Thread: Kentucky lake limit

Originally Posted by pistolpete

I am not speaking of myself in particular. I am referring to the problem with the quanity limit and the problem with the spawns. I can and have fished in February on the edge of the channels with a Kentucky rig and caught my share of crappie. Thank you very much I can read my electronics as well as you can. I started out with the old Lawrence paper graph and can use my current ones very well.

The point I am trying to make is it is no longer feasible for me to travel 100 miles and pay the prices to catch 20 crappie. It is also apparent that many feel as I do because the resorts and motels in that area no longer are filled in April as they once were.

If I lived on the lake as you do, I wouldn't have a problem with the limit either.Have a nice day.

I wasn't referring to you directly regarding electronics.....just the average weekend angler I see every year that still tries to catch them the same way they did 20 years ago and refuses to change (sorry if I gave the wrong impression). Things have changed and it has become necessary to learn your electroncs (for most) in order to catch fish. I'm glad you are proficient at reading your electronics as I'm still learning myself everyday and I'm sure you could probably teach me a thing or two (actually I could use some tips on catching crappie in February)!

I really live about the same distance from the lake as you do in Missouri, but recently got a cabin near the lake since I love it so much (nothing fancy just a little place to shower and sleep) and make the drive for a weekend of fishing every chance I get. I share the same frustrations as most w/ TVA, but there isn't much we can do about it and I've fished a lot of areas around the country and I haven't been to a lake I like better than Kentucky for all around species of fish....we are lucky to have a place this nice within 100 miles.

As for the crappie fisherman not coming to the lake like they used to.......wish I could say I agree as this would leave more fish for me, but you better get to the lake early just to launch your boat if you want a place to park during the spawn where I fish. Good luck w/ the crappie this year......

I wish I were within a hundred miles of Ky Lake, I'd be there all the time. I just love the size of those crappie.

I remember those old Lowrance paper graphs. A friend of mine bought one and he used to let me borrow it. It was so cool to watch. I think somedays I could have just drove around the lake just to watch it draw pictures. I did finally buy a graph when Lowrance came out with one that reminded me of that old paper graph, I think the model is an x15mt. I still like a flasher though for the quicker feed back it provides.

I don't think the change in limit will have that much effect on people coming to the lake. I rarely see anyone with a limit anyway. Go fishing...have fun.

BadBrad brought up Weiss Lake and I believe Weiss Lake Association actually stocks 100,000 crappie every year. They say it's to keep the gene pool strong. I wouldn't think 100,000 fish wouldn't matter in a lake that size but ya' got to admid they have a heck of a fishery there.

I watched a video the other day, not sure exacty which lake, but they were going to build a hatchery on that lake just for stocking crappies. (may have been Lake of the Ozark's, not really sure) Same problem, fishing has declined in recent years. They felt the only way to sustain the fishing was with additional stockings.

It would be interesting to see if stocking would help, but would probably be tough to convince the State DNR to give it a try.

Originally Posted by crappiemax

BadBrad brought up Weiss Lake and I believe Weiss Lake Association actually stocks 100,000 crappie every year. They say it's to keep the gene pool strong. I wouldn't think 100,000 fish wouldn't matter in a lake that size but ya' got to admid they have a heck of a fishery there.

I watched a video the other day, not sure exacty which lake, but they were going to build a hatchery on that lake just for stocking crappies. (may have been Lake of the Ozark's, not really sure) Same problem, fishing has declined in recent years. They felt the only way to sustain the fishing was with additional stockings.

It would be interesting to see if stocking would help, but would probably be tough to convince the State DNR to give it a try.

That's gonna have to happen here sooner or later if they want to sustain a good crappie population. Heck if they'd start a stocking program I'd supply the females! :D

They won't ever do it though. They'll stock deer, turkey, otters. They'll move Elk 2500 miles but they won't even consider helping out the crappie.

Ive read all your posts and I agree on slot size , limit of 20 , and would like to see limit on poles 2 per person. Its 300 miles for me to get down their but still try to make it at least once a year.If my wife would learn how to clean fish I'd move down their .

Originally Posted by howferg

Ive read all your posts and I agree on slot size , limit of 20 , and would like to see limit on poles 2 per person. Its 300 miles for me to get down their but still try to make it at least once a year.If my wife would learn how to clean fish I'd move down their .

Heck come on down! We'll have your wife clean'n fish like a pro in no time! :D

Originally Posted by howferg

Ive read all your posts and I agree on slot size , limit of 20 , and would like to see limit on poles 2 per person. Its 300 miles for me to get down their but still try to make it at least once a year.If my wife would learn how to clean fish I'd move down their .

If there's a limit to how many you keep what difference does it make how many poles you use??? You can still only keep the limit.

Originally Posted by wannabe fisherman

If there's a limit to how many you keep what difference does it make how many poles you use??? You can still only keep the limit.

I agree. A pole restriction would not be popular with the spider riggers.

If they put a limit on the number of fish, a limit of the number of poles you use what's next?? Limit the amount of time you can spend on the water??

I know everyone likes to have a lot of poles in the water, the more the hooks the more the chances of a bite. No offense intended in my reply to howferg's suggestion, I agree with him. If you are on a spot and catching fish two poles are plenty. If 2 poles can't catch 20 fish in a 10 or 11 hour day then your not gonna catch those 20 fish. I wish they would have gone with a 15 fish limit and moved the size to 12 inches. You would'nt be catching too many keepers for a few years but it would really get a lot better in that time, thats just my two cents.