Thread: Norfork Lake Crappie

Concreteman,

We know the best areas for bigger crappie is in the deep water around brush. Since this was the first time we have used this type of nets, we wanted to go to an area where we had high odds of actually catching fish. As the years go on, we will definitely be adventuring around the lake.

We actually caught the most in October. We never set deeper than 15 feet. The thermocline was at 25 feet during all the samples except December so we didn't want to put them deeper than that. We realize there are a lot of fish deeper than we netted. That is one of the challenges of sampling crappie in highland reservoirs. However, our results give us an idea of the range of sizes in the lake.

Email me at [email protected] and we can discuss this more.

Originally Posted by concreteman

Thanks for posting the results. What was the optimal sampling temp? I fish Norfork in the Big Creek and Brushy Creek area Ive caught my crappie in 30-40 ft I wonder if your missing alot of crappie that arent going that far back in the creek. Did you catch the most in early December?

Thanks for answering I bet its hard to hem them up in deep water. And your finding are like what Ive been catching. There is alot of the 6-8 inch fish and a few 14-15 inch fish. Avg. fish is 11-12 inch.

11-12 inchers are some good eating. i fish conway where the minimum is 10", but I have set my own minimum at 11". would much rather have a few nice ones than a bunch of dinks.

Can we get an update on the netting?

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This work is so important to the financial future of these areas. I think people know it. But the other pressures of modern society is just putting things like improving these fisheries on a far back burner.

If you look at the prospective population growth for Missouri and Arkansas it's not much for the next thirty years. Some counties are actually projected to loose population.

The Ozarks are an area that has historically low population for obvious reasons. It's tough to make a living in them.

These Lakes and their viability is crucial to attracting the tourism and relocating people that represent a cross section of middle America.

The Ultra rich can afford to have homes and the extremely poor are stuck in many cases.

Having a rural low population and clean environment is the first component in the attraction for these areas. But the tourism trade and fishing trips...hours on the water and success are crucial to giving people the boost they need to find ways to make a living. From Motels to bait shops,boat shops,Marinas,restaurants etc.

Measuring the success of fishing by how the most skilled , most experienced fisherman ,pursue and catch these fish is some indicator but not the best barometer.

Returning these waters to lakes that have much broader populations of fish and enable the average fisherman and even the novice to have good trips is Key. They plan vacations,consider relocating,open businesses based on the quality of fishing. The recreational aspect, swimming and boating,and the natural beauty attract many.

But a World class fishery adds the needed attraction to put the revenue and long range prospect of making a decent living in these areas is dependent on it.

For those fisherman who know how to catch the low populations of fish in the small areas they inhabit is nice for the those who know how. Not as much competition.

But to have an area where the kid's don't have to relocate all the time to make a decent living can be negated much ,and putting a lot of these businesses back on a paying basis , will be accomplished by improving these fisheries.

Not to mention the tax revenue so desperately needed.

I will be there testing the water this week for crappie infestations

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Let me know how you do I will be there at end of month.

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Will do little mix of crappie and trout

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