I agree the crappie size limit should be 9inch like deer creek is. We fish paint creek also but there is no size limit and most crappie caught are small. At deer creek we caught 10 and 11 some 14. So The size limit helps.


moose

 

We just put a 9" limit on Crappies at Apple Valley Lake. Last year you could catch 100 crappies and they were all small. My neighbor would go out and catch and fillet 75 crappies in the 6-8 inch range, an 8" was a big one. Hope our limit helps.

 

As moose said, the 9" limit has made a huge improvement at Deer Creek. We have people coming from all over saying the same thing. Until the limit was put on, people sadly took the little tiny ones too, but now that at least MOST of them are being allowed to grow up, we are seeing some monsters being taken.

Good luck ValleyTracker. I think in a couple of years, you will see a vast improvement. Enforcement of the size limits may be tough though. I know our new game warden is right on top of things and most definitely writes tickets and checks licenses.

 

Crappies run in cycles. Some years there big and some years there small. Research hasn't proved that size limits help. If a person pays his money, and is within the legal limit, than there shouldn't be a problem. Would it be better that he just not buy a permit and quit fishing all together?? I think some of the smaller ones taken out won't hurt a thing....might even help!

 

This is a very good question. Here is my theory. If there is an abundant food source for the crappie than the size limit would probably help add to the number of keeper crappie. If there isn't an abundant amount of food for the crappie then taking some of the smaller crappie out might help. Anybody buying this ???

 

You're right about the new warden worm queen. I had the chance to meet him there last week while I was fishing. First Time I have ever been checked for a hunting or fishing license. It's really nice to see them out there checking licenses and as he said " Keeping people honest."

 

I think this discussion is specific for each body of water.I honestly wish people would keep more crappie from MY home lake Rupert.They are so thick in there and Ive caught 1000's over the last couple years.The largest one was like 8".At the same time I never keep them,lol.I just wish someone would so they had a chance to grow.I only eat eye's and trout.Everything else is just catching for fun.Rupert has a slot lenghth limit on bass.Reads all bass between 12-15" immediatly thrown back and then if YOu read below it says Please keep bass under 12" to encourage fish growth.I think a slot length limit on crappie that 7-9" be thrown back and encourage to keep the under 7's.


After reading that I guess it still doesnt make sense.You know it would take like a five year study on a lake to see the affects.Probably best just to leave it the way it is.

 

This is a very good question. Here is my theory. If there is an abundant food source for the crappie than the size limit would probably help add to the number of keeper crappie. If there isn't an abundant amount of food for the crappie then taking some of the smaller crappie out might help. Anybody buying this ???

Sounds logical to me same concept as pond managment and bass just like Ray Scott and Jimmy Houston talked saturday on his show.

 

It is the whole C & R mentality. Moderation is the key and there is not a clear way to manage a lake like a pond. Slot limits work good, as does sportsmanship. It is discussion that will never end.
Last month when I went crappie fishing in South Carolina, I was with a tourny fisherman and guide. He has a whole lake, yet he fishes in two different cove, keeps alot of fish and is only seeing growth in the size of the fish. It really matters on the fish and the body of water and the sportmanship of those fishing.
Just my .02.

 

Very good points kmb411, I would like to believe that there is a fairly equal equation as to those who keep everything and those that keep only what they need and of a good size. Fishing most all lakes. On an average from what you see thats the way it appears at times. I also agree there is some difference from a lake to a pond but the general phylosopy still applies that if you have a ton of fish and only small food supply your going to have a smaller population. Were if you thin the heard a little you will allow the remaining fish to consume more and thus grow to a larger size. I think anyway lol iam no biologist. You also have to consider the habitat and water etc. Some lakes just will not support a large number and size of fish because of this.

 

We just put a 9" limit on Crappies at Apple Valley Lake. Last year you could catch 100 crappies and they were all small. My neighbor would go out and catch and fillet 75 crappies in the 6-8 inch range, an 8" was a big one. Hope our limit helps.

