Creel limits

Hi - I have always wanted to ask this question, but never knew who to ask. I know each lake can have different limits for each species it contains (or default to the state limits), but I've always wondered how that is all determined, how often it changes, etc... I've always figured the "50 crappie/day" lakes were the best to fish because the population must be high for that limit to be in place, but never really knew for sure if that was true. Could you shed a bit of light on that for me?

Thanks!
Eric

Eric,

There are 16 District Fisheries Biologists within KDWPT that cover the 105 counties within the state. Each biologist is assigned a district in which they are responsible for managing the public waters. Biologists conduct fish sampling and other surveys to obtain information used to manage the fish populations within the assigned waters. Depending on many factors, fish harvest regulations are set. Statewide length and creel limits apply unless more restrictive harvest regs are set for the water. The biologist recommends fish harvest regulation changes. The status of the fish populations determines what the harvest regulations should be. Many factors go in to setting the harvest regs such as population density, angling pressure, angler harvest, body condition of the fish, growth rates, angler desires and so on.

The 50/day crappie limit is the statewide limit. It is also in effect on many very productive crappie waters. All three of my state fishing lakes have 50/day crappie creel limits. Butler SFL has a 50/day creel on crappie but it is far from being a good crappie fishery! It needs more harvest on the crappie as the fish are overpopulated and stunt around 6 to 7 inches...not many people want to harvest crappie that small! The Fishing Forecast Fishing Forecast / Fishing / KDWPT - KDWPT produced by KDWPT each year would be a useful tool in determining where to go look for the best crappie fishing.

Hope this answers your questions.

Excellent information - thank you Craig! As long as I can get a decent filet out of it, I have no problem with smaller crappie, so I may hit Butler SFL and see if I can help you thin the herd a bit. :)

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Hi Eric, yesterday I talked to a CDC member and he has never been to Butler and is ready to help thin out the stunted crappie. So when the weather cools down we plan on hitting Butler with our ultralght gear and have some fun. In a few weeks I will put a notice on CDC and hopefully get some other members to join in. I like Butler but it needs the crappie overpopulation fixed.

I'll be out of the country next weekend through Aug 2, but if you throw it on here and I can make it, it sounds like fun!

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Ok, hopefully some cooler weather will happen in August. It's possible.