Thread: Ask the Biologist

Originally Posted by Craig Johnson

Chris,

I have forwarded your question on to the KDWP fish biologist that oversees Lake Wabaunsee. I could "speculate" all day on what "might" be up with this particular crappie population but it would be better to get good information from fish sample data taken over the years. I will let you know what I hear back from Ely.

Originally Posted by Fish Taxi

Hi Craig,
I got into a discussion the other day about Lake Wabaunsee's crappie population, and would like to get your perspective.

A group of anglers was discussing the reasons why the lake contains so many small crappie. One person's theory was that it gets over fished and whenever a crappie reaches filleting-size, it hits the frying pan. Another guy's theory was that it is overpopulated and the fish are stunted.

I think both theories seem plausible.

I believe it probably does get a bit over-fished because I know of a few guys that take out boat-loads of crappies, and it gets pretty crowded with boats for a lake that's only 200 acres. There are a couple of locals that brag about how they cleaned 2000+ crappies last year and I believe them because I have fished beside them and seen how everything goes into the livewell...

I think the theory about it being overpopulated is also pretty reasonable. I sure seem to catch a lot of skinny crappie out there. It is nothing to get into a school of paper-thin 8" crappies and sit and hook them for hours. They can black-out the fish finder at times. Whenever I do catch a 10"+ crappie (about every tenth fish), it is also skinny compared to a crappie from Tuttle, Council Grove, Banner Creek, or pretty much anywhere else I can think of.

Recruitment is pretty good (I imagine) because the lake is always stable and the crappie's nests are well protected by the countless docks that line the shore. And I also have to wonder if there are enough big predators to keep the numbers of small fish in check. I think most of the anglers are throwing back bass, but the good saugeye and catfish almost always end up as someone's dinner.

So, the million dollar question(s)... From a biologist's perspective, can you explain what is going on with the crappie population in Lake Wabaunsee? And can you please tell me what, as an angler and resident, can I do to help the crappie population get bigger and fatter? Should I throw back all saugeyes and walleyes? Should I start filleting 8" crappies and throw back the 10" ones? Should I compliment the guys who are cleaning 2000+ crappies each year or encourage them to throw some back?

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I am looking forward to your response.
Chris

Chris,

I apologize for taking so long to post a reply to your question. Field duties have kept me away from the computer nearly all of this week.

I received a reply from the fisheries biologist that oversees Lake Wabaunsee. He said the Lake Wabaunsee has historically contained high densities of white crappie and these high densities have been managed through predation by the largemouth bass and saugeye populations. In recent years, the largemouth population has dipped and saugeye have not been stocked since 2004. This decrease in predator numbers has caused the predation pressure on the white crappie to decrease allowing the crappie population to return to higher densities with lower body conditions (thinner fish).

Harvest of crappie would be good in this case, especially of the smaller individuals so those that are left have greater access to limited resources (obeying the lake's harvest regulations, of course!).

Originally Posted by Fish Taxi

I'm familiar with the "cliff's notes" version of how the crappie spawn works, but I was curious if you could tell me more details about their behavior. I know the males select a site, "build" a nest and guard it. The females deposit eggs which are fertilized by the males, and then the males guard the nest until the eggs hatch and also guard the young for a few days. (according to what I read on the internet.:D)...

Just wondering??? Is there any kind of courtship? How does a female decide which male's nest to use. Do multiple females deposit eggs in one male's nest? Do females deposit eggs in multiple males' nests? What kind of behavior do the males do to attract females? How do they get "on the same page" so they synchronize their spawning actions? Just curious.

I googled the heck out of this, but didn't find much useful information.

The reason for the question is that I am working on a taxidermy project and would like to make it more artistic than the usual "banana-shaped fish on a board". I want to accurately display several pre-spawning crappie in a natural way. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Craig.

P.S.
I realize the rest of you guys are probably fighting the urge to crack some perverted jokes since we are all 12 years old at heart. I won't be offended if you hijack my post... as long as I get the correct answer at some point.

Chris,

Very good question...but I'm not sure that I can be of much help to you on this one. I'm sure there is plenty of "posing" and "posturing" going on when the males and females are getting prepared to spawn but a video camera and a scuba mask would be needed to accurately capture the "details". Geogem provided some insights that may help you out on your taxidermy project.

