fishing pressure

For those of yall that get the AGFC magazine every other month (bimonthly?), an article that I wrote about minimum length limits (MLL) and crappie population dynamics will be published in it. Every year we get requests for a state wide 10" MLL and this year was no different. As a matter of fact I am going to the Fisheries Divisions annual regulation meeting tomorrow to debate and review possible new regulations for 2018. On that list (again) is a state wide 10" MLL for crappie. I hope yall read the article and spread the message. You can expect more article written like this in the future to help educate interested anglers on fisheries management.

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/arkan...ke-washington/

Matt , even some that live on Atkins say it took a nose dive (Crappie numbers down). Remember a few winters ago there were 20 to 30 boats are more ever day pulling them out like crazy all winter for 2 or 3 years . Pretty quiet this year . Think that was before the limit raised to 30 and 10'' length limit ? Pressure or just normal cycle like some other lakes ?

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

Matt , even some that live on Atkins say it took a nose dive (Crappie numbers down). Remember a few winters ago there were 20 to 30 boats are more ever day pulling them out like crazy all winter for 2 or 3 years . Pretty quiet this year . Think that was before the limit raised to 30 and 10'' length limit ? Pressure or just normal cycle like some other lakes ?

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I think that Atkins did experience significant harvest that year but the reason there were so many good crappie was due to a really strong year class a few years prior. A 10" MLL should buffer from such a boom and bust cycle going forward. The few years proceeding and the couple of years after were just normal to below average spawns. The thing that you have to remember is that every angler compares the current year's fishing to the best year or a recent really good year. This is when anglers think that something is wrong or too many fish were harvested. These years are the peak of the up swing and are a result of an abnormally strong year class. Too many of these in a row and you get what happens on Nimrod. When this happens less frequently, you get a bumper crop of good ones every 3 years or so. When it's good, it's on!

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Originally Posted by D10

I think that Atkins did experience significant harvest that year but the reason there were so many good crappie was due to a really strong year class a few years prior. A 10" MLL should buffer from such a boom and bust cycle going forward. The few years proceeding and the couple of years after were just normal to below average spawns. The thing that you have to remember is that every angler compares the current year's fishing to the best year or a recent really good year. This is when anglers think that something is wrong or too many fish were harvested. These years are the peak of the up swing and are a result of an abnormally strong year class. Too many of these in a row and you get what happens on Nimrod. When this happens less frequently, you get a bumper crop of good ones every 3 years or so. When it's good, it's on!

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There was about 3 years in a row on Atkins and the average size kept getting bigger till the crash .

Just don't harvest males with less then a 10" Main beam and at least 3 points on one side:biggrin

Lake Conway is 6,700 acres. Seems like on the most crowded of days that every fisherman on the lake could fit into 1 (one) acre . If they caught every single legal fish in that area the other 6,699 acres would thrive and be just fine ? Also remember female crappie lay between 5k and 60k eggs each that hatch in 3-5 days. If people stick to the 10" minimum on any lake I cant see that pressure could affect their population in even the smallest way.
Its my belief that water is the key. Good clean non-polluted water. Pesticides, raw sewage , lawn care products that runoff etc. is a big culprit to the fish.
Also i wonder how many small fry size crappie are taken daily by white bass and other species related to them ?

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Originally Posted by tonyjohn

Also i wonder how many small fry size crappie are taken daily by white bass and other species related to them ?

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Don't forget that crappie eat small crappie. As a matter of fact, the parents will even eat their own! It's tough being a small fish in a big pond!

All I know is that I am not hurting the fish population wish I could blame it on the fishing pressure but in my heart I know if it was easy it would not enjoy it as much.
Noslab

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Originally Posted by D10

For those of yall that get the AGFC magazine every other month (bimonthly?), an article that I wrote about minimum length limits (MLL) and crappie population dynamics will be published in it. Every year we get requests for a state wide 10" MLL and this year was no different. As a matter of fact I am going to the Fisheries Divisions annual regulation meeting tomorrow to debate and review possible new regulations for 2018. On that list (again) is a state wide 10" MLL for crappie. I hope yall read the article and spread the message. You can expect more article written like this in the future to help educate interested anglers on fisheries management.

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What do we do to get the magazine?