Thread: Big fish may need protection

Just read the article.

It also has the potential to improve the growth rate of crappie in Bayou D’Arbonne Lake, which was identified as being below average in a recent assessment of the fishery.

It doesn't sound like the populations are bad, the growth rate is bad. The way to improve growth rate is 1) more prey or 2) less predators.


Crappie populations go through cycles. Banner years are usually followed by years with poor catch rates. If they do impose the new rules, it will be interested to see what effect they have in 2-3 years and beyond. Could be good or it could make the problem worse.

I understand min length limits don't work everywhere . But big fish are becoming scarce on some lakes . Several of our flood control lakes have super spawns as water most springs cover thousands of acres of fields and forests . Many years ago the AGFC tried a 10'' min cause we had folks thinking if allowed to grow it would be good . Just caused the fish to stack up/stunt under the 10'' min . They realized this and removed it . Big fish take time to grow with all the pressure we see fewer and fewer big ones on some lakes . Maybe a slot or a limit on biggest ones in a few places. I suggested to our biologists raising limit on those under 10'' on one of our flood control lakes .

Wouldn’t the food source contribute to the growth as well? Seems our lakes in Mississippi have huge sources of shad in years when fish grow very large,,,maybe there’s another food source as well I don’t know about that helps as well,,,m

And the guy that started this post is the same guy that does nothing but post pictures of all the big fish he catches on here nonstop…..

And, if you’re “giving” fish to your friends all the time because they don’t fish wouldn’t they be just as appreciative with a limit of small fish?

Originally Posted by Railroad Joe

And the guy that started this post is the same guy that does nothing but post pictures of all the big fish he catches on here nonstop…..

And, if you’re “giving” fish to your friends all the time because they don’t fish wouldn’t they be just as appreciative with a limit of small fish?

When it is legal and most fishermen doing it , I refuse to release my big fish . Proved a point on one lake where we turned them lose for awhile . Finned clipped them . Many would be surprised how many we recaught in next few trips . One guy voluntarily releasing his won't make a big difference . Plan to keep limits every trip and will not stop if it is legal . Guess if fishing pressure gets too bad maybe limits will be changed . I released lots of big fish a couple years ago and AGFC tagged a bunch on that same lake . Well over 1/2 the tags were recovered first year . So releasing those did not do much . I have seen the ups and downs on our area lakes . .Couple years ago I caught and released all but a mess on one lake here . Counter showed 105 good ones in 6 hours ! It sure ain't the same there now .

Too many variables that no one can plainly prove, even for the biologists, but the various aspects they offer do seem to bring a valid analogy.

Here are a few I have noted from what I have watched from Biologist videos and seen on the scope.

Bigger fish are smarter in most cases and are getting even more intelligent and spooky with the pressure form the scope. I have dropped 5 times from hit and misses or a tail thrash to kill the bait on a big girl before I actually hooked her and probably followed her for 50 yards. Looking back at this now, I was excessive in hunting her.

The bottom of most of the central Lakes here in AR are loaded with the bigger fish and tough to fish for and identify with the scope. This is where spider rigging and dredging near the bottoms comes back in to play, but still didnt clean out the Crappie population across the country. I might be able to draw a fish off the bottom with the scope 1 in 15, but probably 1 in 20.

Many stay pressured down there and come and go from being suspended and then to the bottom. How many times has that dime on your screen you followed hit the bottom once you get closer than 20 feet from it and poof, its gone?

Bigger fish are stressed more after bringing into the boat and then releasing. One biologist noted that the fish will appear healthy upon release, but after the angler has oogled over them, measured, weighed and got pictures, the fish may swim off and appear healthy, but be so stressed it may not eat again and in 4-6 weeks be dead. Keep your big fish, just use ethical judgement with the numbers of them.

You would think the state record would already be broken for a black and a white here in AR, but it sure hasnt even with the scope users. Its pretty evident our lakes are not what they use to be given the forage, water quality, weather, floods and other factors. Pretty sure the AGFC will keep a tight hand on things along with the other states that keep dibs on the count and size.

I dont get to fish much, so I dont have any conscious issues about frequently beating up any individual lakes or area for that matter and I try to space them out. I try not to be that 1 to 2 lake fisherman. I dont put every keeper in the livewell and I dont strive to get 20 or 30 fish every trip. I enjoy targeting the larger fish and happy to bring home 10-15 good fish and if I have a couple over 2lbs and a few just under, so be it. When my freezer start stacking up, I back off some and scout a new area or lake and try not to take the catch as serious and enjoy looking for a new cover to harvest from and take a load off my nearby staple lakes.



Its all about being a true Sportsman and make good, ethical decisions about what you actually need instead of the greed.

Hammerhead , I don't think all the fish are the same some more spooky or less aggressive . That may be the reason some get caught more than once . Something like pressure , temp , or who knows what some days fish hammer everything in sight and next time my ignore or just nip at a bait . But most days with correct presentation most will bite . Seen one lake where in 20' of water fish on bottom where slight noise (livewell kicked on ) ran them off . But fished stakebeds in less than 5' of water we ran into stakebed with trolling motor and never stopped biting on another lake.

Originally Posted by NIMROD

Hammerhead , I don't think all the fish are the same some more spooky or less aggressive . That may be the reason some get caught more than once . Something like pressure , temp , or who knows what some days fish hammer everything in sight and next time my ignore or just nip at a bait . But most days with correct presentation most will bite . Seen one lake where in 20' of water fish on bottom where slight noise (livewell kicked on ) ran them off . But fished stakebeds in less than 5' of water we ran into stakebed with trolling motor and never stopped biting on another lake.

Yeah, one day they're on, the next they're off. You see some run to your bait from 6-8 feet out and others wont even give your jig a look when you're 1-2 feet away, then some see it too close or your pitch gets too close to them and they blast out of there. It makes you wonder on some if they just aren't interested or haven't seen your jig yet. I suppose its both ways sometimes. Maybe Im a Bull in a China cabinet on my deck, but the bigger fish always seem a little less interested this time of year for me and they will just cruise off if you dont place a light jig just right. They definitely seem more picky to me, but Im far from a sharpened angler, unlike quite a few that I know. I need to get away to some other lakes where the traffic isnt so heavy now, but gas prices have me tight to home base. Although, I have been fortunate this year and have had some good trips, but the 2020 prespawn sure seemed better than this last winter. Im ready for 25 degree weather, where very few get out on the lake and cold water suspended fat fish are scattered. Pre Spawn is my favorite time hands down