Questions for the fishery gurus

[NIMROD]

On Nimrod I have been seeing Crappie in all stages of spawning condition. Many still have eggs and some are loose in the egg sacks. I noticed the larger fish are extremely poor for their size. None look really in good shape. Still catching pairs of males and females on structure in deep water. I know some spawn deep but beginning to think either the extended spawn or lack of feed stressing fish too much. Water temps on surface running high 60's to over 70 in afternoon. Has there been any studies on the prey (bait fish) in the lake ? Could the yoyo'n water levels and water temps, along with crazy weather be causing fish to be confused on spawning?

[Harold]

Yes

[D10]

Rotenone samples are the method that was used in the past to estimate forage abundance. I am sure that rotenone samples were collected on Nimrod, like most other lakes. The last rotenone sample was conducted in 2009. The EPA over regulated the chemicals use, making it next to impossible to use for fish sampling. Some biologists have started using a certain kind of gill net to sample shad. Not that great of a method (IMO). So really there is no good way for us to track changes in forage abundance.

All of the factors you listed can play a role on a fishes condition. This time of year, spawning does a pretty good number on them, resulting in some poor looking fish.

[pineplace]

I have noticed the same thing on Nimrod, no answer from me. Nimrod has not had the radical water level changes that occur many times in the Spring this year

[D10]

Productivity of a watershed is what really drives the forage and game fish populations. Some lakes have a really short residency time (the length of time it takes for a lake to be refilled). In this type of lake, a lack of productivity can really get magnified because what little nutrients that got into the lake, get flushed out. I'm not sure if this is one of Nimrods issues. Could be.

[Bigben7]

Nimrod, we've talked about it, and with the size of fish on average in that lake, a bad spawn one year might help things out.

[humblerev1]

good info thanks everyone for sharing

[l_tedford]

Thanks for sharing.

[arkansasbowhunter]

Nimble this is what we do to get our fish to grow bigger

[Greg Parker]

I'm no fishery expert but IMO a ten inch minimum like they have in Texas and Mississippi could help improve the size of the "herd"