I bet Jackb has an answer!
I've been catching some small(6-7") female crappies that appear to have eggs and getting ready to spawn. Is this an indication of stunting, or perhaps an increased growth rate, or is there something else it might be? I'm sure these were eggs, and not just full stomachs.
I bet Jackb has an answer!
Not unusual, especially if they are black crappie.
I do have an answer; the fish are stunted. I moved here in 1983 and have fished Smithville a ton. For years all we heard was the 8 or 8 1/2 in crappie were a "Great year class" I think that's crap. The lake has been giving up tons of crappie which, by ratio, have been small, thin, scrawny fish. Yet they continue to charge tremendous fees to launch/park. Where does the money go??? Certainly not to better the fishery. Also don't want to hear about the thousands of dollars WASTED on the "habitat program". What else are the biologists going to say other than "We're seeing shad everywhere" and "should be a good year for crappie"? I SHOULD win powerball; doesn't mean I'm gonna. If they told the TRUTH about this sewer, the parking lots would be empty and their fees would dry up. And we can't have that now, can we?
I used to go to Smithville occasionally and pay the high parking fee and not catch squat. Since they raised the fees even higher I quit going and don't plan to go anymore.
If you're going to rant you should get your facts straight; 1) The Missouri Dept of Conservation manages the fish and has been working at improving habitat. COR and Clay County have play an important role during the habitat days as well. 2) Clay County Parks collects ALL the ramp and park fees.
Have you even helped during a "Habitat Day"? The habitat is paying off "BIG TIME" for the crappie and bass fishermen. My fishing buddy and I have fished in a number of tournaments at Smithville and have done well, but we don't fish the W bridge. Maybe that's your problem.
The fish aren't even close to being stunted.
Thank you for the correct info, I appreciate you laying out the facts.
Crappie I caught years ago averaged a bit bigger but the same is true of every new reservoir I have had the privilege to fish. That includes Norton, Clinton, Truman, and Smithville.
I think Smithville has a forage fish habitat problem. There is an amazing lack of vegetarian and I don't see a lot of insects.
I would be interested in my argument taken apart by someone who actually knows what they are talking about :-)
springhillwantabe, CrappieFiend816 LIKED above post