Fishes in Kansas, by Cross and Collins, contains information on the spawning habits of the sunfishes, including the crappie. Here's a few bits that may be of interest to you. Warming water temperatures in April and May brings fish in to shallow near shore areas. Males precede the females. The males select a nest site and prepare the nest. When a female is ready to spawn she approaches the nest and is urged into the nest by the male. After the female has deposited her eggs she is no longer welcome near the nest. The male remains at the nest to protect the eggs and to receive additional females seeking a place to spawn.

Not exactly what you were looking for but hopefully it helps you out a little...

Originally Posted by Crappie Chatt

Craig, since you are on the 'Zebra' capital lake of KS & we know the discarded shells from them are very sharp,,,, Have you noticed any changes in the amount of the male crappie tail wear? Have they changed places of their beds because of the shells? I judge how the spawn is coming along by this. <*)}}}><

Chatt,

I haven't noticed any additional tail wear on any of the spawning fishes since the arrival of the zebra mussels at El Dorado. Luckily, the peak densities of zebra mussels and high encrustation of substrates was fairly short lived at El Dorado (2004 through mid 2007). Currently we have low densities of attached zebra mussels and you can once again see rocks and stumps instead of large masses of zebra mussels.

There's still much to be learned about the impacts of the zebra mussels upon our fisheries resources in Kansas. Right now, I still have more questions than answers!

Originally Posted by Craig Johnson

There has been great interest in the El Dorado District Fisheries newsletter pilot program, and it has been deemed a success! Thanks to the interest of anglers the pilot program has been expanded statewide. You can now subscribe to fisheries district newsletters that you may be interested in. Go to the newsletter sign up page to subscribe to other fisheries newsletters. More districts will be coming online soon so keep checking back for updates.

Sign up early as newsletters are sent out to subscribers as soon as the newsletters are released and again a couple weeks after the initial release. Subscribers that sign up between newsletters may have to wait for the next issue to be released before they receive a copy.

The fourth issue of the El Dorado District Fisheries News will be sent out this week so get on the list!

If you all haven't checked in lately, many more KDWP Fisheries Districts have been added to the newsletter sign up page which can be found HERE. Newsletters are sent to subscribers as they are released and then again a couple of weeks after release to cover those recent subscribers. You can pick and choose which districts to subscribe to or you can sign up for all of them! Some of the Spring editions have already been sent out and there has been some very good information made available. The newsletters are written by the KDWP Fisheries Biologists responsible for fish management within that particular district.

KDWP STOCKS ANGLER SLUETHING TOOLS

Posted: 05 May 2010 12:32 PM PDT

Unprecedented amount of information available to find and catch fish in Kansas

PRATT — If you combine a library, a breaking news website, a 24-hour weather channel, and the latest insider information into one handy tool for the angler, what would you have? Answer: all the tools the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) offers today's fishermen.

Start with the Fishing Forecast. Each year, KDWP prepares a tool that answers every angler's most pressing question: "Where can I find the best fishing?" Called the Kansas Fishing Forecast, this indispensable tool helps anglers select lakes that will most likely provide the best opportunity to catch the kind and size of fish they prefer. The information is formulated from data collected by fisheries biologists through annual lake monitoring, which includes test netting, electroshocking, and creel surveys. Table categories for the most popular species include a Density Rating, Preferred Rating, Lunker Rating, Biggest Fish (the largest fish taken in sampling), and Biologist’s Rating. Not every lake is sampled each year, so a separate category, Three-Year Density Average, is included.

Each year, a new Kansas Fishing Forecast is published in the March/April issue of Kansas Wildlife & Parks magazine and is available at the KDWP website by late February. Click "Fishing" at the top of the KDWP home page, KDWP - KDWP, then "Fishing Forecast" in the left-hand column. Printed copies of the forecast are available at KDWP offices.

