Someone answer this. If crappie die too quickly for regulations to work, and growing season is too short, why is the crappie records pretty equal across all states?
The Boy Scouts use to make habitat at Missy when they had there Klondike in January. Now you have to have a permit to put any structure in a body of water. So they ceased to put structures in after the draw down like they did in previous years.
Someone answer this. If crappie die too quickly for regulations to work, and growing season is too short, why is the crappie records pretty equal across all states?
die quickly ? the oldest one on record that i have read about was said to be 22yrs old. i think it was from Indiana too. don't know about the records. one would think fish in the south would get bigger.
Actually, I don't think crappie records are that equal across states. I took a quick look at the state record white crappie from 30 different states, and they are pretty much all over the board. Four states were over 5 lbs. Twelve states were between 4-5 lbs. Ten states were between 3-4 pounds, and 4 states were less than 3 pounds.
On the age thing, again, there is tremendous variation, even among lakes within the same state. For example, according to recent sampling data in Indiana, crappie lived to age 3 in Brookville, age 4 in Missy, age 5 in Hardy, age 6 in Eagle Creek, age 8 in Monroe, and age 10 in Patoka. This is partly what makes it so tough to set a statewide limit on crappie.
-T9
I don't agree with any fisherman trying to police each other. if you see a violation by all means call tip. that's what its for but no non law enforcement has any right to measure out another mans catch. I guarantee that wouldn't end well.
Happy Hooken.....
I don't agree with or suggest it either. I was just saying that is what it would take to really enforce a size limit given the job of the CO and them being so spread thin. I think they do a great job given the tools they are given to do their job. I know two CO's fairly well and would not want their job in any way shape or form. Kudos for the great job they do.
Keep them poles bent and the boat right side up! LOL
Good question!
If this would be true (from T9's post he researched and debunked it), then likely there are less numbers of near-record crappie in states with shorter growing seasons than in those with longer growing seasons. Not to say there aren't near record sized fish swimming around- just they may not be in abundance. There are many interesting anomalies in life. Knowing this, it's understandable that it could be possible for states to have record fish that may weigh similarly.
Something that comes to mind is the world record ~3lb yellow bass Jim caught on Morse about a decade ago. Does Indiana have the longest growing season for this species' range? Nope- it is an anomaly (there may not be many in it's size/year class). Should IN impose a size limit on yellow bass? Definitely not because of this one record fish. The same should be true for crappie.
In closing... Even if the record fish were the same across all states, record fish are anomalies. Besides, many records are antiquated (over 30-40 years old), so they have lost any relevance. Current fish surveys are what should be examined for regulations not a state record specimen (no matter how current). Regulations aren't designed for anomalies. Regulations are for the general population.
Anomaly- "Deviation or departure from the normal or common order, form, or rule."
Hope this helps!
Last edited by Hoosier Crappie; 10-05-2013 at 04:04 AM. Reason: addendum
SpeckMaster, Jman5626 LIKED above post
My list may be wrong on the records. I was looking more at the states that crappie have traditionally been popular in. I haven't gone to every states page and double checked the list I'm using, so it may in fact be wrong.
Alabama-4lbs 5 oz
Arizona 4lbs 10 oz
Arkansas 4lbs 9 oz
Indiana 4lbs 11 oz
Georgia 4lbs 4 oz
Illinois 4lbs 8 oz
Iowa 4lbs 9 oz
Kansas 4lbs 10 oz
KY 4lbs 14 oz
Mi 4lbs 1.92 oz
Minnesota 5lbs
Mississippi 4lbs 4oz
Missouri 5lbs
Ohio 4lbs 8oz
oklahoma 4lbs 10 oz
Wisconsin 4lbs 8oz
Virgina 4lbs 10oz
Tennessee 4lbs 4oz
Texas 4.56 lbs
I don't disagree that current fish surveys should be the basis for regulations. Just curious, because I have read often how short our growing season is as a reason not reduce limit size or have a length limit. We live in a state that is far from the shortest growing season after all.