Reply With QuoteWow, with the lake having a 10 inch minimum and the vast majority of fish averaging 7 inches. Seems a little discouraging for anglers, I would assume anyway. Does this indicate a slow growth rate for the lake?
Thanks: 0
HaHa: 0
Trophy King
Norfork Lake Crappie
Here is an excerpt from our District newsletter talking about the netting we have been doing on Norfork Lake to try to sample the crappie. I thought you all might be interested in reading about it.
Norfork Lake Crappie Sampling
In the past, biologists in District 2 have tried to sample crappie using trap nets (mini fyke nets) in Bull Shoals and Norfork Lake. After many unsuccessful years, District 2 biologists finally abandoned efforts to sample crappie using these nets and focused on monitoring angler catches. Trap nets are highly effective at sampling crappie in shallow reservoirs with tea-colored water where crappie orient more to the bottom and/or shallow cover and can be tied to the shoreline. Crappie in deep, highland reservoirs like Bull Shoals and Norfork typically suspend over deep water and/or cover and inhabit shallow areas during short periods of the year.
During a meeting with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, they presented a new net called a lead net to sample crappie in reservoirs. Lead nets can be set at any depth and away from the shore. The AGFC decided to try these nets across the state to determine their effectiveness for sampling crappie in Arkansas. In District 2, Norfork Lake was chosen to be sampled with lead nets.
The Bennett’s arm of the lake was selected due to its productivity and reputation as a crappie hot spot. The protocol is to set six lead nets for one week each month from September through January in an effort to determine optimal sampling temperature for crappie. At the beginning of the week, the six nets are randomly distributed in15 feet or less of water in the Bennett’s River arm. The nets are allowed to soak for 48 hours. Then each net is retrieved and the crappie are removed. The nets are then moved to the Bennett’s Bayou arm and same process is repeated.
From September to December, we caught 1,094 crappie (1,015 black crappie and 79 white crappie). Black Crappie ranged in size from 5 to 14 inches (average: 7 inches). White Crappie range in size from 4 to 14 inches (average: 10 inches).
We are excited to potentially have a method to sample crappie in highland reservoirs. In addition to crappie, we caught numerous Flathead Catfish (up to 50 pounds), Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Walleye (up to 27 inches) and even a Striped Bass. Next year, we will be shifting our efforts to Bull Shoals Lake to see if we can effectively sample crappie there.
Jeremy Risley
AGFC Mountain Home Office - 1-877-425-7577
Email: [email protected]Kmag yo yo LIKED above post
Crappie.com 2K Star General
Wow, with the lake having a 10 inch minimum and the vast majority of fish averaging 7 inches. Seems a little discouraging for anglers, I would assume anyway. Does this indicate a slow growth rate for the lake?
Crappie.com 3K Star General
Very good question Bobby!
Crappie.com Legend
Wait until they jack the minimum up to 12" and you catch a ton of 11 3/4 to 7/8" fish.
Crappie.com Legend - Kids Corner Moderator
Don't ever seeing it on most lakes . They tried a 10'' limit on Nimrod years ago but dropped it because we have an over population problem . Several others went to 10'' min and some 9'' min but that seems like it could not help . 9'' too small anyway . Many of our flood control lakes get high most springs resulting in huge spawns .Originally Posted by canebreaker
Trophy King
Like Nimrod mentioned, the reason there were so many smaller fish (6-8 inch fish) caught is due to the huge year class produced during the high water event in 2015. Growth is similar to other Northern Arkansas reservoirs.
The anglers we have talked to are pleased with the size and numbers of fish being caught.
We have no plans to increase the minimum length limit. It has been in place since 1994. It was adopted as a cooperative effort between Missouri and us to ensure the length limits are the same across the state line on Bull Shoals Lake and Norfork Lake.
Crappie.com Legend
Good info Mojo! Do you think the sample is representative of the population or do you think that Bennetts arm is dominated by Black Crappie. Do you see the same trend I your creel surveys?
Matt Schroeder - AGFC - (877)470-3309 - [email protected]
Crappie Wall Hanger II
You guys are really fortunate you have the people in Arkansas working hard to improve your crappie fishing. Not many states will put out that kind of effort for crappie.
Crappie.com Legend
* Crappie.com Supporter
Thanks Mojorig and D-10.Thanks fore your hard work and dedication.Crappie fishing Norfork and Bull Shoals are not our typical crappie lakes. With a little hard work and knowing the lake,Lake Maps ect pays dividends .Fish with local trout/crappie guide on norfork and bull shoals.Have to learn to fish them we call bass/crappie fishing style.Norfork,Bull Shoals,Table Rock just to name a few has some of if not the best crappie fishing anywhere.Have been to the Mississipi,texas,Except during the spring spawn very seldom see another boat crappie fish'n.
Thanks again Mojorig and D-10.
John 3:16
Blessed to have as many friends as fingers on your hand is a blessing!!!
"Gone fish'n not wish'n"
In God We Trust.
Can God trust us.
Slabmaster
Thanks for posting the results. What was the optimal sampling temp? I fish Norfork in the Big Creek and Brushy Creek area Ive caught my crappie in 30-40 ft I wonder if your missing alot of crappie that arent going that far back in the creek. Did you catch the most in early December?
