How would you feel about min lengths and reduced limits ?

Many complaining about some people catching too many big fish . With all the electronics it has become even easier for some . A few guides posting on facebook about self imposing limits on their trips . Every body of water not created the same . I have a idea that would have much better results . Petition your Game and Fish commision to reduce limits and look at length or slot limits . That way it would cover everyone . Problem solved because not everyone will want to release fish . I know one lake here limit was raised to 30 and locals said it was getting hammered . Plenty of fish but they got limit returned to 20 per day . Since Covid and all the advanced electronics I have never seen our lakes under so much fishing pressure . Even on the best of lakes it takes 2 to 3 years to grow up to 10'' . Must take several more to reach 15'' + . I know some lakes have too many small ones with huge spawns every year . Can't be managed as one size fits all . Look how the Deer hunting regulations have evolved with all the antler restrictions and zones . If that worked on our Deer herd why not with fishing ? I know this is going to be a real controversial subject . Please keep comments civil and be polite .

My personal and humble opinion is the law considered several factors when they created the statewide limit/length. When I see the schools on my livescope I don’t think I’m doing much harm to the population taking some for dinner. If everyone kept limits and had the electronics, maybe that would be more quantifiable. However, on my lake it seems most the guys with the nice electronics are after bass. One thing I often think about is how many crappie must be in my lake, but they were never stocked at any point in time. Pretty cool how a natural population like that can grow!

With great respect,
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I would welcome it here in the Ohio river valley. Most/all lakes here in my home waters including Kentucky & Ohio have qty. & size limits but the river and it's tribs have no size limit. I see way too many people keeping everything they catch. Including some of my own friends. Any questions why & the response is it's legal so it's alright. And according to the law it is, but how much better would the fishery be if they were allowed to grow just a year or two.

I have no problem reducing limit to 20 as I don’t limit often and say “that’s a good mess” after cleaning. Will be interesting to see if lake/ramp traffic returns to normal post covid but I think gas prices have bigger impact and may be heading in that direction too. I can handle crowded water....just can’t handle lack of etiquette.


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yes, i'm new with livescope, haven't ever caught a limit on any trip yet.

i only fish on weekend that i'm off of work, not windy, and my wife allows!

i fish lake ouachita. maybe i'm in the wrong part of the lake for crappie because i don't see many but i see big ones!

i can see what NIMROD is saying. 20 fish is alot to clean and plenty to eat!

In Mo. we have some lakes that allow 9in fish to be kept, I thank a 10in min. should be on any lake and maybe a 12in on some lakes. Most lakes have a 15 fish limit and maybe a 10 or 12 fish limit would help. It is always nice when you can come home with a couple of 12 or 14in fish and as of now 12 and 14in fish are not uncommon but I have never seen the pressure on the lakes as I do now. With the electronics today and more and more people crappie fishing I am thanking it couldn't hurt anything to try this we can always go back if we need to/ JMHO

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Originally Posted by J.M.

In Mo. we have some lakes that allow 9in fish to be kept, I thank a 10in min. should be on any lake and maybe a 12in on some lakes. Most lakes have a 15 fish limit and maybe a 10 or 12 fish limit would help. It is always nice when you can come home with a couple of 12 or 14in fish and as of now 12 and 14in fish are not uncommon but I have never seen the pressure on the lakes as I do now. With the electronics today and more and more people crappie fishing I am thanking it couldn't hurt anything to try this we can always go back if we need to/ JMHO

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We have some lakes that flood ever spring resulting in huge spawns . We have a problem with too many small fish there . One had a 10'' min in place years ago. They found fish were so over populated they just stacked up below the min and slowed growth .

I’m a fan of slot limits on every species. That way you aren’t taking the largest breeding females out of the gene pool. Everybody likes to catch 2# crappie but when that’s all you’re targeting it’s gonna put a hurting on the way prime genetics. Given enough time that’s going to reduce the average size of the catch.

Or by car tag numbers. 1-5 go one day, 6-0 go the next. Either way cuts down on harvest.

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Originally Posted by Gomer Snerd

Or by car tag numbers. 1-5 go one day, 6-0 go the next. Either way cuts down on harvest.

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:Rofl What you smoking ? Some folks just like to fish . I seldom fillet any these days but give them to guys that don't catch. No telling how many we release each year ! :twocents I just like catching lots more than eating fish .:biggrin