Ross Barnett This Week .........No Black Crappie?

We went to The Rez for a few days of R&R. I did my typical approach to fishing there as over the last 10+ years has produced a 90/10 ratio of big Black Crappie to White Crappie. The interesting thing I have noticed is the Herbicide spraying of all the Black Crappie habitat north of the Hwy 43 bridge. Constant spraying of the herbicides for the last 3 years coincides with the reduction of Black Crappie in the area. All the way down the Pearl River to the Pearl River Delta the population of Black Crappie has dwindled. I'm beginning to think the Environmental Protection Agency needs to be given a heads up to what is being sprayed and the possible elimination to the Black Crappie Fry by these herbicides. It is a joke as you can see the streaks of herbicides that were sprayed on the healthy aquatic vegetation not affecting the surrounding plants at all. A loosing battle at best, another Man Made disaster at worst. If the herbicide proves to be killing the Crappie Fry someone needs to be charged for making the decision of continued aquatic herbicide applications when it is not working. I caught 1 Black Crappie for 3 days of fishing. Live Sonar shows me all the trees that once held schools of Black Crappie are bare of life. At the MS State level I guess DEQ has blessed or been bought off to ignore the herbicide treatments and what damage they are doing. It is a sad day when in September numerous boats that have fished the upper part of Ross Barnett most of their lives are asking me if I have caught anything. Musical boats from tree to tree was the observed norm this trip with just about everyone quitting by mid morning because the lack of fish. Black Bass schools were active, shad schools was everywhere, but little to no Black Crappie? Could the herbicide being sprayed directly on the spawning Black Crappie habitat be the cause of Black Crappie diminishing by the numbers I have observed? I think it is time someone other than MS DEQ, MDWFP, PRVA, or other local agencies who gave approval or worse decided themselves on the herbicide application practice in Ross Barnett be contacted and made aware of what is going on.



3 Days fishing the upper part of the Rez above Hwy 43 bridge for a catch of 27 White Crappie the largest only 1.56 pounds. Only one Black Crappie about 5 inches was caught. Don't waste your time on the north end of Ross Barnett Crappie fishing as down in the main lake plenty of White Crappie are out in the open water. Those of us who like to fish the thickets are out of luck till someone responsible gets involved. My usual percentages are 90% Black Crappie with a average weight of 1.5 pounds to 10% White Crappie with a average weight of 1.25 pounds. I have a few deep hooked short fish that I would have released but were bleeding in their gills. I wish I had a better report but I feel telling you where not to fish helps prevent wasting time looking for Black Crappie.