How COVID-19 is impacting crappie fishing by Brad Wiegmann

[Slab]

No fishing! It’s hard to believe, but several states in America the government has shut down tournament and recreational fishing; other states have encouraged outdoor recreational pursuits like fishing, but in a manner to be in consistent with social distancing guidelines. Faced with these changes crappie anglers, crappie fishing guides, fishing tackle retailers and fishing lure companies are experiencing some rough waters.


In Kentucky crappie fishing guide Doug Wynn with Crappie-Gills-n-More (www.crappie-gills-n-more.com) shut down his guide service until further notice. “The social distancing guideline and to be compliant with orders from the federal, state and local government, I just felt like it was in the best interest of my guide clients to stop doing guide trips. I don’t want to unnecessarily spread the Coronavirus to clients,” said Wynn.


Unfortunately, April is one of Wynn’s best months for guiding so it is effecting his income. It’s also closing parks on Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake go to Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife
COVID-19's Effect On The KDFWR for more information on which ones. Crappie tournaments have been suspended until further notice and non-resident anglers traveling to Kentucky should self-quarantine immediately for 14 days upon arrival to Kentucky.


Alabama crappie fishing guide Lee Pitts (www.pittsoutdoors.com) has experienced a negative effect of the COVID-19 social distancing and travel restrictions with his guide trips. “Fishing was really hot before COVID-19 and the flooding conditions on our lakes. Coronavirus has really hurt my guide service. Most of my clientele are from out of state and so they obviously had to cancel their trips. The trips I lost were ones that would have been the best time to go crappie fishing. It is business I can’t get back until maybe next year,” said Pitts. Currently, Pitts still has some trips and openings for local, in state anglers.


Mississippi crappie fishing guide Joel Harris (Joel Harris Facebook) guides on Pickwick Lake, Bay Springs and BCDA (Bear Creek Development Authority) reservoirs says COVID-19 significantly influenced on his guide service. “Since the first week of April I have been shut down; I haven’t had a guide trip. Clients have either cancelled or changed their trips to this summer. It’s not a good situation for fishing guides,” said Harris.


Harris noted that he would still do guide trips, but it would be limited to just one angler per trip or it’s possible to split up anglers to different boats keeping in accordance with the social distancing policy. “Right now I’m just doing honey-do lists and cleaning up the shop. For now I’m just waiting around,” said Harris.


Long time Alabama fishing guide on Lake Pickwick, Wilson Lake and BCDA reservoirs Brad Whitehead (Brad Whitehead/Facebook) is also feeling the effect of COVID-19 State of Emergency declaration and social distancing guidelines. “It’s not a great situation, but I’m making the best I can out of it. I have had some cancelled trips, but also have booked some other trips. Right now with social distancing guidelines, I am taking out one angler or getting them to split up and having two guides that way it’s one to a boat. I have actually had some really enjoyable trips doing it that way,” said Whitehead.


Whitehead noted that the number of anglers in boats or on shore is crazy. “It’s a weekday and it seems like the weekend with everyone on the water. It is good people are fishing during this time,” said Whitehead. Currently, Whitehead is still guiding, but limiting it to one client or splitting it up to one client per guide.



Fishing tackle retail store and fishing companies are also feeling the impact of COVID-19.”It’s almost shut down some dealers that I sell tackle to and several of the tackle stores are closed up. It’s not looking good,” said PICO Lures (www.picolures.com) owner Mitch Glenn. Glenn noted some anglers are buying fishing tackle online now instead of going to the local fishing tackle retailer. One local retail store is actually taking order on the phone and delivering to the vehicle when the angler stops by the store to pick it up.


Every day we seem to wake up to new guidelines and policies that are impacting how we live, work and play. These Executive Orders and State of Emergency declarations are in place to protect people from COVID-19 and have saved lives. However, just like having a plan to flatten the curve a strategic exit plan is important, maybe even more important for small businesses, local retailers and companies.


The fishing industry will never be the same again. Some fishing companies, fishing tackle retails and fishing guides may even succumb and fail in the aftermath of COVID-19, however, even the companies, store and fishing guides remaining will be influenced. For anyone integrated with fishing as a living this will be one of the biggest challenges they will face to stay in the fishing industry.


No fishing? No way! As long as there is a pond, stream, river or lake people are going to go fishing.


This article was written April 16, 2020. Hopefully some of the current policies with change for the better by the time you read this.


In keeping with the social distancing guideline anglers that can legally fish are recommended to follow these recommendations (:
At Boat ramps: Keep your distance from other anglers or boats. Leave extra space between while waiting to load or unload your boat. Avoid touching handle rails, boat cleats or any part of the courtesy dock.
Bank anglers: Keep at least one fishing rod length apart. Stay away from crowded places like bridges, courtesy docks or fishing piers.
Boating anglers: One boat per family and avoid going out fishing with someone outside your family unit or anyone you have not been in self quarantined with. Allow for enough room for social distancing in the boat.

[chaunc]

Tough times for all of us. Cancelled my spring vacation this year after going to fish Kentucky Lake for 32 consecutive years. Staying home staying safe. Hope everyone stays healthy.

[Bricks]

It will be interesting in these states that shut down fishing especially since it is during the spawn time in some states what type of year class of Crappies will be in the next couple of years.

I know up here in the North on the Mississippi if we get high water, consistent temps we have tremoundous year class of fish coming up.

[perchjerker108]

Slab, great post and a lot of information. I too, may fall to cancelling my trip with MR Dux in early May, but if it's not cleared up by then, I will follow the rules and not go. I hate it that the guides have to stop working on a job they look forward to every day. Hope this opens up in the next 30 days at least.

[D10]

Thanks for posting! That was an interesting perspective in other southeast states. I’m not sure how the guide business in Arkansas is doing but if I had to guess, it is taking a hit as well.

HOWEVER, I have never seen so many bank and boat anglers in my life. I’m guessing that we have set records in Arkansas on angler pressure estimates (hours of fishing) in several lakes. It makes me wish we had an angler Cree survey going on one of my lakes this spring. The AGFC has been encouraging folks to get out and fish and it seems as if they have listened. I have also talked to several local bait shops and they say that they can’t keep enough minnows on hand this spring. I’m guessing now that the water is warming a little, they will have a tough time keeping crickets and worms in stock too. Hopefully we can I’ll get through this sooner than later and life will get back to normal.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[Retired2Fish]

Great article about the impact of the new reality. Hope we get back to something resembling the old normal soon. Covid-19 will change the way we go about living our lives for awhile IMO. Everyone stay safe.

[BuckeyeCrappie]

Thanks for posting. I am ready for some normalcy for sure. Until then I fish vicariously through those who post their stories on Crappie.Com.

[Ketchn]

its really sad , i have a lot of friends that depend on tackle sales and guide trips to pay their bills .

[trypman1]

Tough stuff, so sad for all.

[ET Fish]

Many are hurting from this virus. Physically, mentally, and financially.