Reduced limits on KY and Barkley Lakes

The crappie population at Ky. Lake is in good shape. I think the anglers pushing for this change are the ones who have'nt adapted to the Black crappie surge the past few years. The reason for this vote is someone thinks that there are'nt enough 6-9 inch fish in the lakes. That just isn't the case. Typically every yr. my spring fish at Ky. are 85% keepers. In the fall it probably drops to 65-70%. I don't know why thats just the way it's been for me the past 10 yrs. There are plenty of crappie,large and small,in Ky and barkley lakes. I don't get to go to these lakes very often and I think it should stay just like it is. Some people may have to change their fishing methods. Everyone seems to think if you lowered the limit to 20 it would mean bigger fish. I think the opposite, population goes up size goes down. If you want bigger fish you need the size limit to go up. If it's not broke don't fix it.

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Originally Posted by badbrad

It would be great if you could get some cooperation from the Corp. The impact crappie fishing has on the local economy is being overlooked! I would hope that given the significance of the boost Crappie fishing creates every spring, someone would recommend doing something to improve habitat and spawning conditions, ie....water level!

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Unfortunately you will NEVER get help from the Corps of Engineers or TVA on RECREATIONAL activities. I hate it, you hate it, all sportsmen hate it, but whats already been said in this forum rings true. The Corp and TVA aren't in the fishing or hunting business. They are in the flood control business. Any activities that happen to take place on Corp or TVA lakes or rivers are secondary to flood control. They simply don't care. One of my best friends is a very avid sportsman and works for the Corp of Engineers. He will be the first one to tell you that no matter the impact financially on the community or whatever they will not budge on their stance. Floods cost more money then loss of tourism. He and I spoke at great lengths about this very subject earlier this year when the Corps began to drop Lake Cumberland in Eastern Kentucky to make repairs to the Wolf Creek dam. Cumberland is another huge body of water with a thriving community funded almost entirely off of tourists visiting the lake. The Corps had to drop the lake 30 feet in order to start repairs. This left about 80% of the ramps high and dry. Just recently these ramps have been extended, on the states dime I believe, in order to keep people coming.

On a side note I think the size limits should be enforced strictly on KY Lake. I think the numbers should be dropped to 20 fish and I think that the possible pole restrictions should be dropped.

The local news says fishing is good at Cumberland despite the drop in water level. The biggest problem is with the trout, water temps are going to be higher not good for trout. Access to the lake is not a problem as a lot of the ramps have been extended. Gonna have to get down there sometime.

[QUOTE=tubejig]The crappie population at Ky. Lake is in good shape. I think the anglers pushing for this change are the ones who have'nt adapted to the Black crappie surge the past few years. The reason for this vote is someone thinks that there are'nt enough 6-9 inch fish in the lakes. That just isn't the case. QUOTE]

I have to disagree with you on the crappie population. I know that the population has flip flopped from about 70% White Crappie and 30% percent Black Crappie to just about the opposite in the last 20 years. This is a proven fact.

If you study the 2 different species you'll see that the Black Crappie are not nearly as prolific as the Whites. In fact an adult black female carries only a fraction of the amount of eggs as a white female of the same size and age.

I have adapted to the Blacks very well and really like fishing for them. To me they seem more agressive which inturn makes them more vulnerable.

Now I'm not really for the reduced limit. If you read my other posts you'll see that I know from past experience that this alone WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM! And the problem is not just one thing, it is a combination of several factors like unstable water levels during critical spawning periods, increasing clearer water, increased pressure on the fish, people keeping small fish, stocking preditor species like the Stripers and Hybreds.... I could go on.

Now I don't have a degree in wildlife bioligy like the folks we hire to manage our fishery but thank god the good lord blessed me with a little common since and common since tells me that reduced limits haven't worked in the past and won't work in the future! What's that old addage about the definition of futility; doing the samething over and over and expecting different results? It don't make a lick of since to me! They are focusing on the tail of the snake and grasping for straws!

Another thing we should consider. How many crappie fishermen do you know that go out and consistantly catch a 30 fish limit. Answer; very darn few. Infact only a small percentage catch the limit so by reducing the limit you arn't really changing a darn thing for most anglers. Think about it, what percentage of your trips this year resulted in limits? I fish probably 120 to 150days a year and have a lot of those 15 to 19 keeper days.

Personally I think stocking would help but there again that's too simple.

I have been reading about this for the past week and I'm finally going to respond.I have been fishing Ky lake for about 6 years now and I have yet to be checked by the DNR! The past two years I have fished at least 25 days per year and have not been checked, I don't keep undersized fish but have seen several cleaned at the cleaning stations.As far as the 20 or 30 fish limit go I think that 20 Ky Lake crappie is a nice mess of fish and if this is what it takes to keep the fishery healthy then that is what I'm for.I guess wether its 20 or 30 or 10" it really doesn't matter if there is no one to enforce the laws!

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Originally Posted by slabdaddy

As far as the 20 or 30 fish limit go I think that 20 Ky Lake crappie is a nice mess of fish and if this is what it takes to keep the fishery healthy then that is what I'm for.I guess wether its 20 or 30 or 10" it really doesn't matter if there is no one to enforce the laws!

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Yes 20 fish is a good mess of fish but.... like I said in a previous post. I am really neither for or against the 20 fish limit. I'm just saying the prestent limit is not the problem. Very, very few people catch 30 keepers a day. The new limit will do nothing other than turn some fishermen away from the lake. With gas at $3.00 a gal. how many people are gonna travel any distance to have a shot at 20 crappie as opposed to 30. Its just gonna hurt the guides and the rest of the people in the local economy that depend on crappie for a chunk of their income. All the reduced limit is is a band aid. I'd like to see them stop the bleeding not just slow it down.

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Originally Posted by wannabe fisherman

The local news says fishing is good at Cumberland despite the drop in water level. The biggest problem is with the trout, water temps are going to be higher not good for trout. Access to the lake is not a problem as a lot of the ramps have been extended. Gonna have to get down there sometime.

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Of course it is, now. With the lake dropped the stripers are ganged up in the river channel. Easy to corner.

Yes, the ramps have been extended, but like I said before on the states dime. The Corps doesn't care about boat ramps it cares about flood control.

I agree with wiskers, in that the limit reduction is not the answer. I fish Barkley 100 to 150 times a year and have also seen a tremendous downturn in the number and size of crappie in the last thirty years. As much as anything the lake is becoming clearer because it is not as fertile as it has been due to a lack of algae blooms. Also wiskers what happened to the willow flies? I can remember many hatches that would be a foot deep around light poles in the mornings. I can understand people who drive 50 miles and more not liking the limit reduction, myself I don't care either way, and am open to any suggestions that will help the lakes. IMO, other than sometimes dropping the water during the spawn, I think TVA and the Corp do a very good job of taking care of the lakes. Most complaints I hear are about dropping the water so early in the summer, and I always give the same reply, they sell navigational maps everywhere. I have fished these lakes for forty some odd years and have never ruined a prop. Do your homework before getting on the water.

Well I guess tomorrw we will find out the verdict. Either way, I'll still make the drive. Wonder how long it will be before we know something?

I hope we find out before the next time we catch 30! LOL