New laws on KY and Barkley Lakes?

**stsburnsy** · 01-02-2009, 07:55 AM

Is all of this due to the crappie populations in Kentucky lake? We went down there once a year the last three or four years, and in the spring it is the most crowded lake for crappie fisherman. We use to cross the bridge over Jonathan Creek and laugh at the number of boats you could see around the bridge. One time it seemed like you could walk from one bank to the next by walking across the boats. I always wondered how there could be any fish in this lake with the big spring crowds. I guess the pressure has finally caught up with the populations.

Point being, we would stay for three days and keep around 40-50 good fish over a three day period between three people (back when the limits were 30 daily and 60 possession). People staying in rooms around us would keep anything that really looked big enough to eat. A couple of guys next to us were bragging how they were down the week before and took home 400, and they had caught around 250 that week. If people would practice better fishing habits and get out of the mentality "If its big enough to get on the hook then its big enough to go in the cooler" these regulations would not be necessary. I know guys that have had the same crappie filets in their freezer for years.

Sorry,
Just my 2 cents

**Rowdy** · 01-02-2009, 09:12 AM

The possesion limit is to be voted on this spring, it was in Ky Game and Fish Mag. last fall, I disagree with you about the meat hogs but thats O.K.

About 12 of us spend $3oo-4oo each to stay a week, no one around ky lake fusses about that. The locals that catch 10 or 15 a day 15 times a year =150 and probably trophy fish. With the weather in April you may get 3 or 4 day of fishing out of 6 with the wind.
Thanks
Rowdy

**chaunc** · 01-02-2009, 10:02 AM

I make the trip down from PA. every spring. I stay a week. If i was coming just to catch limits every day, i'd stay home. Not saying that i cant catch limits, just that its not all i'm there for. I live close to one of the best crappie lakes in PA and can catch limits of crappies, big crappies too. I drive 12 hours to Aurora, to spend time with the friends i have there, and with me. Got there late last spring, in may. Had to wait for my daughter to give birth before i would go on vacation. Decided to target the bluegills and shellcrackers, rather than the crappies. Had the time of my life catching them both. Had a couple days when my arms got tired.:D So dont just target the crappies. If you like to catch fish, give em all a shot. Some very nice other fish in that lake.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...n/IMG_0026.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...n/IMG_0025.jpg

**CrappiePappy** · 01-02-2009, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by Rowdy

The possesion limit is to be voted on this spring, it was in Ky Game and Fish Mag. last fall, I disagree with you about the meat hogs but thats O.K.
About 12 of us spend $3oo-4oo each to stay a week, no one around ky lake fusses about that. The locals that catch 10 or 15 a day 15 times a year =150 and probably trophy fish. With the weather in April you may get 3 or 4 day of fishing out of 6 with the wind.
Thanks
Rowdy

Do you remember which month/year that article was in ?? I have all the KY F&G mags, back to July '98 ... and the Oct 2007 article only mentions the daily limit decrease on KY/Barkley being presented ... nothing about the possession limit interpretation. If you can't find the article ... do you remember if it was specific to KY/Barkley, or if it was to be statewide ??

I wasn't implying that anyone in particular was a "meat hog", for trying to get the most out of their trip (legally). I was referring to "meat hogs" as those that illegally try and sneak coolers full of fish out, with numbers well over the legal limit, or size of fish below the legal limit. Big difference in a "meat hunter" and a "meat hog"

I understand what you're saying about the "economics" of a fishing trip

I spend around $200 for a 3day trip to Watts Bar Lake ... usually twice a year. With the daily creel being 15/person/day, even if I limited out on my possession limit, I'd still be paying nearly $7/fish. Even counting my KY fishing license, truck gas, food, boat gas & oil, and launch fee ... it'd be cheaper for me to drive to Herrington Lake, back and forth for 3 or 4 days, and take my chances closer to home. And I've actually caught more 2lb Crappie from Herrington, over the years, than I have from Watts Bar. I just enjoy the lake, the type of fishing that produces fish there, and the trip as a whole. It's more of an "adventure", than just fishing my local haunts ... and I'm willing and able to pay to play. I'm less about catching limits, or even catching Slabs ... and more about just fishing because I enjoy doing it. If I do happen to catch a limit, or get into some Slabs ... that's just icing on my "cake". :p

... cp

**crappiemax** · 01-02-2009, 03:05 PM

Couldn't have said it any better than Chaunc. There's way more to a trip to Ky Lake than just a bag or 2 of crappie fillets. Heck you can buy fish cheaper than you can catch them.

PS happy birthday chaunc (I saw it on OGF)

**Cane Pole** · 01-02-2009, 04:55 PM

What about the reciprocal waters? Anything ?

**Rowdy** · 01-03-2009, 12:00 AM

I looked back in my post, it was Sept.08. so it may be Sept. or Oct. it was on page 12
Rowdy

**CrappiePappy** · 01-03-2009, 01:33 AM

It was in the Oct 08 issue ... it was just part of a article on Dove/Bear Seasons :p (which is why I overlooked it)

Here's exactly what it said : (quoted from article)

" The Commision proposed to the General Assembly to standardize fishing possession limits at twice the daily creel limit for all species with a daily creel limit. No one person shall possess more than one daily creel limit while on the water or fishing from shore. No one person shall possess more than two times the daily creel limit of unprocessed fish at any time. However, you may return home from a fishing trip of longer than two days with more than the possession limit, if the fish are cleaned. "
All these Regulations go into effect Mar 1, 2009

It would appear to be a statewide ruling, so I assume it to be legal & binding on any reciprocal waters, and to any angler possessing a license to fish in the state (resident or non-resident). It also, by its very nature, makes the ruling that what you have in your freezer at home ... is counted as your "property", and not subject to the "possession limit" law, since you can legally "take home" CLEANED fish ... in numbers greater than the possession limit (of unprocessed fish).

I'll be looking for confirmation of this new "interpretation", in the 2009 KY Fishing & Boating Guide ... as soon as I can get my hands on one

... cp

**crappiemax** · 01-03-2009, 05:16 AM

thanks Pappy, I guess the difference is that the fish are cleaned or whole. Like you, I'll be looking for that in writing in the 2009 reg's.

**tubejig** · 01-03-2009, 08:32 PM

I read on the KDFW website or in the Ky. Afield mag. (don't remember which) this explanation. The creel is your daily limit. The possesion limit is the number of uncleaned fish you have in your possession. If you are on an extended trip (say 5 days at Ky. Lake) you can have 200 filets (100 fish) in your possesion. I am positive I read this from official KDF litrature because I was always cloudy on the subject. I clean my fish daily, so the possession limit does'nt effect me.

Thread: New laws on KY and Barkley Lakes?

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Maybe pressure is the problem not the regs

Hey Rowdy ...

OK guys .... I found it

New possession limit explanation

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