AGFC Constant Contact Crappie Article

I wanted to share with y’all an article that we wrote addressing AGFC’s response to LiveScope. This article was sent out to the state wide constant contact email database that I sent y’all a link to sometime ago. You can select the areas or the state you are interested in hearing about or you can select all of the areas, like I did. Enjoy!


Seeing crappie more clearly

Over the last several months, anglers have approached fisheries biologists around the state with their concerns about the potential impacts of LiveScope sonar technology on crappie populations. But rest assured, anglers are not the only ones who have recognized the potential increases in angler efficiency that this technology could provide. Fisheries biologists across the nation have been discussing this topic for a while. Additionally, members of the AGFC Statewide Crappie Management Team have also been discussing and investigating this technology for the last few years.

(Image missing)
Garmin LiveScope Image of a school of crappie hanging out under a dock.
?Photo courtesy of Crappie.com - America's Crappie Community.

As with any new technology comes warranted and/or unwarranted concern about its potential effects on fish populations. For example, products such as umbrella rigs, sidescan sonar, and many others break into the fishing industry, each one bringing a wave of concern about its impacts. Before any decision about potential regulations can be made, fisheries biologists must first conduct rigorous scientific research to allow us to make a well-informed decision. Some of the first data collected regarding LiveScope usage in Arkansas were collected during the 2019 spring season angler creel survey on Lake Overcup. AGFC staff are also working with university fisheries researchers to analyze the usage of LiveScope (and other technologies, such as sidescan and downscan sonars) at multiple locations across the state to help determine if anglers using LiveScope are more successful. Researchers are also investigating the potential long-term effects of specifically harvesting larger crappies from a population at a faster rate.
?
The good news here is that crappie populations have a very high "turnover" rate. In Arkansas, the average crappie population has an annual mortality rate (amount of fish that do not survive to the next year) around 65%. The average crappie only lives about 3-4 years, in Arkansas, and they are very prolific spawners. Therefore, even if it is determined that LiveScope is having a negative effect under current regulations, it will take crappie populations very little time to recover after AGFC passes any potential new regulations deemed necessary. The bottom line is that AGFC fisheries biologists are evaluating LiveScope, along with anything else that may potentially affect the fisheries of Arkansas, and with due diligence will propose appropriate, scientifically defensible regulations if they are determined to be necessary to conserve the fisheries of Arkansas for future generations.




Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Thanks Matt, very informative Artical. I’m sure the same holds true for most states out there. For sure it’s not just a Arkansas issue or point of concern.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cray

Thanks Matt, very informative Artical. I’m sure the same holds true for most states out there. For sure it’s not just a Arkansas issue or point of concern.

---

You are correct Cray. I’m sure multiple states fishery agencies are looking at this.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

I know many will not agree with me, but having grown up in another state, I appreciate all that AGFC has done for fish populations, public access, etc. Government agencies are never perfect, but this is a step in the right direction IMO.

Thanks for sharing!

All the guys I know sure have been catching more and larger Crappie since they started using livescope .

Several things to look at here. and yes I am guilty of owning one. 90% of the time I am using 1 12 pole, but if I am needing fish, I am not above adding couple of more poles. I am seeing bigger crappie this year but less fish also. The boat companies are doing good business, at least I've never saw this many people on the lake. Wonder sometime if we see other ways to cut down need to go back to 20 fish, plenty of fish for a normal family. I will abide by the rules but can see 8 poles sticking out of one boat could do as much as one or two with livescope. Nobody wants to not fish the spawn but look at the eggs and size of females we take out of production. Just my opinion

I found comment that 65% of crappie population turns over annually to be interesting. Similarly heard a bassmaster angler mention on podcast that approximately 60% of bass turn over yearly as a point stating major league fishing format of “saving bass” is really nonsense.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Thanks D10!
I too found the 65% amazing.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

If you fish the “Big Four “ in MS, you can’t keep a fish smaller than 12”. These lakes get a lot more pressure than anything in AR and they keep producing year after year. Just because a few vocal fishermen catch fish using Livescope, you can’t assume all fishermen using it do so. My observation is that 10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish, most of the time. A high percentage of crappie are more pelagic and stay in open water where the bait schools are, so this doesn’t lend itself to Livescope so much. Respect limits and let AGFC manage the fisheries and we’ll be fine.