Thread: The need for new size limits

I believe the dnr will most likely impose slot limits, within the next few years. For example, 9 to 11 inch crappie would be allowed to be harvested and the rest must be catch and release. ??? Or even during certain months the size restrictions change or daily limits. Im not saying thats what it needs to be thats just an example. Any thoughts?

While agree in general, please keep in mind that likely any new size slots probabily won`t be state wide, as with the current 9" size limits. And that there will ALWAYS be the dubious FEW whom feel "I paid my $19 bucks, and I`ll (but don`t anyone else) keep whatever I WANT to...". Many factors affect crappie and other species` populations. Several lakes just seem to churn out masses of smaller fish out, with few "keepers', while others have fewer but generally bigger fish. most vary from the more of the former to fewer of the latter. To have a great crappie fishery, a proportional amount of them must survive at least 6 yrs in Ohio waters to get 11", and of their #`s the older any fish gets, the fewer of it`s year class are still among them; most just don`t naturally live into their 8th or 9th yr. Still, a good idea...

Originally Posted by Scott17b

I pose a question to everyone. Im interested to here input. While fishing the other day i wondered... With the advance of depth/fish finders being able to distinctly show all fishermen even the slightest cover under water in great detail, wonder if its hurting the fish population? I believe yes! Those who didnt fair well on the water in the past are now cleaning house, due to these technological advances. So are new size limits needed? I believe yes. So whats your 2 cents?

I have seen more dead crappie floating around of late than I care to. Everyone of them had issues with their mouth, and I think they were hook induced. Catch and release may not be all that people think it is... I sure don't know percentages, etc., but I have seen a lot of dead crappie lately which appear to have been caught and released. Several bass as well, but more crappie than bass this past week to be sure. I have no answers, just injecting this as a factor into the discussion.

Fish finders, aka side and downside imaging are great tools for fishing. They find the fish and the structure. However, it is up to the fishermen, to catch the fish. To figure, how they will bite and what to use. Some fishermen buy the hi-tech ff, can't figure out how to use them, and then put them up for sale. Do they work, yes. Do I have a ff, yes. Hi-tech, no. Can't afford them right now. In fact, in spring and fall, I really don't need one. I can look at a bank, with laydowns and pretty much figure if there will be crappie or bass there. I don't believe new size limits are needed right now. They were just changed this past year. We need to give them a chance to work and evaluate them.
Bassky

Originally Posted by Lou

I have seen more dead crappie floating around of late than I care to. Everyone of them had issues with their mouth, and I think they were hook induced. Catch and release may not be all that people think it is... I sure don't know percentages, etc., but I have seen a lot of dead crappie lately which appear to have been caught and released. Several bass as well, but more crappie than bass this past week to be sure. I have no answers, just injecting this as a factor into the discussion.

I agree, seen lots of floating crappie at RF and EF this past weekend. The crappie that swallows it and is below 9 inches is probably going to die unless you cut your hook or jig.

Originally Posted by Lou

I have seen more dead crappie floating around of late than I care to. Everyone of them had issues with their mouth, and I think they were hook induced. Catch and release may not be all that people think it is... I sure don't know percentages, etc., but I have seen a lot of dead crappie lately which appear to have been caught and released. Several bass as well, but more crappie than bass this past week to be sure. I have no answers, just injecting this as a factor into the discussion.

You are so correct!!! Not many crappie last more then a month or so being top mouthed hooked, hook them in the paper side and its the kiss of death. How many healthy 10+ crappie do you catch that show signs of being hooked year before??? I dont recall ever catching any. Here is a thought on this subject, how many fish would be saved if ODNR just had a 30 fish limit with no size limit? The mortality of hooked and released crappie would be lower. For the record, I keep crappie that are 10in and up so Im not a guy that keeps anything in the boat but I know alot of crappie lakes that guys would keep 8in crappie and leave with 30 instead of hooking n releasing them adding to mortality rate.

Higher size limits aren't the answer. CC has had a 9" size limit for years--and the fishing is still tough for most people. Cowan doesn't have a size limit, and there are so many crappie below 9" that it's ridiculous--but it's not the fishing pressure that causes it.

It's a complex equation that differs in each lake. Forage is primary, particularly the timing (i.e., right size forage coming on at just the right time for crappie feeding) and recruitment critical (i.e., flood control lakes can have really bad years). Cover is important, but mostly to fisherman as it concentrates the fish. For crappie, it's primarily important when they're small and subject to predation. Anyway, I don't think a higher size limit will do the trick. Habitat and environment are far more important.

I don't really think the advance in electronics (especially if you're talking SI/DI) is really going to make that much difference to Joe average. Yeah it will make a pretty picture but if a person was really all that interested in learning a lake, the type of electronics won't matter that much one way or another. I purchased an HDS unit this year and my wife asked if will help me catch more fish, I told her probably not but I'll look better trying. I like my little Garmin e-trex way better than the lowrance GPS, at least so far I do. I still have some learning to do though.
Electronics have come along way but it takes desire to scan large sections of a lake looking for structure. Some of my spots I fish now, I found with an old flasher 20 or 25 years ago. I didn't know exactly what was that I had found but it really didn't matter what it was. I just knew something was there and it held fish.
It's probably easier to just plant some of your own condos than to hunt for someone elses.
I think the most important thing is as you gain expierence you have to excersise some self control. Last year I actually did notice quite a few fish with hook hole from previously being caught.
Will all the fish survive? No of course not, but I believe a good percentage will.
I do think size and quantity limits help a lake. Just go fish some of the southern lakes that have size limits and quantity limits. It's not just the longer growing season that helps these lakes.
I personnaly feel these lakes could use huge amounts of cover added to them to improve the fishing. With the very limited amount of useage I have with my SI it became clear that huge portions of these lakes are simply devoid of any cover. I think that is why any cover becomes so important.