Thread: Opinions Wanted on Small Crappie In Lake Nimrod

Someone send me a pm where the little ones are on nimrod. I bet I had 8 people at another ramp today ask "you ever been to nimrod" to which I replied, yes but didn't kill many ducks.

Being able to catch 60-100 fish a day would be a problem I would like to have here on Greers

Don't get me wrong it's fun to catch 60 or 70 a day but I just wish the average size was 3/4 lb or so. I listen to all the old timers talk about this lake in its heyday when 2 lbers were the norm. Has a lake ever successfully been restored to better quality crappie when they get to this condition. It's only 3550 acres at normal pool.

Originally Posted by slabbandit

Don't get me wrong it's fun to catch 60 or 70 a day but I just wish the average size was 3/4 lb or so. I listen to all the old timers talk about this lake in its heyday when 2 lbers were the norm. Has a lake ever successfully been restored to better quality crappie when they get to this condition. It's only 3550 acres at normal pool.

It was lots better years ago but I been here since early 1970's and never remember 2 lbs being the norm. But when it was a new lake they say it was awsome in the early years . Being filled up in 1942 it is way past it's prime and will never be what it was . Only thing that could change it would be a 10' permenant raise in level . But that is out of the question because it's main purpose is flood control . The level used to be 343 spring and 342 fall , but some had the idea if it was up in the brush it could help fishing. It was changed to 345 spring and 342 fall levels . No one knows for sure but now most of the shoreline brush is dead and gone . Some say it was floods drowned it out , some raised spring level , and even a few suspect herbicide run off from near by lands . I can remember Button Willows , Willows , and Iornwood bushes lining most of the backs of coves and shoreline . Now it is mostly rock and clay bare banks for the most part . Erosion from clear cuts , roads , and floods have all but filled in most of the creeks. The stumps are becoming harder to find as we loose some every drawdown as they wash loose dry out and float up when lake is refilled . Only thing that I feel will help is loading the lake up with cover to replace what is lost or silted over . Flooded areas produce huge spawns most years but we will never see the big fish like in a new lake . Nimrod recieves a termendous amount of pressure with all the spider riggingers and like you said it is not a big lake at normal pool .. With huge amounts of small fish and most of the better oines pulled out it will never be a big fish lake . Afraid after the next year or two when better fish caught off the small Bass and Crappie from this summer's spawn may be in trouble . Once Shad grow too large for them they may become stunted .

Sorry for long post but I've seen alot on this lake in well over 40 years of fishing it .

I think the lake is in great shape and the crappie are the fattest and health'ist looking I have seen them in years. Plenty of times I have went though very few little ones to catch a mess of keeper plus fish. Just got to find them and figure out how to fish for them. Let them little ones grow up for now.... because they are getting plenty of food and looking fat and healthy.

I didn't mean to mislead anyone in to thinking that every fish caught years ago were 2 lbers but they were caught with some regularity. I got in on the tail end of this in the late 80's when I started fishing this lake.
I'm no biologist but isn't the type of shad we have here mostly gizzard shad which eventual grow to large for crappie to eat?

We have the same problem with our lake here in NEA. It is only 660 acre. Was told to keep the little one but feel with the pressure it get it may be the wrong advice.I wish there was a answer but more important somebody give us the answer. If it is limits on creel or length, post it at the ramp. We will follow the rules. Us guys up here are limited to were we can fish without driving 2 hours.I would hate to mess up what we have.
Just my 2cent

Slabbandit, I see your concern about Nimrod, and I have heard a lot of different reasons for over-population and stunted growth, but none of the reasons or conversations came from biologists or experts with real practical experience in these matters. No offense to the game and fish people, but I have seen them make decisions that appeared detrimental to some lakes. However, I would like to hear more from the biologists or game and fish which have knowledge of Lake Nimrod.