Thread: How would you feel about min lengths and reduced limits ?

and one more good one from an Oklahoma biologist

Hard Core Crappie Facts with fish biologist Josh Johnston - YouTube

Awesome information!!


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suvowner . Some lakes over run with small fish slowing growth . Ever lake created different and the fish grow different rates

I agree. I am a native of Mississippi but have now been living in South Alabama for around 27 years. But mostly do my fishing in rivers and dead lakes off those rivers. For years I fished off of a about three of the main big rivers in Southern Mississippi. Two produces real slabs, 2 & 3 pounders. But one of them you were lucky to catch them that weighted a pound. Here in south AL. I haven’t found a river system or area that produces much over about 2 pounders and that’s a great day if it does. The 1 to 1.5 range is average and what is referred to as a slab here. But interesting enough through those videos it helped me understand something my father in law use to say about the two river systems that constantly produce those 2-3 pounders. He use to say those rivers had better nutrients in them than most. It taken me listening to those videos to get it. All lakes and rivers that hold crappie aren’t the same when it comes to food sources and nutrients. Some water stays warmer than other bodies of water. Some bodies of water have enough drainage and stay down low enough to grow the grass. Then some years they stay flooded longer. Once again it all makes sense. Thanks again.


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Totally support ....

Originally Posted by NIMROD

suvowner . Some lakes over run with small fish slowing growth . Ever lake created different and the fish grow different rates

in the video with the Oklahoma biologist they talk a little about stunting at around 40 minutes. in stunting he says there will be a lot of small crappie, but also they will almost all be around the same size. is that what you are talking about ?

which lakes do you think this is happening ?

are you suggesting that increasing minimum length limits or reduced limits would solve this ??

this a little bit older article, but a nice review on some real world data on the effect of length limit on crappie
Crappie Science

I have talked with other biologist who refer to crappie populations as notoriously known for "boom and bust years" , which happen for all kinds of reasons.

a quick look at the agfc fishery scientific reports for lake Conway and nimrod, the 10 inch limit for Conway implemented in 2015 has been good, but the crappie stocking program didn't make any significant difference.

for nimrod a 10-inch MLL was implemented for the harvest of crappie in 1994. This MLL was rescinded in 1999, when data suggested that growth rates had slowed down significantly

Fisheries Scientific Reports

Originally Posted by suvowner

in the video with the Oklahoma biologist they talk a little about stunting at around 40 minutes. in stunting he says there will be a lot of small crappie, but also they will almost all be around the same size. is that what you are talking about ?

which lakes do you think this is happening ?

are you suggesting that increasing minimum length limits or reduced limits would solve this ??

this a little bit older article, but a nice review on some real world data on the effect of length limit on crappie
Crappie Science

I have talked with other biologist who refer to crappie populations as notoriously known for "boom and bust years" , which happen for all kinds of reasons.

a quick look at the agfc fishery scientific reports for lake Conway and nimrod, the 10 inch limit for Conway implemented in 2015 has been good, but the crappie stocking program didn't make any significant difference.

for nimrod a 10-inch MLL was implemented for the harvest of crappie in 1994. This MLL was rescinded in 1999, when data suggested that growth rates had slowed down significantly

Fisheries Scientific Reports

Too many in the 6 to 8'' inch class every year on Nimrod . Most years we get a huge spawn because of thousands of acres of flooded fields and woods . Been talking with AGFC and they are doing a study . My idea is raise limit on fish under 10'' and only allow a low number over 12''. I remember the 10'' min length and fish stacked up under it . AGFC found it was counter productive but sportsmen had wanted it thinking they would grow . Small fish crowding has been a problem as far as I can remember here . I have seen good and bad swings as I fished here about 50 years ! Some years we had to catch 10 throw backs for ever keeper till livescope . I think if we pull out more small fish would help . But I won't keep them but some are happy to just catch fish.

Originally Posted by NIMROD

Too many in the 6 to 8'' inch class every year on Nimrod . Most years we get a huge spawn because of thousands of acres of flooded fields and woods . Been talking with AGFC and they are doing a study . My idea is raise limit on fish under 10'' and only allow a low number over 12''. I remember the 10'' min length and fish stacked up under it . AGFC found it was counter productive but sportsmen had wanted it thinking they would grow . Small fish crowding has been a problem as far as I can remember here . I have seen good and bad swings as I fished here about 50 years ! Some years we had to catch 10 throw backs for ever keeper till livescope . I think if we pull out more small fish would help . But I won't keep them but some are happy to just catch fish.

good thoughts. do you know if they completed the planned creel survey fro spring of 2020 ? I suspect covid put a damper on that plan.

from the 2019 nimrod plan:
Objective 6: Asses angler catch rates, satisfaction, and desires.
Action: Conduct a spring creel survey every 10 years, with initial survey completed in spring of 2020.
Expectation: Valuable data will be collected reflecting angler catch rates, satisfaction, and desires.
Evaluation: Creel surveys are conducted or not.

I guess these are the guys over Nimrod
Tom Bly
Matthew Schroeder, Asst.
Matt Horton, Biologist
Mayflower
877-470-3309