Thread: Ky Lake Creel Survey

Originally Posted by Majesticman

I will throw out a maker on some days in an area I know is dead just to see people flock to it. I did it one day and some kids fished over it and limited in no time. Sometimes you just get lucky.

The only thing that really bothers me is when I see people on these thread brag about them and a friend taking 150 good size fish on a weekend trip. And also the small fish I see wasted at the cleaning stations upsets me. Throw those small ones back for next year.

Hey Majestic,

I hope you tied a knot in the line of that lying marker and sent it into the deep six. I wouldn't let it back in my boat!

LyndonRofl

I am not from KY but do fish KY lake a lot as a lot or maybe even most of KY Lake is in TN. I am not sure how much of it is in TN but I know a lot of it is. Below the different dams I fish at in TN the game wardens don't have enough sets of hand cuffs to round them all up. It is a constant struggle and it is not the out of state folks who are doing the damage. It is the locals...or I should say they may live here but there is not much local about most of them. I don't quite understand the problem some of you have with people keeping a legal limit of Crappie. Are Kentucky waters in trouble with their Crappie population?? Last I checked Crappie are prolific breeders. Here in TN some lakes don't do well with the Crappie so the state will do a stocking every 3 or 4 years. In some instances they will put 300,000 fish in at a time. Some lakes do not require any stocking. I am sure a lot of the older folks on this forum remember when there were no limit on Crappie in TN. Fifty years ago we would go out and catch 100 a day out of Old Hickory but I don't remember getting those 14 inch Slabs like we do now. I have been given business cards from all the wardens from the locations I fish at and have been asked to call if I see something illegal going on...and I do. But I have to tell you it is an uphill battle when you see people who are cited for their 3rd or 4th offense and have to pay a 1500$ fine and yet they still break the laws. That kind of money will buy a lot of fish. I just don't understand it.
Regards

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

But I have to tell you it is an uphill battle when you see people who are cited for their 3rd or 4th offense and have to pay a 1500$ fine and yet they still break the laws. That kind of money will buy a lot of fish. I just don't understand it.
Regards

Those are some stupid people (note that I didnt say sportsmen).:rolleyes:

I visited my dad last aug on green river lake and all we caught was short fish. Never threw so many crappie back in one day before. Are they that overpopulated or just don't grow that fast? I threw back my first short fish today out of a couple weeks fishing here in TX.

Originally Posted by A2O

I visited my dad last aug on green river lake and all we caught was short fish. Never threw so many crappie back in one day before. Are they that overpopulated or just don't grow that fast? I threw back my first short fish today out of a couple weeks fishing here in TX.

Green River Lake Crappie : are cyclic in production numbers & size. They're not "overpopulated", you probably just found the year before last hatch :p. They obviously don't grow as fast as they would, in more Southern waters, since they have 3-4 months of Winter to survive. Not to mention that these same fish have to try & survive predation from 2 strains of Muskie, the Walleye, and the Bass population.
The fact that you were fishing GRL in August, may have been a reason for catching many short fish. You may have been fishing too shallow/deep, or in the wrong area. Doh
I've personally caught many 2lb Crappie from the waters of Green River Lake, so .... yeah, it does have the capacity to grow decent sized fish. I've even heard, from people I know, of catching only short fish ... from lakes like Reelfoot, Weiss, and the canals of Florida ... it happens, even to the most experienced anglers :o
I don't get too disturbed, even when it happens to me. I just consider it a sign that, in the following years, the chances of catching alot more keepers has just gone waaaay up Hands Clapping

... cp

Originally Posted by crappiepappy

Green River Lake Crappie : are cyclic in production numbers & size. They're not "overpopulated", you probably just found the year before last hatch :p. They obviously don't grow as fast as they would, in more Southern waters, since they have 3-4 months of Winter to survive. Not to mention that these same fish have to try & survive predation from 2 strains of Muskie, the Walleye, and the Bass population.
The fact that you were fishing GRL in August, may have been a reason for catching many short fish. You may have been fishing too shallow/deep, or in the wrong area. Doh
I've personally caught many 2lb Crappie from the waters of Green River Lake, so .... yeah, it does have the capacity to grow decent sized fish. I've even heard, from people I know, of catching only short fish ... from lakes like Reelfoot, Weiss, and the canals of Florida ... it happens, even to the most experienced anglers :o
I don't get too disturbed, even when it happens to me. I just consider it a sign that, in the following years, the chances of catching alot more keepers has just gone waaaay up Hands Clapping

... cp

Ya we stayed on his house boat at Holmes bend and fished the slips there. I know there are some nice crappie there, the ratio to small ones to keepers was 75/1. The were prety deep too. He doesn't know where to catch crappie at other than that so kinda was handcuffed. We did manage to catch a good slab while trolling for muskie. I apologize for the post that you deleted, always wanted to but never have. It gets irritating when people have know respect for your fishing areas. Would be quite funny though.

