Throw'em back.

In my book, if I don't catch enough for a mess, I throw them back. But I think that is going to change quick. I spend too much money on gas and fishing gear to throw back fish...I will start cleaning even the smaller ones I catch because I don't catch enough to hurt jack CACA!!

rocket rich, what page is that on in the fishing regulation booklet?

There is not a possession limit on fish with no set limit state wide. You can have as many as you want in the freezer.

I get what your saying about hoping they get bigger. However, Crappie have a short life span compared to other fish and are blessed with explosive reproductive rates.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Junie

I think that's why lakes have limits, my dad lives on centrailia lake and you can catch crappie until you go blind, not big but 9 inches all day long and eat just the same, so I don't feel bad taking them out cuz they need to come out

Junie

---

Pana Lake used to be bad about that, except those were big for that lake. You'd catch 8 inch crappie with eyes the size of quarters. We used to keep any that had decent meat on them. Thankfully the DNR starting stocking muskie back in there and the population is getting better, although slowly.

I released my limit today for ya at Rend!
dkb

I took 2 guys to Shelbyville Monday. Caught 100 plus crappie -- put everyone back.
Limits on lakes are a good thing. Good fishing to everybody !!

Z21

I live in NC and I never keep more than we can eat at one meal, if we don't catch enough, we pass a seafood restaurant on the way home.
Wifey caught a 15 incher last weekend and I kept him in the live well long enough to show him off and then released him unharmed.

I keepem and eat em......Thats why I fish. I just ate some. I don't see many crappie guys on the lake letting them go and fish don't seem to be in short supply. I have never had clients on a guide trip that said " lets just let them all go " wrong. They want meat to eat. I crappie fish because they are good to eat. If you don't keep fish from a lake like rend you are only hurting the lake. Like mentioned above crappie reproduce fast. That why the state don't recommend putting them in you pond. Thats my 2 cents. LOL Clint

One thing Clint mentioned that rings true for me. I just Love the way Crappie taste. We eat crappie twice a month year round at my house. I don't like to clean small fish but, anything over 10" is going in my livewell until I limit out. Wich is not very many on the lake I fish. 10 fish over 10" Taking 10 fish out of a big lake like Shelbyville is not hurting a thing. Some people may ask..is it really even worth the price of gas and other expenses to only keep 10 fish. If you love to eat em it is.