Thread: Keeper panfish

the small ones are good to eat too. just takes more of them to fill me.

I rarely will keep any panfish under 9" as I filet all mine. Crappie I usually keep 10" or better and some lakes I will only keep 12" or better. Not saying there is anything wrong with the smaller ones especially in a stunted lake, but my family does not like to eat fish off the bones. But to each his own.

Im just not satisfied with the small ones.The last time i went fishing i caught an 8 inch blue gill with a piece of mackerel.I probably would of needed 3 more to be satisfied.

I think that 7 or 8 inches is good enough for me to keep them. They are in such abundance and they taste real good. Also, if you get rid of some, there will be bigger ones the next time around because they can grow.

Crappie only 12+, and Bluegills 8+. I never keep, limits only enough for 2 for a cpl meals.

Originally Posted by Flyrod Man

Crappie only 12+, and Bluegills 8+. I never keep, limits only enough for 2 for a cpl meals.

Same here flyrod- I keep only crappie 11/12" and usually just 10-15 fish per day. If fishing with friends/relatives I will occasionally keep more if they want them.

Unfortunately, I think that I may be greedy. I only get out fishing once or twice per month and when I do catch sunnies and crappies, I want enough to have a fry. I won't keep them under 7 or 8 inches though.......I have at least a little bit of moral fortitude.

Rules in the private lakes I fish are that you keep every crappie, I fish often and a lot of times I come home with 25-30 but I filet them and feed a lot of families. They love for me to go fishing.Thumbs Up