Thread: Livescope

Your right to an extent . Livescope makes finding fish easier if you have good boat control but still have to make them bite . I caught limits regularly before livescope . Covid has had too many people fishing and livescope is making it easier for some . I see way less big fish than I ever have before livescope on some lakes . It is taking a toll on big ones . Some believe they will just be replaced but fact is it takes years to grow 2 lb plus Crappie . Once the big ones are gone most guys will just lower standards and catch the ones that will grow into slabs in a few years .Would hate to have the job our biologists have trying to find a fix . We will run out of good fish fast unless things change !

All crappie tournaments have to release live fish right back into the fishery ensuring a high survival rate. As far as recreational fishing, we personally will release anything much over a pound. Keeping 30 huge crappie just to have a picture to brag with is totally senseless.
I personally would rather have 8 or 10 decent 3/4 to a pound fish for a fresh fish fry any day over killing a 2 lb slab that has already survived several seasons. I really like the Rapala Tournament scales for logging the weights of your crappie and then take a pic of the screen.

Originally Posted by slabbandit

All crappie tournaments have to release live fish right back into the fishery ensuring a high survival rate. As far as recreational fishing, we personally will release anything much over a pound. Keeping 30 huge crappie just to have a picture to brag with is totally senseless.
I personally would rather have 8 or 10 decent 3/4 to a pound fish for a fresh fish fry any day over killing a 2 lb slab that has already survived several seasons. I really like the Rapala Tournament scales for logging the weights of your crappie and then take a pic of the screen.

The tournaments may release them alive but I don’t think they live long after all the stress!


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Far more regular fishermen than there are tournament guys. No matter where the lake is it is the locals that put on the most fishing pressure. Not that I believe the tournaments are good for the fish.

Such is the luxury/consequence of updated technology...now where did I leave my rotary-dial telephone = just follow the cord DUMMY! How about the crank-up auto engines?

u2s

I agree with you guys that a good portion of tournament fish probably don't survive. It's really up to each fisherman to regulate themselves to some degree based on their proficiency with Livescope. Me, being a local here on Lake Nimrod, I choose to release most of my 1 3/4 lb+ fish. Especially if I can clean a good mess of 1 pounders. Is this a good management of the crappie fishing, I'm not sure.

Well said. The guys with the $$$ are the sudden ' crappie masters' . I say limit poles to 2-3 per person and electronics that have maps and depth. Thats the way a crappie tournament should be held, 2 poles , NO electronics ....now lets see who the real fishermen are.

Till some type of size slots or whatever to limit cleaning out big fish . If 10% of fishermen release big fish the other 90% will clean them out . Nimrod has had an over population problem for years but it seems to be improving with all the pressure except big fish becoming more scarce . Used to see unreal numbers of tiny fish 4 to 8'' and now plenty 10 to 11'' . I refuse to release all the big fish with next 10 boats are taking them . Kinda like Deer hunting . You pass a small 6 point and it goes to next stand and boom . I have seen all kinds of population / average size swings on Nimrod in 50 years . Just wonder if a slot with everything 14 to 15'' released and maybe one over would work ? Doubt your average fishermen would go for this . AGFC say they want to see people catch fish but this is going to be interesting how they deal with this or just sit and watch . From some fishermen I have heard from even some at the big Crappie lakes in other states are beginning to be concerned too .