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Thread: Crappie size limit

  1. #11
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    I don't know where I stand on this one. I wouldn't mind a size limit if it worked, I don't keep them under 9" anyhow.. I don't have enough experience to really know the benefits or downsides. I can honestly say though in all of the fishing i have done over the years I can only think of a couple of times where I have caught my limit of crappie. Maybe i'm naive but i've never seen anybody catch more then their limit, or even heard of anyone doing that. Hopefully their not, but I guess I really don't know. I'm in support of the co's out there checking livewells etc...

  2. #12
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    Crappies, like other fish need a lot of factors to marry together to have a successful spawn. While you hear that they're prolific spawners, what you don't hear about is the lack of proper spawning habitat. In order for crappies to have a successful spawn they need proper light penetration, cover, temp, oxygen, and protectors of the nest to name a few factors. When you look at Indiana's BOW, we lack in cover/habitat first and foremost, and when boats and bank fishermen pound what very little cover we have for a successful spawn, it's no wonder why we have years like 2013 for large numbers of big fish. When it comes to fish washing over a spillway, that also has to do with lack of cover, because most fish can find the vortex of a piece of structure and hover effortless in place. In my experience, a shad kill doesn't happen often in most reservoirs in Indiana, as they'll blow up my Vexliar all winter long, but the eating size shad do become less prevalent. However, most crappies are filter feeders in their youth, relying on their gills to filter micro organisms, so shad wouldn't effect the younger generation in most cases.
    When it comes to regulations and proper catch and release, most people have no clue about what they should and shouldn't do. This summer, during the tournament off season, I told 8 different families I'd take them fishing if they had a youth on the boat and the experience was eye opening. None of them had any idea what was right or wrong... nobody ever told them, and the regulations didn't say anything about selective harvest. With that being said, we're lacking in regulations, education, and habitat in this state, and sadly enough, not many care to make the necessary changes. My plan will remain the same moving forward, take kids fishing, and educate them the best way I know how and hope for the best.
    Ask me about: Bobby Garland, CrappiePro, Yeti Coolers, Power-Pole, and Simms Products!
    Likes Jman5626 LIKED above post

  3. #13
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    Being a biologist isn't easy, especially when it comes to crappie anglers. One subject that constantly gets brought up is why we don't have a size limit on crappie. Seems like crappie anglers are always wanting bigger and better crappie fishing in their lakes. The simple answer is because it largely wouldn't work on most of our waters. Research and modeling suggest you need a population with good to above average growth combined with low natural mortality and heavy exploitation (people keeping fish) for them to work well. This is the exact criteria that both Ohio and Pennsylvania have adopted for their crappie programs. Indiana biologists have looked at the stats for a lot of our reservoirs, and to the best of my knowledge, only a few bodies of water have been identified that fit the above scenario. For certain, a statewide blanket regulation wouldn't work. Anglers think that you can simply slap a 9" or 10" size limit on a lake full of 6"-8" crappie and in a year or two, all those fish will have grown to 10" - WRONG. In many if not most cases, they'll stunt out and the population will be worse off than when you started.

    Back on the original point. Biologists over in Illinois (Rend Lake) came up with a creative idea to improve crappie fishing for larger fish while stabilizing the cyclical nature of the population. They took their existing 25 fish limit and applied a tiered bag limit, such that you could only keep 5 of your 25 crappie >10", and the other 20 had to be <10". They later (2004) revised the over 10" component to 10 > 10", with the remaining 15 having to be under 10". This forced harvest of smaller fish while protecting for overharvest of larger fish. From a recent presentation on the results;

    "The size structure of the crappie population improved noticeably following implementation of the regulation. Data from the fall 2002 trapnet survey showed a sharp rise in the percentage of the crappie population > 10 in and this increase has remained relatively stable for eight years post-implementation. Creel data also showed a dramatic increase in catch rates and harvest of crappie > 10 in."
    Sounds like a win for crappie anglers. Some posters on fishing forums even pointed out that it is, at times, difficult to even get your 15 fish under 10". However, the majority of the posters complained that they didn't like the new tiered system, instead arguing that they would just prefer a simple 25 over 10" limit, which as was already mentioned, won't work on a majority of crappie lakes in our region. Some went so far as to call the regulation "stupid".

    It just goes to show that there are many facets involved with setting regulations, not the least of which is angler opinion. In this case, even though the fishery probably wouldn't have improved, and maybe even gotten worse, anglers would rather have a simplified creel limit instead of a specialized regulation. Part of this likely stems from the nature of crappie fishermen, that being primarily a catch and harvest type endeavor. Surveys show that not many edible sized crappie get released by anglers. Unlike bass or muskie fishermen who have a very strong catch and release ethic, crappie anglers, along with bluegill and walleye anglers, are more geared toward harvest. As such, any regulations that negatively impact that ability to harvest are frequently met with criticism. In several instances, this has resulted in crappie size regs in other states having actually been rescinded. While many conservation minded folks follow and post on these boards, they make up but a tiny fraction of all the crappie anglers in the state, the majority of which don't have that same mindset.

    -T9
    Likes SpeckMaster, Moveon LIKED above post

  4. #14
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    "WRONG. In many if not most cases, they'll stunt out and the population will be worse off than when you started."

    Team9nine
    And that's what the CO told us when he said to toss them out.
    smiles are contagious, spread them around
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    & Team Geezer

  5. #15
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    i wouldnt mind a size limit on a few good crappie lakes. maybe a slot would be even better. i dont agree with you tat there arent big crappie in our public lakes though. i have caught or seen caught plenty of 16+" crapys from our public lakes. the lakes that give them up regularly are few though. guess im really on the fence on this one, because my area has great crappie fishing.

  6. #16
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    "Crappies, like other fish need a lot of factors to marry together to have a successful spawn. While you hear that they're prolific spawners, what you don't hear about is the lack of proper spawning habitat."

    HT i agree with you on habitat maybe ISM members and C.C members could create a team that could get with dnr and army corp and create a couple projects a year to add habitat to our fisheries and have a habitat day in late winter have member donate their time labor money ect.. i sure there be more than enough donate one way or another I know i would

  7. #17
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    You're right, after October 27th let's work on getting a plan together to develop crappie structure with the DNR. PM your contact information, and I'll work with the club to gauge their interest. Hopefully we can get to work during the winter draw down. Anybody else interest in working on stake beds, etc. send me your contact information.
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  8. #18
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    I will work with Jamie Smyth at the DNR and see if we can get a meeting scheduled sometime this winter.
    Lets get our ducks in a row and present something great because its gonna be a hard sell.
    Tom Hankins
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  9. #19
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    I don't think a size limit would work. For one, the CO's are spread too thin to enforce the laws we have. We end up policing each other many times when we see a law broken and call it in. Who wants to go up to someone and say we want to measure their fish to make sure they are legal and then call in violations. I don't think there is a magic pill for this issue. I have to admit I have kept 7" and 8" crappie before. I don't fill my cooler with them though. I also release any bass, either smallie or LM. We have to do what we think is right and try to educate the rest as much as we can. How we do that is the tough part. I respect all others views and ideas and hope everyone does likewise.
    Keep them poles bent and the boat right side up! LOL

  10. #20
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    Thanks T9,

    This subject has come up times before in this (IN) forum. Within this thread there are examples & science to support and it's easy to follow (it's well-written). Is there a way our moderator can "sticky" it for posterity?

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