How much and how long ?

[Ketchn]

I know factually crappie shrink in length when they come out of warm water and go into cold water . So how much do they shrink in length and in what time frame is my question ? I have seen some lose an inch easily over night on ice , but I am pretty sure I have seen some lose a half inch or more in just a few hours submerged in ice water . One fish lost well over an inch in about 36 hours in an ice bath .
And one more thing to think about , how much weight do they lose in this condition as well ? A State fisheries guy told me a 1.25 lb. fish was possibly 1.75 lbs. before I iced her for almost 2 days .
Wondering what yawl think ?

[Tony the Tiger]

[Erin Brewer]

I have never measured them after they were on ice over nite but I on my home lake we have a 12 inch size limit and you better not keep one smaller than 12 1/8 inches, if you do and put him on ice before you leave the lake he will be under 12 inches.

["G"]

We have the 12 inch limit where I fish.....and it reads over 12 ....a 12 will get you in trouble......i do not keep them if they are not over 12 and a quarter inch

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[stormcloud]

On two different days, my first fish caught was 12 3/8, caught at daylight. Remeasured at around 3:00 PM while cleaning them. After being on ice from from daylight to 3:00 PM, both fish measured 12 1/8. Too close for me. I won't keep one unless it is over 12 3/8.

[Snubby]

Lose a 1/4 inch of length on ice in a reasonable amount of time, possibly more the longer they sit (overnight). As far as weight I dunno, if I have a fish I wanna weigh, I do it before it goes on the ice..

[huntinslabs]

Hard to say for sure. But I wont keep a redfish or trout unless it is a solid inch over minimum slot.

[6poundtest]

I'm thinking you need to clean your fish quicker when your trip is done!

1 1/2 to 2 days before cleaning? I get antsy if I'm not cleaning within an hour of getting home

[Ketchn]

I'm thinking you need to clean your fish quicker when your trip is done!

1 1/2 to 2 days before cleaning? I get antsy if I'm not cleaning within an hour of getting home

we ice them in slush ice for up to 2 days sometimes ....of course we dont open body cavities when we fillet them but if you keep them in slush they are ok meat wise ..
i almost never clean them the day i ketch them ....fresh fish of the day are a pain to fillet and bleed to much for me ....

[ibmack]

I'm thinking you need to clean your fish quicker when your trip is done!

1 1/2 to 2 days before cleaning? I get antsy if I'm not cleaning within an hour of getting home

I have let them sit overnight on ice for over 40 years with no problems. occasionally 2 days, but not often. get something else to worry about