If you take a sow crappie in august,,or march, the results are the same..one less female to spawn.
A better idea would be to get rid of the trawlers dragging minnows and limit the SPORT of crappie fishing to a maximum of two poles, maximum of two hooks per pole. Another helpful idea, when you catch him,,you keep him..too many gilled crappie floating down the creek, turtle bait....Thats just my opinion