Quote Originally Posted by Rees Guide View Post
Here we throw back what most anywhere in the nation keep, we throw back short fish that are pushing one pound or just over a lot of the time. I can't count the times I have heard the words, "Oh my God, that's the biggest crappie I have ever seen!"
Not to say there aren't other lakes in the country that are as good and I enjoy leaving here and going somewhere else for a change. Gonna be a fun year, come and check it out!
Exactly....what you have are good Fishery Managers!
The Big 3 were headed for disaster, like many other lakes, due to the increased pressure....this is what happens when lakes develop a "Name" and "following"....soon the whole Country is flocking to catch a Dream fish!
But unlike the rest of the Country, the Big 3 chose to enact regs to keep the lake healthy.
Many SOUTHERN lakes have proven that if you can get Crappie to 12 inches, their size will explode faster...they can eat larger and more food and put on size faster!
The Big 3 also realized they were at the mercy of WATER...if they have low or high water seasons, it will effect the spawns and concentrations of where Crappie are...with the added pressure, all these factors can destroy a fishery in a couple years!

Fish in the South grow Big and Fast...most SOUTHERN Crappie live LESS THAN 5 YEARS! This is why they are managed better than up North!
NORTHERN fish can live up to 15 years....they grow a lot slower and the growing season is half of in the South...Northern fish also do not have the High stress from heat or low oxygen contents of some of the Southern Lakes.
If the dag-gone Northern Fishery Managers, would get their heads out of their rears, we could have some Fantastic Fisheries in the North also....the 30 fish/day creel limits have helped, but the 9 inch size limit is a joke...we have MORE Crappie than comparable Southern lakes in the 6 to 9 inch range, and WAAAY LESS BIG FISH....the nine inch size limit, kills the 9-11 inch fish, and does not allow ALOT of fish to get into that 12 inch BIG FEEDER range so they can GROW!

IMHO, one of the best...and HARDEST to fish Crappie Lakes, in the US...is the BIG O in Florida. You definitely need a good guide...and if you find one, you will get the fish you are looking for!