Thread: Mississippi

I wish Louisiana would do something to protect some of our lakes. Where else can you go and keep 50 crappie of any size.

Originally Posted by "G"

Yes you are.....would have called you this year but my lakes Sardis and Enid were kinda off this year....low water......and a poor spawn class a couple years ago and any way....could catch fish but they were too short. Its coming back tho.....when it gets right I will give you a shout and and me and you and your son will go pull crankbaits.

Its too early for this..... But you just made my day.

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!

Originally Posted by Rees Guide

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!

While I tend to agree with Rees Guide and Intimidator for many of our states waters especially the most northern one, I doubt it would help our southern lakes and waters especially those that are south of I-10 or close to it. They tried for 20 years to grow larger bass in the Atchafalaya Basin by imposing a 14 inch limit on bass after hurricane Andrew destroyed the fishery. Well after 20 years of trying, most fishing trips would find anglers catching many fish but could only find maybe a few that make the minimum size limit. They finally came to understanding that Mother Nature and hurricanes were doing more damage to the population than the fisherman. So we settle with smaller fish but plenty of them. The same goes for slab crappie. There are very few places to catch 2 pound crappie south of I-10 as evidence of the posts on the forum.

I would think Poverty Point, D'Arbonne, maybe Cypress and Black Bayou Benton and other norther lakes might improve by having larger minimum size and reduced limits, but the only way you would know for sure is to do what they did in the Basin. Give it a good try and see what you get. If things improve stick with it, if the size stays the same them let 'er rip. It is known that some water are more fertile than others and will produce better quality fish. Not all of them pass muster and you just have to settle for what you have. Just my thoughts.
"gene"

To add to what PPG posted.

The Louisiana state crappie (6lbs.) record was caught in the westwego canal near New Orleans.

Also the second heaviest Bass Masters Classic winning stringers was caught south of Hwy 90 near Des Allemands.

IMO the biggest Sacs are in the MS. River. The problem is how to catch em legal.

Originally Posted by jig rig

To add to what PPG posted.

The Louisiana state crappie (6lbs.) record was caught in the westwego canal near New Orleans.

Also the second heaviest Bass Masters Classic winning stringers was caught south of Hwy 90 near Des Allemands.

IMO the biggest Sacs are in the MS. River. The problem is how to catch em legal.

seemed like I read something that a lady caught a white that was 3.84 for a record is that so?

Originally Posted by PawPaw "gene"

While I tend to agree with Rees Guide and Intimidator for many of our states waters especially the most northern one, I doubt it would help our southern lakes and waters especially those that are south of I-10 or close to it. They tried for 20 years to grow larger bass in the Atchafalaya Basin by imposing a 14 inch limit on bass after hurricane Andrew destroyed the fishery. Well after 20 years of trying, most fishing trips would find anglers catching many fish but could only find maybe a few that make the minimum size limit. They finally came to understanding that Mother Nature and hurricanes were doing more damage to the population than the fisherman. So we settle with smaller fish but plenty of them. The same goes for slab crappie. There are very few places to catch 2 pound crappie south of I-10 as evidence of the posts on the forum.

I would think Poverty Point, D'Arbonne, maybe Cypress and Black Bayou Benton and other norther lakes might improve by having larger minimum size and reduced limits, but the only way you would know for sure is to do what they did in the Basin. Give it a good try and see what you get. If things improve stick with it, if the size stays the same them let 'er rip. It is known that some water are more fertile than others and will produce better quality fish. Not all of them pass muster and you just have to settle for what you have. Just my thoughts.
"gene"

I agree...it does take more to produce a good fishery than setting size and creel limits....most fantastic fisheries have fertile water, plenty of cover, and a huge self sustaining baitfish and forage base!

People often ask why fertilized water is needed....most think it is for vegetation growth, and it is,...but they don't realize that it is probably the basic and most needed ingredient in the food chain. It supplies all the basic needs for algae growth and all the micro-organisms for the fry and small fish.
It's really interesting for me to learn about different waters...it's amazing that there is so much difference in a State.
My best friends brother lives in Slidell, I've been down there twice to fish Reds in the intercoastal...I love it down there!