Reply With QuoteAny size you can get a good fillet off of. If they get to small there isnt much meat. A basket full of those would be more work than 5 or 10 nice ones, or another view is fun verses food.
Likes: 0
Thanks: 0
HaHa: 0
Trophy King
Keeper Size?
Just had a question about the size of the gills you keep. I dont usually target them specifically, so I only keep them if they are really nice size. I figure they will clean with the rest of what I am catching. And most places I fish dont have size limit, so I was wondering, when you go out to catch a basket of gills, do you use any kind of measurement as your keeper guide. I have seen some guys keep about any size, thinking more along the lines of quantity rather than size. Anyway, would appreciate your insight.
Crappie Wall Hanger
Any Size
Any size you can get a good fillet off of. If they get to small there isnt much meat. A basket full of those would be more work than 5 or 10 nice ones, or another view is fun verses food.
I still use one rod at a time!!
Crappie.com 2K Star General
* Crappie.com Supporter
I like to keep a medium sized bluegill.Say at least 5 inches.If I get all big ones,I'll take a few but I like the big ones doing the breeding duties.
"Garden Hackler"lol
Crappie.com Legend - 2022 Crappie.com Man of the Year
I like Shellcrackers. If they are big enough to gulp down a 1/32 then they are big enough for the fry pan. I usually keep those 8 inches or more.
Aquatic Species Removal Engineer.
May God be with you. Keep CALM and STAY ANCHORED with your faith.
Minnow
I dont usually fillet them so they aint gotta be too big for me to keep. Fish on the bone taste better to me.
Crappie Wall Hanger II
We don`t fillet them either, really no size limit but we don`t keep the "dinks", most keepers 6,7,8 ............. mmmmmmmmmmmmmm good eaten !
Crappie.com 1K Star General
Personally, I won't clean anything under 8". If I can't get them consistently above 9", I generally fish for something else. I eat a lot of fish, and these of certainly tasty, but I just don't get enough meat out of 25, 6-7" fish.
Slabmaster
for me its anything over 5" those are the bast for eating
Trophy King
I say if you feel like cleaning it, keep it!
Banned
Some folks say "If it has a pair of eyes and a butthole, it's a keeper!"
.. I have higher standards, 9" is a minimum for me. I do like my panfish fried up whole... but I won't rob the cradle!
If you know a fishes anatomy, you shouldn't have any problems eating them fried up whole!
... but some folks like to gulp it down whole... like a dog!:rolleyes:
Posting Permissions
