A good read
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TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Interesting.
If I read correctly, on average, a 10-inch white crappie from KY Lake is 3 yrs old.
But a 3-yr-old white crappie from Sardis Lake, MS (not really all that far away) goes 12 inches!
But north of the Mason-Dixon line, a 3-yr-old white crappie is only 9 inches long.
Wonder if 3-yr-old white crappie from Pickwick average a larger size than KY Lake?
If I read correctly, on average, a 10-inch white crappie from KY Lake is 3 yrs old.
But a 3-yr-old white crappie from Sardis Lake, MS (not really all that far away) goes 12 inches!
But north of the Mason-Dixon line, a 3-yr-old white crappie is only 9 inches long.
Wonder if 3-yr-old white crappie from Pickwick average a larger size than KY Lake?
they may be somewhat once you get past around sulfur creek north, it leaves the 3400 heat day line. but i dont know if they average them all together.
you may be interested in this as well, also paul rister's crappie telemetry study is a serious read for anyone fishing ky lake.
https://www.tndeer.com/threads/crappie-biology-on-ky-and-barkley-long-read.384787/
When living in MN I caught a 5# something bass in a tournament & won big fish. DNR guy at weigh in said it was probably 10 yrs old as they only put on 1/2 pound a year up there.
I am very concerned about the future of crappie fishing at Sardis. These guides are hauling out 30 a day. Every single day. The boat ramps are full 12 months out of the year. People think it's insanity to throw back a keeper crappie. There are 3 guys in my fishing group that fish 3-5 days a week year round. All 3 catch the limit 99% of the time. They are bringing a limit home every time. I caught the limit Thursday and didn't keep a fish. They were ready to check me into the nervous hospital. Apparently you can't just fish for fun when you don't need the fish. I don't know how the fishery can survive. I just hope the fisheries guys are keeping an eye on it.
I'm all for keeping fish for a fish fry, but what are they doing with all those fillets? I'd be sick of filleting fish 4 days a week
I use to do it,but don't fish much anymore.When I did I gave them to people that couldn't fish,church fish frys and friends.Right now anyone can catch them its so easy on kylake from what my friends tell me.I like it when it's tough to catch them,it separates the men from the boys,lol.
They give them away, but most of the time they fillet them first. I don't get it. It's actually more enjoyable to me when I know I don't have to clean fish. Go fish, have fun, and take only what you need.
seems like i read somewhere that the MDWFP estimated 6 million crappie at any given time in grenada and sardis wasnt far behind that number.
not sure how that computes in the grand scheme of things though.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
TWRA biologists would have to answer that question, however I would be VERY surprised if there were any significant difference in growth rates anywhere on the Tennessee River system.
If we take home crappie, we take just what we will eat that night. I rather have them fresh. I dont like fish that have been frozen. I, too, am concerned about over harvesting at Reelfoot. To me the numbers have declined.
Some guys I know sell the crap out of them. Used to anyway.
I quit going with them.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Guess it depends on one's definition of "significant".
If a 3-yr-old old crappie from Wheeler compares ballpark length to
a 4-yr-old from Kentucky Lake, to me that would be significant.
Other factors that make me wonder are average water temps, not just how geographical latitude effects air temps, then indirectly water temps.
For example, would it be a reasonable expectation that same-age crappie from Ft. Loudon Lake run smaller than same-age, same-latitude crappie from KY Lake . . . . .due to slightly colder water flowing into Ft. Loudon, year round?
I always hear fresh is so much better than frozen, but I can hardly tell the difference. I freeze them and pull the oldest stock out of the freezer first.
lol sounds like youre like me lol, inquiring mind.Guess it depends on one's definition of "significant".
If a 3-yr-old old crappie from Wheeler compares ballpark length to
a 4-yr-old from Kentucky Lake, to me that would be significant.
Other factors that make me wonder are average water temps, not just how geographical latitude effects air temps, then indirectly water temps.
For example, would it be a reasonable expectation that same-age crappie from Ft. Loudon Lake run smaller than same-age, same-latitude crappie from KY Lake . . . . .due to slightly colder water flowing into Ft. Loudon, year round?
anyhoo you may find this interesting. it pertains to FLMB but degree days can also he a predictor of growth in other specimens. this has been ckncerning to adam martin and ky fisheries as they have been doing DNA testing on their populations of LMB. as he explains it, florida strain, either pure or F1, can have a devestating effect and slower growth anywhere above the 3400 degree day line. in fact he said they can even grow slower.
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/twra/documents/fishing/FLMBstocking.pdf
I feel lucky that I live close enough to Reelfoot I can be on the water fishing in about 15 minutes. If I want to have some fish I just run down and catch a few. I usually fillet 4 or 5 fish. There's only 2 of us eating it.
Headhunter
Well-Known Member
I used to fill the freezer up in a couple weeks with crappie.
For many years now, if I want to eat fish, I want fresh. I go catch fish, clean them and eat them.
Of course according the SCN, if you have over 2 limits in your freezer, then you are breaking the law. Since the law states your "possession limit is twice the daily bag limit". According to him when he was with the TWRA, you could not keep any more crappie until you ate some, and then you still had to stay at 2 limits. He even told me if you gave them away, you needed to be sure that those were eaten before you kept more. Sure wish I had that conversation recorded.
For many years now, if I want to eat fish, I want fresh. I go catch fish, clean them and eat them.
Of course according the SCN, if you have over 2 limits in your freezer, then you are breaking the law. Since the law states your "possession limit is twice the daily bag limit". According to him when he was with the TWRA, you could not keep any more crappie until you ate some, and then you still had to stay at 2 limits. He even told me if you gave them away, you needed to be sure that those were eaten before you kept more. Sure wish I had that conversation recorded.
I don't think it's ever been enforced, but that has always been my understanding. Maybe I'm wrong. I thought possession was what you possessed.
I do not believe SCN ever told you that. Common sense says once you give something away it is no longer in your possession.
twice the daily creel limit is still the law, but gamehogs still fill freezers. ive never heardnof a warrant issued for checking freezers though.
Headhunter
Well-Known Member
To me, if you only keep one limit per day, you should be able to have as many as you want in your freezer. I haven't "filled the freezer" in years, because I like fresh fish and have gotten to where I don't like to cook and eat frozen fish.
Why have the law if it isn't enforced, well at least now they need a search warrant, but when it comes to deer it does not make sense either. I remember asking Steve when he was assistant chief of law enforcement about possession limit, and pertaining to deer, back then I posted how many deer I killed, deer number 1, 2, 3, 4 all the up to 18 or more and I told him there is no way I am eating deer fast enough to be under the possession limit. He said that is not what the law is intended for. I didn't know that "intentions" had anything to do with the law. Seems like a law the TWRA can pick and choose when to enforce it, which is not right. Most everyone knows that legal anglers, keep a limit a day of fish, especially crappie, and freeze them. Why have a law, that isn't a law and I am not sure it would hold up in court.
Of course the illegals don't care, they keep any and everything.
daily creels and possession limits help protect a resource, especially in areas where TWRA no longer stocks fish. if everyone kept a daily limit or bag limit everyday it would crush the resource in short order.