I can't ever remember any of us locals complaining about anybody keeping a legal limit of fish. I do have a problem with locals or OOSer's breaking our laws or being rude. I realize that it's hard for some of you guys to understand why some of us get so blistered over these issues. It is our tax $'s that are taken and used to maintain the resources around here & we hate it when anyone comes in and thumbs their nose at us and do as they please. It just ain't gonna fly. I want to say that it is not just the OOSer's, it's some of the locals too. Either way it ain't right. We are frustrated that this resource has been depleted to the point that we may have to endure more reductions & restrictions in the future.

I'm sure there is a limit as to how long a post can be & I have to get some sleep someday or I would give you numerous accounts of my witnessing violations and having encounters with rude/ignorant fishermen. I can forgive stupidity but the rude deal I got a problem with.

I'm not trying to toot my own horn but you have no idea how many PM's, phone calls & e-mails I get asking for help form out of town folks. I empty my in box at least once or twice a week. I have never turned anyone down for help. I have shared fishing spots, gave advice... etc. I enjoy helping people have a good time. I may not be able to put them in the boat with me or we may not get to hook up for one reason or another but any help is better than none. All I ask in exchange is to treat everyone right & obey the law when you visit. I don't think that's too much to ask. Pretty even swap the way I see it. As far as I know, no one that I have ever helped has ever let me down in that respect.

I am not the only one on here that's willing too help either. I know a lot of these guys personally and consider them good friends. Several of them are from out of state. I don't know what I would have done without them last fall when I had my Crappie.com fall get together! Thanks again guys! Yall know who you are. And guess what. Over half of the folks that showed up were from out of town/state. Best bunch of folks I ever had the pleasure of be around, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

You folks that come visit should be just as passionate about the rules and courtesy issues as we locals are. Following the rules & being considerate of others, just makes for a better experience for everyone. Yall spend a few days a year dealing with this, we see it on a near daily basis and it gets old. What adds to the frustration is many of us spend a lot of time, money, & energy putting out habitat. It is personally aggravating to me to set & watch anybody set on a spot that I put out & keep short fish after short fish. Makes me feel like I'm an accomplice to the violation. Don't bother me a bit that they are fish'n that spot, especially if they have kids in the boat that are have'n a good time. That's what makes it all worth while to me. :D Fish it all you want. Just keep what's legal.

I extend an invitation to any and all of yall to come and enjoy this area. Stop by and set on my deck at the lake, have a cold one, talk fish'n, & watch the sun set over the lake. Lot 72, Big Bear Campground. Look for a fat boy with a white Lowe & a black dog. :D

Originally Posted by Wiskers

I can't ever remember any of us locals complaining about anybody keeping a legal limit of fish. I do have a problem with locals or OOSer's breaking our laws or being rude. I realize that it's hard for some of you guys to understand why some of us get so blistered over these issues. It is our tax $'s that are taken and used to maintain the resources around here & we hate it when anyone comes in and thumbs their nose at us and do as they please. It just ain't gonna fly. I want to say that it is not just the OOSer's, it's some of the locals too. Either way it ain't right. We are frustrated that this resource has been depleted to the point that we may have to endure more reductions & restrictions in the future.

I'm sure there is a limit as to how long a post can be & I have to get some sleep someday or I would give you numerous accounts of my witnessing violations and having encounters with rude/ignorant fishermen. I can forgive stupidity but the rude deal I got a problem with.

I'm not trying to toot my own horn but you have no idea how many PM's, phone calls & e-mails I get asking for help form out of town folks. I empty my in box at least once or twice a week. I have never turned anyone down for help. I have shared fishing spots, gave advice... etc. I enjoy helping people have a good time. I may not be able to put them in the boat with me or we may not get to hook up for one reason or another but any help is better than none. All I ask in exchange is to treat everyone right & obey the law when you visit. I don't think that's too much to ask. Pretty even swap the way I see it. As far as I know, no one that I have ever helped has ever let me down in that respect.

