I agree with the overfishing. Unfortunately it's usually not the legal fishermen that hurt the lake. Enforcement is the biggest issue. We used to get 3 pound fish much more common when there was a 50 crappie per person creel. Back there were less fisherman and less than a handful of us that knew what an autopilot was. Water management was better. Every 8 years there was a drawdown of the lake. Now greedy business owners along the lake stopped drawdowns. The pads where spawning happened for years have been destroyed and it looks like someone is still spraying them.

As far as the 12 inch length for Black Crappie, I just haven't saw where it's effective. In Mississippi you primarily have White Crappie which are longer in length and grow faster. When regulations are developed all stakeholders are taken into consideration. You and I want trophy size fish. Or should I say I want numbers of quality fish. Others want plenty to bring home. I have been blessed to fish for crappie all over the southeast and I feel Talquin has the creel and length limits to sustain a awesome crappie population for a long time. The need is for more officers year round. These officers are over worked, under staffed and under paid. There should be someone on a lake like Talquin all the time but try to get checked during duck season or at night. In March they come out to check fishermen.