Reply With QuoteKDFWR Forecast chart says .... Crappie - Fair - High numbers of fish in the 7- to 9-inch range, and fair numbers of fish over 9 inches.Anglers need to search out cover and utilize department-placed brush piles.Originally Posted by Jman5626
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Crappie Wall Hanger II
I agree, it would be helpful if they advertised it that more fish should be taken out, but it could be that there's potential backlash from doing so in this world we live in with PETA and similar groups. KDFWR advocating increased destruction of fish might fall under the "negative publicity" category so they probably have to tread lightly about it, even if it is the right thing to do. It kind of reminds of what the Forest Service is doing in LBL with the logging and prescribed burns, those things are necessary to increase the wildlife carrying capacity of the property, but people have been trained to think that both logging and forest fires are bad so they get groups together to try and fight it........I could easily see the same happening over trying to reduce crappie populations in Grayson Lake.
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In KY a Crappie is considered a "Sport Fish" -Those small crappie make great cut bait for catfish .
This is directly from the Kentucky Fishing and Boating Guide on page 11 "Regardless of size or how obtained, it is illegal to use any sport fish for bait (except redear sunfish less than 6 inches long).
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Small crappie removal
I had thought about that before but didn’t want to tempt it.
“i guess It’s ok to take them home and bury them in the garden or throw them up on the back for something else to eat, but don’t use them to catch other fish” lol
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Keeper
Cave Run lake has the same problem. I was told the same exact thing by the biologist there.
I take my small fish home use them for fertilizer, and also just take them back on the farm for varmints to eat.
A different scenario that’s a totally different situation is Taylorsville Lake.
I’ve been there twice this year. Yesterday three of us caught 50-60 fish. I brought home 7 keepers .I was using the new Lowrance Active Target trying to Target larger fish.
But the problem there I think is over harvest the last two years. Yesterday a Monday the parking lot at Chowning was almost full. Everyone boat I talked to was having the same problem.
So just remember these biologist know their lake. They shock fish to determine how to set lake limits etc. even with Muskie in Cave Run lake it is still over populated. Take those little fish home. Give them to someone that loves to eat crappie or just fertilizer.
Let’s get these lakes in good shape. If that’s what it takes I’m all in.
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Crappie Wall Hanger II
Small crappie eat great. I own a lot at Trailwood Lake, which is a private lake around 100 acres. Tons of 8 to 10 inch skinny crappie. I catch and eat them all year. I know I'm probably never gonna catch my 3 pounder out of there and probably note many if any 2 pounders but thats ok.
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I agree, the do eat good and are fun to catch, but for this to be a decently sized public lake that is managed by the state, I would think they would be putting forth some effort to help the overall size of the fish get bigger. That was really the point I was trying to make. I love catching and eating fish of all sizes. Would just love for them to be a little bit bigger. I know Grayson will never be as good as kentucky lake or anything, but I do feel they can do something to help it become a little better than it currently is .
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Slabmaster
A few years ago I had a pond with 8" crappie that barely made a bluegill size fillet. Solution: Added 20 channel cats 9" long. In 3 years I was catching bigger crappie and 5 lb. channel cats. Too many small fish? Just add fish eaters.
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one solution is instead of fileting them cut off head and scale like you do a BG and you get more meat out of one and some folks I know that's all they keep as it tastes better.this way even a 7 incher is worthwhile if you have a bunch of them. plus like someone said there are always fools out there that go nuts over good conservation practices like tossing smaller fish out to be consumed by animals. No waste in the wild.
