Thread: Ask the Biologist

With all the retiree's fishing as soon as ice out,, this year,, well there goes dat theory!!! :D:D:D:D <*)}}}><

Originally Posted by Crappie Chatt

With all the retiree's fishing as soon as ice out,, this year,, well there goes dat theory!!! :D:D:D:D <*)}}}><

Well I have heard roomers that you can put the food and DRINK away but I don't know if you can eat THAT many crappie... :D

wonder where esox is catchin all those thats alot of fish coming out of hard water like weve had the last 2 or 3 months? surely ice out is just around the corner?

Originally Posted by esoxesox

Question Craig:

I have a question that intrigues me. General overview;

a) When I keep crappie for the knife, I pack them in layers on ice in a cooler. In the winter, I use the snow. I usually fish till dark and when I get home, unloading the boat and getting to the LazyBoy are top priorities.

b) I clean the fish in the morning with a fresh pot of joe. Fish are always just fine and there is no question up to this point.

c) Dec, Jan and now Feb, I notice a distinct variation in the white vs black crappie that I handle in the morning. The cooler usually has a mix ratio of about 5 whites to 1 black. I'm usually cleaning 14-20 crappie so there are always a few blacks in the bunch. The white crappie are quite firm but not frozen in the moring while the blacks are limp as though they just came out of the water.

d) This the case in every single instance. I have kept enough coolers of fish that the probability that the blacks didn't get "iced" quite the same is not a factor. When I say enough, I'm saying that since December, I have had probably 20, if not more coolers of fish to clean in the morning.

My interest is that there has to be a biological variation in the species that causes this specific difference. Have you ever heard of this? Do you have any idea as to the biological answer to this quandry? It is absolutely not a random chance occurance as I have been interested in this question going through far too many coolers of crappie.

If you don't have any ideas about this question, can you send along an email of an AFS (American Fisheries Society) member either at the state or national level that can help with the question.

Thanks

esoxesox,

I do not have an explanation for the phenomenon that you have witnessed other than fish that are left "soaking" in water will have a different consistency than those left above the waterline in the cooler but still on ice. I attended training for 3 days last week (part of the reason for my delay in replying) and I asked numerous fisheries biologists (both state and national AFS members) and did not find a concrete answer relating to interspecific differences. My internet service was restored moments ago, so I will be emailing your question to a few other contacts to see if I can find an answer for you.

Originally Posted by Springhill Duckman

Craig,

Thanks again for all the great info...

I have had a theory for the last few years and this year should be a perfect example. I have noticed that fishing after a heavy ice year over the spawn for crappie is a lot better on heavily fished lakes like HD, Cheney or such. The main reason is a large amount of the crappie harvest seem to come over the winter when the fish are really schooled up and easy to catch. The ice keeps most people off the lake and harvest is much lighter resulting in more keeper fish for the spawn followed by strong classes of fish. Obvously there are other factors like forage and such that add heavily on to it. But the same seems to be true sometime for the spawn and flooding. Have you seen any data to show as such?

Springhill Duckman,

I would agree with your observation. Bad ice conditions limit ice fishing pressure as well as fishing pressure from boating anglers which allows for more crappie to remain in the lake until Spring. Higher crappie densities during the spawn can provide better fishing success if other conditions such as rainfall, lake levels, and water temperatures allow.

Having higher densities of fish going in to the spawn doesn't ensure increased year class strength. As you stated, many factors influence the success of a year class. Higher densities of spawners is only one small piece of the recruitment puzzle.

It would be nice to think that we have some great fishing just around the corner after enduring such a long, cold ice covered winter!

Craig...............thanks for the reply. Let me clarify something that is important in determining an answer.

The crappie never "soak" in water. When I layer them in the ice or snow, depending on what is available and cheapest, I prop the cooler with one of the ends at a steep angle with the other end having the plug open. Any ice/snow that melts drains out of the cooler. Of course in the winter months, melting is not a factor and I rarely have any drainage.

It seems kinda like a dopey question, but it facinates me because there has to be a reason. Some fish scientist with an interest in research may be inclined to investigate.

Originally Posted by esoxesox

Craig...............thanks for the reply. Let me clarify something that is important in determining an answer.

The crappie never "soak" in water. When I layer them in the ice or snow, depending on what is available and cheapest, I prop the cooler with one of the ends at a steep angle with the other end having the plug open. Any ice/snow that melts drains out of the cooler. Of course in the winter months, melting is not a factor and I rarely have any drainage.

It seems kinda like a dopey question, but it facinates me because there has to be a reason. Some fish scientist with an interest in research may be inclined to investigate.

esoxesox,

I figured you weren't letting your crappie "soak" for extending periods as those of use that like to eat fish will go to great lengths to protect those precious fillets! I just threw the soaking observation out there as that WILL cause a difference in how fish look.

I'll do some more diggin' for you...

You can also view online HERE.

KDWP FISH INFORMATION NIGHTS PREPARE ANGLERS FOR SPRING

Fishing prospects, crappie techniques, and best locations presented

PRATT — Want to know where and how to catch fish in Kansas reservoirs? Attend one of several events hosted by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) in late winter. Called Fishing Information Nights, the events will feature experts on fishing and focus on fishing prospects, techniques, and locations. The events will also have presentations on proven angling tactics for crappie.

The first event will take place on Feb. 22 from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in Fort Hays State University Memorial Union's Black and Gold Room in Hays. Introductory speakers include Steve Price, KDWP Region 1 fisheries supervisor, and Lynn Maska of the Department of Health & Human Performance at Ft. Hays State. District fisheries biologists Mark Shaw and Tommie Berger will follow with updates on Webster, Kirwin, Sebelius, and Wilson reservoirs. Crappie angler, guide, and former KDWP law enforcement officer Paul Miller will then offer tips on how to catch this popular fish.

Miller will be followed by detailed fishing forecasts for Cedar Bluff, Glen Elder, and Lovewell reservoirs conducted by district fisheries biologists Dave Spalsbury and Scott Waters.

On Feb. 25 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., a Fishing Information Night will be held in the Little Theatre at the Kansas Highway Patrol Training Center, East Iron Avenue, in Salina. Introductory remarks by Price will be followed by fishing forecasts for Kanopolis and Wilson reservoirs from Berger and Milford Reservoir from biologist John Reinke. Miller will repeat his crappie fishing seminar, followed by updates on Glen Elder and Lovewell reservoirs by Waters. For more information on the Hays and Salina events, phone 785-628-8614.

In northeast Kansas, a Fishing Information Night will be held at the Johnson County Community College, Carlsen Center Room 211, 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park, on Friday Feb. 26. The event will last from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will include talks from fisheries biologists Richard Sanders (Clinton), Ely Sprenkle (Tuttle Creek), Andy Jansen (Hillsdale), and Kirk Tjelmeland (Perry). Each biologist will present an overview of area reservoir fisheries and local smaller lakes of interest. Region 2 Fisheries Section supervisor Chuck Bever will discuss aquatic nuisance species. For more information, contact the KDWP Region 2 Office, 785-273-6740, or the Kansas City District office, 913-422-1314.

On March 3, a Fishing Information night will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Great Plains Nature Center Auditorium, 6232 E. 29th St. North (29th N. & Woodlawn) in Wichita. Fishing guide "'Crappie" Chatt Martin will provide information about crappie fishing techniques. Regional fisheries biologists will be on hand to answer question about area lakes in an informal session. For more information, phone 316-683-8069.

Biologists will take questions from the audience at all events, which are developed by KDWP regional staff. All events are free.