I am not the only one on here that's willing too help either. I know a lot of these guys personally and consider them good friends. Several of them are from out of state. I don't know what I would have done without them last fall when I had my Crappie.com fall get together! Thanks again guys! Yall know who you are. And guess what. Over half of the folks that showed up were from out of town/state. Best bunch of folks I ever had the pleasure of be around, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

You folks that come visit should be just as passionate about the rules and courtesy issues as we locals are. Following the rules & being considerate of others, just makes for a better experience for everyone. Yall spend a few days a year dealing with this, we see it on a near daily basis and it gets old. What adds to the frustration is many of us spend a lot of time, money, & energy putting out habitat. It is personally aggravating to me to set & watch anybody set on a spot that I put out & keep short fish after short fish. Makes me feel like I'm an accomplice to the violation. Don't bother me a bit that they are fish'n that spot, especially if they have kids in the boat that are have'n a good time. That's what makes it all worth while to me. :D Fish it all you want. Just keep what's legal.

I extend an invitation to any and all of yall to come and enjoy this area. Stop by and set on my deck at the lake, have a cold one, talk fish'n, & watch the sun set over the lake. Lot 72, Big Bear Campground. Look for a fat boy with a white Lowe & a black dog. :D

Can't ask for much more than that. The local lakes I fish Don't even have a size limit on them and I don't keep nothing under 9" on them.

Things to remember while on the water:
1. Obey the law
2. Know the law
3. Be considerate
4. Don't carry a gun on the water to point at someone.
5. Don't point that gun at someone over a brushpile.
6. Don't play bumper boats over a spot.

I THINK I WILL STOP NOW......I WAS GOING TO CONTINUE BUT IT WAS SEEMING TOO MUCH LIKE COMMON SENSE. :D What do ya think? Let's have a good crappie season guys! Remember this is America. Ok......that last sentence was cheesey. Good luck all at Kentucky Lake this year.....it will be fun.
dkb

Originally Posted by RobbinsJ

I just want to say again that I know most guys on this site are great guys and seem more than willing to help others. Many of you have helped me just by looking in and reading posts from time to time. I also know full well that most of you truly care about the health of your public waters and do a lot to improve the lakes fishing. For all that you do I sincerely thank you. I just don't like feeling like I'm crossing enemy lines when I come down, if the tables were turned you wouldn't like it either. The bottom line is any time the resources are great, hunting or fishing, jerks will take more than their share. I did want to be clear that I do not keep short fish either, I just saw that I said nothing about that. My small slice of heaven will be April 14-17. I will likely be firing up the grill at the Irvin Cobb marina getting my $15 burger and dog at lunch every day, well worth it by the way. I will quietly go back to doing what I do best and just read your post. I wish all who make it to the lake a safe and exciting season with all the fish you can handle.

I would llike to give an idea of what this site has done for me. I began fishing for Ky Lake crappie about 8 yr ago. Before that we only came down in summer, July. I had never seen anyone before that first trip tightline fishing. So our first year down we stunk...it was cold and we caught maybe 30 crappie the whole trip. Shortly after that trip I started looking for some info on this type of fishing and found you guys here. I think my fishing tactics and success has improved each year in large part because of what I have learned from you guys. Sincerely, Thank You! I hope I didn't ruffle any feathers, I was just sharing my opinion.

Not a problem Robbins. You have every right to your opinion, Sometimes I think we locals do tend to get on the OOSer's more than the local butt holes. Myself included.

We really want everyone to feel welcome! Thumbs Up That's a fact. Heck we have adopted BIGBADDAD & his wife & they're from Chicaga. :D I can still remember the first time he said "yall." Brings a tear to my eye to see him come so far. Heck he even shot a deer off his porch, in his pajamas. Yep he's come a long way! Hands Clapping

We still ain't figured out how that deer got in his pajamas. Rofl

Originally Posted by dkb23

Things to remember while on the water:
1. Obey the law
2. Know the law
3. Be considerate
4. Don't carry a gun on the water to point at someone.
5. Don't point that gun at someone over a brushpile.
6. Don't play bumper boats over a spot.

I THINK I WILL STOP NOW......I WAS GOING TO CONTINUE BUT IT WAS SEEMING TOO MUCH LIKE COMMON SENSE. :D What do ya think? Let's have a good crappie season guys! Remember this is America. Ok......that last sentence was cheesey. Good luck all at Kentucky Lake this year.....it will be fun.dkb

I'm with ya dkb! I can't wait till the 17th! Hands Clapping