Thread: Listen up .... FYI

I tend to agree about the recent fishing pressure. But it hasn't been a steady increase. Barkley last year had much lower pressure than previous years. Kentucky lake had much higher pressure this year than previous years. (I don't have exact figures yet since the survey isn't complete and we missed the early fishing since our survey didn't begin until February 16).
I think this is probably a function of people hearing about good fishing and trying to "strike while the iron is hot". With the internet, word of good fishing travels fast and brings in people from all over the country. It is years like this when our 20 fish limit is actually effective (most years the average angler doesn't catch 20 keepers so the limit isn't important). I definitely agree that some people ignore this and our ten inch limit (especially in years when we have a lot of 9 inch fish like last spring).

This is definitely something we are watching closely. A hypothetical major increase in fishing pressure changes the math of our population modeling and potentially supports more restrictive harvest regulations. If pressure is consistently higher than in the past we have a couple of options to reduce the pressure. One is of course to reduce the creel limit to 15 or even 10. (Might not have enough angler support for that one). The other option would be a pole limit of 3, 4, or 5 poles. (This assumes that the increased pressure includes a large percentage of spider riggers using more than 3 or 5 poles). Spider riggers do catch more fish an hour on average than those who fish with one or two poles. After last years creel survey we simulated the results of a pole limit and found a very limited reduction in harvest if we were to enact one (this could change if we observe greater numbers of anglers spider rigging or if they get more efficient.)
Nothing is being proposed, just thought I'd let you know we were evaluating it.

Just curious, which one would actually be harder on fish numbers and size a guy that fishes only 6 or 8 times a yr and takes more than his limit 50% of the time he fished those 6 or 8 times, or a guy that fishes all yr long and takes his limit 50 % of the times he fishes all yr Long? Now don't get me wrong I don't agree with anybody taking one fish over there limit and I also don't understand why a guy that fishes all yr long wants to fill the freezer with fillets.

I think its too funny that we ask a duck hunter to only kill so many mallard hens, drakes, pin tail , etc. flying 60 mph dipping and darting but we cannot ask someone to distinguish between a white or black crappie in a boat sitting still.

Originally Posted by Amartinbio

We are also very excited about having a full time creel survey now, because we know we have been missing a lot of the early crappie fishing in the winter during warmer years. If you see our creel clerk out there, ask him for an angler attitude survey and you can get your regulation change recommendations in writing.

I meet the young man last week in Sledd. He was extremely nice and I enjoyed talking with him.

Originally Posted by pab1981

Guess I am on the wrong side of this one, I am happy with Kentucky/Barkley as they are. I have friends and family that enjoy eating 10.25-11" fish. I also don't see anything out of line with good fish according to the year class strength. We have some great big fish years to look forward to coming up just like we have had some great big fish years in the not so recent past. Look at the tournament weights from the years following the last great boom like we are in now. I will save you some time, they were fantastic. We aren't in Mississippi and you can't make it so no matter how much you wish it.

I for one hope our biologists continue to manage our fisheries based on sound science not the emotional swings of fisherman trying to find fish or wishing our fish grew like they did in a different area of the country. Mean absolutely no disrespect to any of you on the other side, I know and like several of you, just come down on the other side of this.

I tend to fall on this side as well. I'm no expert but I assume Mississippi has a longer growing season so we likley couldn't duplicate that regardless of size limits changes.

But regardless whether that assumption is correct or not IMHO based on Amartinbio's statement that; "The 12" limit results in less pounds of filets and a 40% reduction in the number of fish caught. " , I personally wouldn't want the trade off. Everyone is different and has different goals and I certainly can respect and understand those that who's main objective it a trophy, and while I love a big fish as much as the next guy my main goal is most often to simply to get out with my family and enjoy the sport of fishing. Seeing the smile on my children's face when catching a fish, and their enthusiasm and enjoyment of then being able to eat what they caught, and sharing that experience with them brings me far greater joy than any personal best of any species I may reel in.

I struggle enough at times to help them catch some fish and I would hate for the odds to go down by "40%".

Well if a 11 inch limit doesn't result in more 11 inch fish it is obviously pointless. The idea of trophy Crappie is bizarre anyway. They don't live long enough to get above 4 pounds. I don't want larger fish for any other reason than an 11 inch Crappie is the perfect filet size.

Originally Posted by ccollins

Just curious, which one would actually be harder on fish numbers and size a guy that fishes only 6 or 8 times a yr and takes more than his limit 50% of the time he fished those 6 or 8 times, or a guy that fishes all yr long and takes his limit 50 % of the times he fishes all yr Long? Now don't get me wrong I don't agree with anybody taking one fish over there limit and I also don't understand why a guy that fishes all yr long wants to fill the freezer with fillets.

I was really going to try to stay out of this thread after I said my piece the first time and this may be an innocent question but I won't stand by and let you lump guys like me who follow the laws with poachers just because you don't understand it. I fish all year and would be more like 90 percent on catching limits on years with good fish numbers like this year and you won't get any apologies from me. My freezer isn't anywhere near full. I choose to accept proven science over speculation and would just assume my friends and family be able to eat legally caught fish as they die of old age and go to waste.

Originally Posted by Amartinbio

I tend to agree about the recent fishing pressure. But it hasn't been a steady increase. Barkley last year had much lower pressure than previous years. Kentucky lake had much higher pressure this year than previous years. (I don't have exact figures yet since the survey isn't complete and we missed the early fishing since our survey didn't begin until February 16).
I think this is probably a function of people hearing about good fishing and trying to "strike while the iron is hot". With the internet, word of good fishing travels fast and brings in people from all over the country. It is years like this when our 20 fish limit is actually effective (most years the average angler doesn't catch 20 keepers so the limit isn't important). I definitely agree that some people ignore this and our ten inch limit (especially in years when we have a lot of 9 inch fish like last spring).

This is definitely something we are watching closely. A hypothetical major increase in fishing pressure changes the math of our population modeling and potentially supports more restrictive harvest regulations. If pressure is consistently higher than in the past we have a couple of options to reduce the pressure. One is of course to reduce the creel limit to 15 or even 10. (Might not have enough angler support for that one). The other option would be a pole limit of 3, 4, or 5 poles. (This assumes that the increased pressure includes a large percentage of spider riggers using more than 3 or 5 poles). Spider riggers do catch more fish an hour on average than those who fish with one or two poles. After last years creel survey we simulated the results of a pole limit and found a very limited reduction in harvest if we were to enact one (this could change if we observe greater numbers of anglers spider rigging or if they get more efficient.)
Nothing is being proposed, just thought I'd let you know we were evaluating it.

So, what does it matter if a man uses 1 pole or 8 poles....... a limit is a limit regardless of methods.
So, if you limit poles then you might as well limit tackle, one in the same.
I completely disagree with your data, information and research on this subject. As long as I am following the laws that we currently have, what does it matter to anybody, anyone or any organization like some older fisherman in the KY League of Sportsman that want spider rigging, long lining and any trolling made illegal.
Just as the ecosystem is changing, the crappie are changing their habits as well, so the fisherman will need to adapt or go hungry.