Thread: Management of lake Conway or lack there of.

Originally Posted by Cmj

I do have a problem with seeing 5 gallon buckets FULL of 8-11 in fish toted away on a regular basis though.


C.J.

How would we us/G&F stop it without a limit? I don't think it can be with out doing it or something changing. Just take GC and there 1000s of fish that come out of there a week and I don't thing there 1/3 of them have any great size. I could be wrong I have been wrong before. But if you stop the 5 gal buckets out, the fish size will be bigger in 6 mo to a year,then you would have some nice quality fish. CP wrote a story sometime ago about quality and quantity of fish. i thing if you put a limit on them you get the best of both world bigger and number. Either way, to get bigger fish there will have to be some changes. How do we give fish a change to grow without catching them.

Originally Posted by Cmj

I dont think a length limit would be good for Conway. There are plenty of big fish in the lake and a slot limit would result in an uneven balance. I do have a problem with seeing 5 gallon buckets FULL of 8-11 in fish toted away on a regular basis though. There is not a shortage of big fish in Conway, sometimes you just have to look in the places that arent fished to death.


C.J.

I Fish places on Conway that the public can't get stand on bank and fish easily. There are no piers or fancy concrete ramps where I fish on the lake. Just a gravel boat launch with a grown up shoreline. Ill bank fish at Caney when I don't feel like takin the boat out and people get mad when I toss a small crappie back in the creek. I don't waste my time with the small ones.

Originally Posted by Gindog

How would we us/G&F stop it without a limit? I don't think it can be with out doing it or something changing. Just take GC and there 1000s of fish that come out of there a week and I don't thing there 1/3 of them have any great size. I could be wrong I have been wrong before. But if you stop the 5 gal buckets out, the fish size will be bigger in 6 mo to a year,then you would have some nice quality fish. CP wrote a story sometime ago about quality and quantity of fish. i thing if you put a limit on them you get the best of both world bigger and number. Either way, to get bigger fish there will have to be some changes. How do we give fish a change to grow without catching them.

It has to be done on a lake by lake basis. Nimrod Lake has a problem with over production so a length limit could be counter productive. Some lakes have low recruitment (reproduction success) and a length limit could help. Only so many lbs of fish can do well per acre, if you get too many short fish they can be stunted.

Originally Posted by Conwayslabber

people get mad when I toss a small crappie back in the creek. I don't waste my time with the small ones.

I don't understand why anyone would get mad , here on Nimrod we release 1/2 to 3/4 or more of our catch to keep a limit most days. I was told it could help to keep first 20 but I refuse to keep small fish.

Originally Posted by Cmj

I dont think a length limit would be good for Conway. There are plenty of big fish in the lake and a slot limit would result in an uneven balance. I do have a problem with seeing 5 gallon buckets FULL of 8-11 in fish toted away on a regular basis though. There is not a shortage of big fish in Conway, sometimes you just have to look in the places that arent fished to death.


C.J.

As long as they are following limits what's the big deal? I doubt they are hurting the lake. Now if they are exceeding limits maybe something should be done. I refuse to keep anything under 10'' even on a slow day.

Originally Posted by NIMROD

It has to be done on a lake by lake basis. Nimrod Lake has a problem with over production so a length limit could be counter productive. Some lakes have low recruitment (reproduction success) and a length limit could help. Only so many lbs of fish can do well per acre, if you get too many short fish they can be stunted.

I understand that also. Even is there was a way to cut the fish quantity down on smaller fish. I don't have the answers wish I did.

Originally Posted by Gindog

I understand that also. Even is there was a way to cut the fish quantity down on smaller fish. I don't have the answers wish I did.

If I understand your question, to lower numbers of small fish is to stock predators like Bass, Saugeyes, Flatheads , and ect. or catch and keep.

Originally Posted by NIMROD

As long as they are following limits what's the big deal? I doubt they are hurting the lake. Now if they are exceeding limits maybe something should be done. I refuse to keep anything under 10'' even on a slow day.

That is the point Nimrod. A 5 gallon bucket FULL of 8-10" fish equals well over the legal limit. I have seen people take a bucket full to their car and come back five minutes later with a empty bucket. This is a common occurrence.


C.J.