2013 Lake Conway Crappie Assessment

I recently fininshed analyzing the 2013 Lake Conway trapnet data. We use the data collected to assess 5 aspects of a crappie population (density, growth rate, age structure, size structure, and recruitment). This year Lake Conway scored a 92.5 out of 100 in the assessment. This is the highest and second time Lake Conway has scored this high. Here is a brief summary of the assessment.

Density
-On average we captured 36 crappie/net night. This is in the range of an ideal density.

Growth Rate
-The mean length of a 2.5 year old crappie was 12-in. Most years on Lake Conway, the mean length of a 2.5 year old crappie is around 10-in. Growth has been EXCELENT! Our theory is that this is due to the extremely low water we had in the summer of 2012. This allowed the surviving crappie to fatten up and grow fast.

Age Structure
-14.5% of the crappie sampled were 3.5 years or older. This is slightly higher than most years.

Size Structure
-61.8% of the crappie sampled were greater than 10-in. Same explination as for high grwoth rate (low water in 2012). In a normal year we see less than 40% are great than 10-in.

Recruitment
-The averaged 13 young-of-year crappie per net. This is normal. Good production in Lake Conway!

Lake Conway's crappie population is in good shape. I predict that 2014 will be another good year!:biggrin

Thanks for the update and all that you do D10.

Thank you for the info. Interesting. So all of the fish I catch which are normally 7 to 8 inch how old are they?

Thanks D10 them some nice numbers for conway. I like the part " fatten up and grow fast."

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Originally Posted by shawnh

Thank you for the info. Interesting. So all of the fish I catch which are normally 7 to 8 inch how old are they?

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Shawn - this time of year a crappie that is 7-8 iches was born last spring (2013).

Thanks for the Report and all that you do D10.

Thanks for the Info Matt. I was wondering if you had any info on how many crappie on average there is per surface acer for Conway.

That is good information. Looks like Russ has not hurt them that bad!

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Originally Posted by CrappiePro

Thanks for the Info Matt. I was wondering if you had any info on how many crappie on average there is per surface acer for Conway.

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Russ - we used to be able to estimate that when we did cove rotenone samples. Since rotenone samples have been done away with (ThanksGoodness!), we can no longer estimate density on a per acre basis. All we can do now is compare density caught per net from year to year. I would venture a guess that Lake Conway has a high density per acre relative to most lakes due to its shallow nature and abundant structure. Just a guess though.

Thanks D 10!! Don't need nets!!!! Just ask CrappiePro all the crappie in conway has his name on them after he caught and released them!!! LOL!!!!