That was exactly the point I was going to make.
It would seem to reason that if a fish were captured in a bay, tagged and released during the spawning migration that the fish may spawn in that bay, leave the bay and simply return to that bay the next year around the same time. Now, if that fish was caught in say August in that bay, I might get on board. Fact is most people target crappie during the late winter/spring and fall. At that time the crappie are mostly in the bays. Just because the fish was caught in the bay doesn't prove it didn't leave and come back. Heck, you can't say a tire's not flat just because technically it still has air in it.
I agree that in bays like Jonathan and Blood the fish may stick around longer. They have access to deep water in those bays. Sledd however is flat and shallow. At winter pool you have a few pockets of 13' water but that's as deep as it gets. Summer pool your gonna have about 18' in the deepest spots. Water temps in summer in a bay that shallow won't hold that many crappie.
I'd be willing to bet that the majority of your tagged fish were caught in march and April.
Paul, I want to thank you for getting on here and debating this issue. I know you've got a lot on your table. I'm not trying to be a hard head or argue just to be arguing. You won't find may folks with a greater love for this sport. I want it to be around long after I'm gone.
You guys are making great strides towards improving the crappie fishery but we still have a long way to go and many challenges ahead.
Just remember, some of the greatest accomplishments of mankind have been spawned from contriversy and disagreement
Wiskers