I too am anxious to see what the size limit at Apple Valley does for the sizes. In the last few years I have been catching a huge number of 7"-9" fish. I would like to think that not many were taking the ones under 9" but I am sure that many were. Even last year 9" was the bare minimum on anything I would keep out of there unless we damaged them (deep hook or torn gill). I was there last night and I can tell you that there are still a lot of the undersized fish which is good. We managed a few 10"-12" keepers as well though.

When cleaning a 9" fish versus cleaning a 12" fish I am easily reminded of why I like to let them grow for a year. The fillet sizes are much better. I think some folks do not think of them as being that much better by adding a 2-3" but the thickness of the fillets is substantial.

 

Here are a couple of the nicer keepers from last night.

 

It is the whole C & R mentality. Moderation is the key and there is not a clear way to manage a lake like a pond. Slot limits work good, as does sportsmanship. It is discussion that will never end.
Last month when I went crappie fishing in South Carolina, I was with a tourny fisherman and guide. He has a whole lake, yet he fishes in two different cove, keeps alot of fish and is only seeing growth in the size of the fish. It really matters on the fish and the body of water and the sportmanship of those fishing.
Just my .02.

You are right that moderation is the key. I know last year when I was catching nearly 100 fish in the 9" range that I did not feel bad taking 8-10 home for a meal.

 

nice crappies brian.that one looks strange though,LOL.
ibelieve that crappies in most lakes go through cycles.i haven't read any great scientific studies,so mt theory comes from personal observation of mine and others.i also think all waters are not equal.habitat,forage,predator base,weather patterns all have their effects on crappie pops and growth.
some waters can get overgrown with fish,for various reasons,resulting in overall stunting.those need smaller fish removed to improve growth rates.some with ideal conditions,prooduce quality fish regularly.
i've seen crappies in my favorite lake go through cycles every several years.very good numbers of 10-13 inch fish the past few years have the norm.for several years before that,the average size was 8-10 inches.there also has been plenty of smaller fish in recent yeas due to good spawning seasons.there were years when i was happy to put a mess of 8-10 inch fish in the cooler.the past several i've upped the minimum keeper size to 10 and occasionally have days when i toss back fish under 11
there's abundant spawning habitat and deeper structure,but sparse deep water cover.one of the reasons for smaller average size there and other places is spawning conditions.a few years of high or low water/adverse weather during the spawn will adversely affect spawning,thereby reducing numbers of new stock.
all that said,i believe a 9-10 inch minimum limit would benefit many waters.but i also believe there are waters that would benefit from removal of smaller fish.
i'll leave those decisions to the dnr though,as i trust their observations across the state are based more on facts than personal viewpoints of many of us who just wish we could go out every day and wear our arms out on :B everywhere we go

 

nice crappies brian.that one looks strange though,LOL.

You must be referring to that 16" crappie at the bottom? That walleye a pleasant surprise and change of pace to the night.

 

i think my first clue was those shiney "marbles"
did the boy get that one?i'm sure it put a smile on his face

 

He actually landed the only two of the trip. He nailed the first one, a C&R 12" on jig. This one he should thank me for though. I set the hook on him while bringing in a crappie on my other rod (gotta love that double up action when they are on fire). I passed it off to him. I will let him claim it all for himself though. That made him feel better because his older brother was tearing him up from the other end of the boat. He was tearing me up to but that is another story.

They had a blast and are already trying to make the plans for the next outing.

 

I loved my youngest boy's comment(Keith) when the action was hot. He said, "Dad, we are really nailing them now!"

 

"Dad, we are really nailing them now!"

i think he's there
i can still hear my daughter screaming with excitement almost 30 years ago,when she hooked into a 24 inch pike while fishing for gills
she reminded her two brothers the rest of the day of her superiority over them as a fisherman
maybe being embarassed by a 10 year old girl is why i could never get them hooked like i wanted