuki down 89 headed to train dogs and it pulled into the game and fish building. Thought it might be you.

Yes I finally did! This spring I got a new to me natgear camo 16' Xpress Explorer with a 50hp Suzuki. I love it! It is the perfect size boat for the fishing that me and the family will be doing. If it was last Friday, that was me stopping by the office after catching a ton of dinks.