when is enough, enough?

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Originally Posted by crappierookie

I have my own places I fish and catch crappie and I have seen quite a bit of success in a day, but never got in a situation where I could catch 3 coolers full of crappie in one day, nor would I want to.

If I ever find a honey hole like that, I will invite others over too enjoy the fishing also. Depending on the time of the day I leave the lake, I have been known to give fish away to people who are not so lucky.

Like the other day I met a gentleman and his wife, who had been at Millwood all day and did not catch a fish or even get a bite and told me he had no idea how to fish Millwood, while others were catching their limits. Folks like this I would give them my fish, usually I keep a few in the freezer for myself.

I also share my knowledge of the lake with people when they ask me, because Millwood is hard to fish unless you know it.:)

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Now that is EXACTLY how we compete with Bass Master. We share and we care. Thanks for the post. It's on the money brother.

Everyone should obey all game laws, no matter what they are or if you disagree with them. Having said that, I question the panfish limit regulations on many of our eastern oxbow lakes; why do we have a limit of 50 bream when neighboring states such as TN have no limit on most panfish? The only reason that comes to mind is for bragging rites: you can say you caught a 'limit' of bream. Crappie at Horseshoe are probably the same way. I can't speak for lakes in the northern or western part of the state, though; their situations are prob. different

I do not keep small crappie the smallest I'll keep if the bit is off is 1 1/4 lb,usually 1 1/2 and better is all I throw in the cooler.The fisherman that keep bream size and fry them whole say its the best you can eat,I perfer mine bonelss.I'm glad they are fisherman around that like the small crappie and keep them thinned out for me....anyway

I have found honey holes were you could fill 3 or 4 coolers with 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 lb in less then a days time.Just as fast as you get one off the hook and throw it back in you got another over and over until you cann't close the lid on the cooler,tie it down lol.

Yes I have went back after the next cooler before but have only done it twice b/c cleaning fish for half day isn't to my liking plus not worth getting fined.I'm not going to say he is lying b/c it can be done with nice size 1 1/2 lb and better.We all at some point and time break the law whether it be fishing,hunting,speeding or whatever,sooner or later thu your going get caught if you keep doing it.

Millwood Lake in Howard County where I live, it is pretty easy to catch your limit of 20 crappie per person. That is why I keep my crappie in a basket to keep them alive. If I do catch some smaller than I want, I just replace them when I catch a bigger one.
I have caught some small ones, but I do not know this to be true or not, but I switched the size of minnows I use also and I seem to catch bigger sized crappie using the big minnows. This is not a fish tale maybe all of the crappie were just big where I fished that day, but some say the size of the bait can affect the outcome.

Anyway a limit of 20 is plenty for me and my son does manage to catch a few. My wife is a sticker wanting the fish rotated every year in the freezer, so we just keep enough for our family reunion and maybe a couple of cookouts and than restock the freezer with fresh fish each year.

Of course I fish for catfish also and I love to bream fish along with crappie. I mostly keep catfish for cookouts and the crappie for my immediate family and a very few members from time to time. I share if I have plenty to share.

Part of this sport is that we play by the rules! We MUST police our own ranks or we and later generations will pay the price of not doing it! If a guy is breaking the limits to feed his family then he can't afford the cost of sport fishing in the first place. He needs to use his money for groceries! If he is illegally netting etc., then we must help the G&FC in our areas. And you're right about all fishermen being liars except you and me. (and I ain't so sure 'bout you);)

turned all that info in to the gw Friday afternoon.

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Originally Posted by hudnut

turned all that info in to the gw Friday afternoon.

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I have spoken to a couple of the game wardens in Howard county. They usually do not mess with you on the water, not saying thay will not, but I know a couple of guys that lives down the road from me, they lost everything, boat, truck, yo-yo,s and also paid a big fine and were barred from fishing for a while due to their fishing habits. The wardens were waiting for them at the boat ramp. They had 150 yo-yo,s out, claiming they belonged to 5 guys, but the 5 guys must be in the boat also and they were not.

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Originally Posted by hudnut

turned all that info in to the gw Friday afternoon.

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Thanks for reporting the incident to the GW. Thankfully, I've never had to do it...but I'm sure a day will come when I run into your situation.