Thanks for those that could make it to the Dept.'s meeting this past Tuesday night. It was just that, a public meeting. We got to exchange information. We told the attending anglers about our ongoing monitoring, concerns that we see with the crappie fishery, and to anticipate some great upcoming bass fishing. We did mention our proposed plan to stock alligator gar. Most need to realize that the Dept. is not just about sport fish, deer and turkey, although that is what brings in most of our dollars, so it normally gets a larger portion of our time. However, we also get monies for protect and promote threatened and endangered species: like the alligator gar. We are proposing a very low stocking rate in back water areas of the Mississippi River. Mostly in some of our WMA lakes, like at Obion and Boatwright. Years ago there were some that opposed the re-introduction of elk. Know looking back, it was a great idea. As for stocking crappie. I don't want to re-invent the wheel, so to say; several other states in the southeast have tried to boost natural crappie populations with stocking. Very few have worked, but a few have. We hope to take what was learned in these other situations and avoid some of the things that might have gone wrong. What we are proposing is to stock white crappie at a rate of 10 per acre. We will stock Blood River (3,855 acres), Little River (3,065), Taylorsville (2,940) and Carr Creek (710). Each of these lakes have crappie, but the population dynamics are a little different, as well as the water quality. At Lake Weiss, they have only been stocking 3 to 4 crappie per acre, and I am told results are marginal. Our stocked white crappie will be OTC marked. The fingerlings will be put in a chemical that will mark the bony structures of the fish with a "glow in the dark" mark. So in a few years we can age them (using the otoliths) and look for the marks. We will be able to determine how well the stocking worked. And whether the stocked fish made up a significant portion of the population? We will stock during each November of 2009-2011. We will monitor each fall with our trap netting, making a comparison of catch from say... Little River and Donaldson, and Jonathan Creek and Blood River. We know it takes crappie 3 years to reach 10 inches, so in 2011 the first stocked fish should be harvestable size. At that time we will help organize a crappie tournament on each lake. Anglers can go catch fish, bring us their catch so we can remove the otoliths. We can age the fish and look for the "glow in the dark" mark. We will be able to determine for example if 100 fish are caught, that X number of them were stocked fish. At the meeting we asked this question, what they thought the "X" should be in order to make this project worth the effort and cost. The average of all responses was 3. That means out of a limit (20 crappie) they expect at least 3 of them to be stocked fish. The estimated project cost, just for KY and Barkley lakes is $83,040 per year. Could be lower, but until the first batch of fingerlings are produced, that would be the cost to raise and transport about 70,000 white crappie to these lakes. During the meeting, we did discuss the Leagues proposal to close off embayments. In theory, closing off embayments from all boaters so that spawning fish are not harassed, would make since. You don't harass them, they should have a more productive spawn. However these results would be isolated. We could not close off embayments were there are adjacent landowners, docks, boat ramps and camp grounds. Our opinion is that closing is not a productive option. The spawning would still rely on have good water levels and normal spring weather. We oppose closing off a public resource when the science does not support such closure. And these lakes belong to TVA and the USCOE, so we would also have to get their support. For a second, third, fourth, etc opinion on this issue. I contacted several of the top PhD’s fisheries scientists, and they also indicated that closing small embayments on a lake the size of KY or Barkley, might help in an isolated area, under the right water and climate conditions. But would not restore the crappie fisheries else where in the lake. Basically a drop in the bucket type out come. Junk science as one stated. However, if given those ideal water and climate conditions, the whole lake would benefit from a successful spawn. One last thing for your consideration. In 2007, an estimate 230,000 crappie were harvested from KY Lake. Research has shown that age 3 female crappie (10 in) will produce a range of 12,xxx-91,xxx eggs, with 44,xxx as an average. A larger crappie could average closer to 94,xxx eggs. We know that not all these eggs will make a crappie. There will be some mortality. Let assume the low end for these larger crappie. If only 1% of the eggs goes on to become a 10 inch crappie. One female would be responsible for producing 940 adult fish. So it should only take about 245 female crappie to replace the harvest (245 X940 = 230,300). Even if you assume the worst, only 1/10 of the eggs make it, which is 2,450 females needed. Ok, if have stayed with me this long. We need your help collecting brood stock. We will be working with anglers at Blood River and Little River on the 28th of February from 7 to 3 to collect crappie. We will be at the State Park ramp at Barkley and Wildcat ramp on KY. We only want white crappie. Those angler wanting to participate need to contact me ([email protected]). Then meet us at the ramp. You can come when ever you want during the day. When you sign in, you will receive a one day permit to keep 9 inch crappie and over the limit (white crappie). We will have you bring us the white crappie to the ramp, where we will have a hatchery truck to store the fish. At Blood River the Twin Lake Crappie club wants to make a tournament out of it. They will be collecting $30 from those that want to participate in their tournament. As anglers bring in the fish we will record them. At the end of the day, the angler with the most white crappie and the angler with the largest white crappie will slit the pot. Contact a club member if you need more information. If someone wants to organize a tournament on Barkley, let us know. Right now I only have two anglers wanting to fish at Little River on the 28th. Again the tournaments are optional. You can just fish for the fun, and donate your live catch to us for use as brood stock.
