Thread: Livescope Woes

If we could just get people to release crappie, ffs wouldnt be an issue. The problem lies with people who toss every crappie over 10" in the livewell every day... Especially the big ones. Without angler ethics, there's no hope.

You would think someone who can afford a boat, plus a $1000 garmin and a $1000-1500 livescope setup would be intelligent enough to release a 15"+ crappie... But nope, you see every day guys targeting these fish and keeping them. A 10-12" fish tastes just the same, and if you need 10-20 15"+ fish for a meal it might be time for a diet or fillet lessons. I keep 10 10-12" fish to feed 3 people... I dont know who needs to hear this but you dont have to feed your whole extended family you know. And those keeping limits of giant fish every day so you can do a fish fry for every person you know and feel like a big shot angler, those people will be just as happy with some smoked pork/brisket or burgers... You dont have to ruin the lakes for everyone else.



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Folks just need to learn to eat fish with bones in 'em. The little whole ones taste better- IMO. I keep 8-10" ones for on-the-bone and 10-13" for filets. Nothing over 13" goes home with me.
Problem solved.

I don't watch Randy's videos, seems like he's always crying about something. I'm glad I'm not that miserable.

Having purchased Active Target last year, I fished more last fall, winter and this spring than I have in the last ten years and had a ball. I'd be willing to guess that 80% of the days I fished all fish were released. Any fish over 1 1/2lb were released even on the days I kept fish, I've been doing this for over 30 years. I know several guys that release bigger fish too.

A few might be interested in what biologists have to say about keeping the bigger fish.....

It's OK to Keep Trophy Crappie | Outdoor Life.

“I would truthfully say, without a doubt, harvest whatever size fish that are legal and that you like to eat,” he says. “Harvesting larger fish wouldn’t impact the population anymore than harvesting 10- to 12-inch fish.”

Originally Posted by keeferfish

A few might be interested in what biologists have to say about keeping the bigger fish.....

It's OK to Keep Trophy Crappie | Outdoor Life.

“I would truthfully say, without a doubt, harvest whatever size fish that are legal and that you like to eat,” he says. “Harvesting larger fish wouldn’t impact the population anymore than harvesting 10- to 12-inch fish.”

Cool, and in 5 more years there will be slot limits or reduced 5 fish limits on the big fish lakes to try and save them, and these "biologists" will never admit they were wrong... They'll say climate change did it.

Our local biologist ruined our lake as well with the same sort of thinking. Now its a pure dinkfest, after 7 years of people keeping every fish they caught its hard to find a fish over 9.5".

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I don't have to be a Biologist to understand math, In most lakes Crappie live 5-6 years ( believe that to be correct, but if not swap correct numbers ). In nature for the most part your oldest generation are your largest, though it's very true that the oldest, largest fish are not the prime spawners. The point is that livescope has allowed us to target those largest class of fish. There are a limited number of 15+" fish. Removing a large percentage of those fish will probably not hurt the overall numbers of crappie, but it will reduce the chance of a " trophy " fish no matter which lake you reference. Definitely some lakes i.e. Granada have more than others but it's still a finite number. I rant knowing nothing will change IMHO and my feelings are personal and may not reflect most people but I enjoy targeting these bigger fish the thrill of landing a very large crappie and after a quick pic. watching her swim away with the thought that I might have a chance to catch that fish again at an even larger size. Scott