Thread: Lake Blackshear

These pics were taken almost 2 years ago, but shows that Slabs are common at Blackshear. All 3 of these fish were released:

Been sayin it for years now!

Yes and I agree. Especially now that the whites have established themselves very well. Grenada has primarily a white crappie population and the fish must be OVER 12" to be a keeper. They produce quality fish year after year as well as the other in the Big Four lakes in Mississippi that have the same rules. They get a ton of pressure every year too. Talquin also produces well with the 10" limit and the overall size of the body of water is not an issue with the pressure it gets too. They are all black crappie. I believe Lake Blackshear is the southern most lake in the southeast that white crappie are established. We have been in talks with GA DNR again recently and will be following up with them about how we can help them with data collection and what not. The 10" limit would only help with the quality of the crappie in most lakes. The only draw back is enforcement. Some folks don't care about the limit of 30 fish per day as it is now, so I doubt they would notice a 10" limit either. Guess maybe a few tickets would wake a few folks up.

I don't know the type of lakes that produce more or bigger fish. I am new to fishing, and enjoy it because it is a nice way to spend time outdoors with my fiance and friends. When we are able to catch some, we keep what we can eat, and most would probably fall into a 10" size limit. I do believe in the fact that you shouldn't keep more than you need. I just wonder if the sentiment that there needs to be a size limit restriction comes from mostly a tournament fishing mindset? How would it impact someone like me who has a hard enough time catching what fish I catch now? I know many of your have fished for many years, and I am curious to your opinions?

Not just the tournament anglers that like to see bigger fish. The tourism money is the important thing for the communities around the lakes. A ton of money goes up and down I75, HWY 300, and a lot of roads to other states. That is great for those other states. The problem is we could be catching better fish right here in our own communities that desperately need the money just as much as others states. The larger size limit could be implemented on certain lakes for a period of time to determine if it makes an impact or not. The larger the fish you catch, the less fish it takes to make a reasonable amount of table fare. With gas prices seeming to be on a never ending rise, it would be wise to manage our own natural resources better.

Yes I agree Shine that everyone would like to see bigger fish, and that would mean fewer required to "make a mess" for eating. However, I personally feel that any size limits that are set are not going to be as effective as a stricter policy on the overall catch limits. I agree with your earlier statement about people keeping over the limits and a need for better enforcement. I think that the more fish you have then the better chance you have at reaching an age structure for producing bigger fish as long as the lake can support it. That is just my opinion. I mean, what has a bigger toll on a lake....someone keeping ten 9" fish or thirty 11" fish? I would think that over time it would be the latter of the two as far as fish populations and size would go. That is just my way of thinking. What would anyone else say? Still wondering what everyone thinks the size limit would do to someone that is just an average everyday fisherman? Would the fish be harder to catch as they got bigger and older? If so, then alot of average people might get discouraged and do less fishing. Or would it make them more plentiful and easier to catch? Just curious. Thanks Shine for your insight into all of this.

Originally Posted by rww1977

I just wonder if the sentiment that there needs to be a size limit restriction comes from mostly a tournament fishing mindset? How would it impact someone like me who has a hard enough time catching what fish I catch now? I know many of your have fished for many years, and I am curious to your opinions?

I think Shine pretty well summed it up. It's not a tournament mindset at all. I don't even fish tournaments. Actually a size limit would encourage people like yourself who are just starting to crappie fish to learn more about different catching techniques. A 10" fish can be filleted or fried whole. Not a very big fillet but a real tasty meal when fried up. once you get under 10", forget trying to get a fillet and although they are mighty tasty fried whole, there just isnt a whole lot there. Personally, the part about crappie fishing the most is the CATCHING All sizes are fun to catch, but we all like catching big fish. Supporting a size limit would give more people, especially someone starting out, the opportunity to catch those slabs...You said most of your fish were in the 10" size range so I am assuming that 10" and smaller is what you are mostly catching. I'd love to have you come down to Talquin where there is a 10" size limit and catch some 12" and bigger fish. Once you start catching 11-12 inch fish and bigger, you'll understand why we support a size limit. We all catch quality fish on a consistent basis when we let them grow.

WARNING: CRAPPIE FISHING IS HIGHLY ADDICTIVE!!

Originally Posted by TnT

You said most of your fish were in the 10" size range so I am assuming that 10" and smaller is what you are mostly catching.

yeah well maybe one day I will be able to catch all those slabs like everyone else