The fishing forecast lets you know where the fish are, but you want to know where the fish are biting now. No problem. One of the most popular and useful tools provided by KDWP is the weekly lake-by-lake fishing reports posted on the agency's website. While these reports complement the fishing forecast, they provide more timely information for the angler wanting to know where the fish are biting. Updated weekly by KDWP fisheries biologists, these reports provide the latest ratings on fishing conditions at many department-managed lakes. Information includes a general rating of what the fishing is like — from poor to excellent — as well as the size range of fish being caught, and a description of successful baits, methods, and locations where anglers are having the most success. This detailed information is included for each species of sportfish in the lake. Water temperatures and lake elevations are also included, along with tips each biologist thinks might help anglers catch fish.

This is great information, but that's not all the biologist has to offer. For the personal touch, click on "Newsletter Request Forms" in the right-hand column of KDWP's home page, and you'll be taken to a sign-up page to receive periodic newsletters by email from district fisheries biologists across the state. Pick the area or areas you are interested in, type in the requested information, and you'll receive regular reports on your favorite lakes directly to your email inbox. Read them over or print them out and put them with your fishing gear. You may find just the tip you've been looking for.

Most anglers acknowledge that fisheries biologists have the best overall general knowledge of fishing conditions, but they can't be everywhere at once. Sometimes, the avid angler has immediate tips to share, and wouldn't it be nice if there were a clearinghouse for such "insider information"? There is. In addition to the Fishing Forecast and the Weekly Fishing Reports, a web blog entitled "Public Fishing Reports" enables anglers to share timely reports and tips local biologists may not have heard about. Combined with the fishing forecast and the biologists' weekly fishing reports and newsletters, the public fishing reports provide the most complete picture of angling conditions short of being on the lake.

All these tools are available on the KDWP website, but there are two more essential angling tools: the Kansas Fishing Atlas and the Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary. These are also available on the KDWP website and in printed form wherever licenses are sold. The Kansas Fishing Atlas pinpoints a variety of public fishing areas, including Fishing Impoundment and Stream Habitats (F.I.S.H.) waters. F.I.S.H. waters are privately-owned ponds or streams KDWP has leased and opened to public fishing. F.I.S.H. sites are numbered in red on each map. Each map also shows all federal reservoirs, state fishing lakes, river access, and community lakes. With this atlas, anglers can locate just about any type of fishing desired.

The Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary booklet, updated every January, lets anglers know what new regulations take effect for the coming year, and includes other essential laws and regulations. The booklet also features state park information and detailed regulations for each body of water managed by KDWP. Anglers who want to contact a district fisheries biologist will find a listing of names and phone numbers of the nearest biologist, as well as regional supervisors. A listing of natural resource officer contacts is also included.

The modern angler has fish-finding tools that past generations could only dream of, and none are more comprehensive than those offered by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Take advantage of them today. The fish are biting, and it's time to hit the water.

Craig,
I have a couple of questions on my favorite lake for you......Chase SFL. I was there yesterday and caught tons and tons of small crappie but no nice ones at all like I have in the past. Is this just a strong year class coming on or is their a decrease in the saugeye population? I've had a tough time finding the saugeye the past couple of years their. Question #2 is a guy told me yesterday that KDWP had taken a bunch of flatheads out of there and moved them to eldorado and I just wondered if that was true or not. One last thing is I would like to complement you on taking care of that lake. It's a true pleasure to fish that lake and thank you for all you do!
Travis

kscatman - I don't have an answer for you, but I'm finding the same thing at Chase SFL. Last year I caught a lot of small ones with some nice 11in+ fish mixed in. This last sunday I caught a ton of them right on the banks but every crappie was about 7in. Since the water is pretty clear, I could see other crappie following the one I had hooked. One time I had 6+ crappie following the hooked one. Never seen that before with crappie. Ran into a guy out there with the same story, but he said when he caught a bigger fish it was a male. So maybe the bigger females haven't moved up yet.
See what Craig has to say.

tim, i think some of the fish i caught yesterday were females that were only 7 inches. you could catch them any where and every where! I got one about 8 inches and cleaned it just because i guess cause I was cleaning other fish and it was a female so I'm guessing there is just a strong year class. Might also ask craig about the smallmouth in there, once in a while i will catch one of those, wondered if he sees those much when he shocks and things like that.