New Forum

Birddogs54 had a GREAT idea. He suggested an ask the biologist forum. There are several MO Department Of Conservation Biologists who read this site. Their input and knowledge would be a great asset to Crappie.com.
Please use this forum to ask any questions you may have for the biologists.
If you are a biologist, we would welcome any input you wish to share to help us all become better sportsmen and women and better our stewardship of the outdoors.
Thanks again Birddogs54 for the outstanding idea!!!!

I read an article online about the elk that were brought into Missouri. The article said that some of them had died. Have not heard anything else about it. Have they figured out what caused the deaths yet?

Good idea. Wish I would have taken a pic of the catfish I caught last weekend. It was really different. It had a head like a flathead but had a blueish tint to its dark color but also had some spots on belly like a channel. I am not kidding. If I catch another I will make sure to take pics. Must be the low water levels.

X2 Yeah good idea!

good addition, thanks

birddog don't be shy just come out with it. excellent idea and thanks you 2. speck is no.1 in my black book.

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Originally Posted by perchplucker

Good idea. Wish I would have taken a pic of the catfish I caught last weekend. It was really different. It had a head like a flathead but had a blueish tint to its dark color but also had some spots on belly like a channel. I am not kidding. If I catch another I will make sure to take pics. Must be the low water levels.

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spawning male channel? I definately am not the biologist, but I have caught a few recently, too. there heads swell up some and they tend to take on a darker color.
this forum is a great idea. I am anxious to see what questions get posted here!

Is it safe and or legal to transport crappie from a lake to a 30 pond, im building a home on a 35 year old 30 acre pond-it has bass bluegill and catfish to my knowledge. Im not sure if there are crappie in there havent caught any yet. Its 15-20 feet deep and not alot of structure. I will be adding structure soon.

Nevermind about the above i cuaght some crappie last night!

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Originally Posted by SLABMAGNET

Nevermind about the above i cuaght some crappie last night!

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glad you caught some in your pond. But I do believe it is illegal to catch fish at a public lake and release them into a private one

Hi all, i guess I'll introduce myself to start this off.... My name is Tory Mason, and the fisheries management biologist up in the far NW corner of MO. i am housed in the NW regional office in St. Joe. I cover Andrew, Holt, Atchison, and Nodaway Counties...Mozingo Lake is in my area, as well as some smaller impoundments that might be of interest. We also take care of Smithville out of the NW regional office, and I know the biologist for it will be signing on soon. We will do our best to answer your questions, or try to find the answer for you, especially for specific lake questions. Please be patient with us, we will sometimes not be able to get to your questions right away if we are doing field work, etc. Great site, with a wealth of information, and my hopes are that we, through this thread, can help you out. Thanks!

Welcome, TMason! Looking forward to your input...whether you're wearing your biologist hat or your fisherman's hat! Good to have you aboard.

Welcome Tory. Glad to have you on Crappie. Com. Great bunch of folks here. We really appreciate your input.

Hello everyone, I too will take this opportunity to introduce myself.... My name is Eric Dennis, I am a fisheries management biologist in NW MO. I work out of the NW regional office in St. Joe. I am the Fisheries Bilogist for Smithville Lake, as well as some smaller impoundments in Buchanan, Clinton, and Ray Counties. I work with a good group of biologist in the NW Region and we will do our best to answer your fisheries related questions. As TMason said, Please be patient with us, we will try to answer your questions in a timely manner but field work may take us away from the computer for several days at a time. Thank you all for the opportunity and I look forward to trying to help out!!

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Originally Posted by DMW1960

I read an article online about the elk that were brought into Missouri. The article said that some of them had died. Have not heard anything else about it. Have they figured out what caused the deaths yet?

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Some info to share related to MO Elk -

Excessive heat and drought conditions coupled with the stress of capture and transport from Kentucky are the likely contributing factors.

http://www.missourinet.com/2012/08/01/tests-could-show-if-elk-deaths-are-drought-related/

Welcome Eric!!! We're glad to have you. Thank you for your input. We really appreciate it!!!

Welcome Eric and Tory. You will be a great addition to our group. I look forward to the information you all can provide us to learn more about our fisheries.

Forgot to add Tory and Eric that if you need anything from us on here let me or Speck know we will try and help you out.

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Originally Posted by buzzmanmo

birddog don't be shy just come out with it. excellent idea and thanks you 2. speck is no.1 in my black book.

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Never been accused of being "shy"....lol. Give it a little bit and I believe you'll see more of the MDC biologist on the site.

Hello everyone! My name is Matt Engel. I am also a Fisheries Management Biologist in the NW Region of Missouri. I am responsible for many small lakes east of St. Joseph, and I have some Missouri River responsibility. I will try my best to answer what I can or get an answer for the questions you post here.

Welcome to the board Matt. We are glad to have you and look forward to your input!!

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Originally Posted by Speck

Welcome to the board Matt. We are glad to have you and look forward to your input!!

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X2. Great having you guys on here to help put a little science or past studies to work answering some of our crazy questions.

This question is for Matt Engel since you work the missouri river. Are we missing catching some big crappie if we don't fish the rivers and only the lakes. I know you guys get to shock and see whats out there and always thought i should be fishing the river a little more. Thanks for answering our questions.

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Originally Posted by LSL Angler

This question is for Matt Engel since you work the missouri river. Are we missing catching some big crappie if we don't fish the rivers and only the lakes. I know you guys get to shock and see whats out there and always thought i should be fishing the river a little more. Thanks for answering our questions.

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The best place to find crappie along the river is in backwater areas with slow moving or slack water, or in blue holes (scours/ponds flooded or dug out by the river during a flood year). The main channel or side channels can be really tough places to find crappie, but blue holes and backwaters can produce large numbers of large crappie (12-16"). Oxbow lakes can definately be reinvigorated during flood years as well. Big Lake (oxbow) here in St. Joe, MO has a good population of crappie 12+", but you have to fish through schools of gar and white bass to get them.

Thanks for the reply, i heard of guys catching some nice ones in the blue holes.

Thanks for the extra work Bill! Actually this will make things easier for us. Tory, Eric and Matt are great guys and you folks will enjoy their input. I've been around the site for a while and will continue to offer my 2 cents when appropriate.

Wanted to thank all the new guys for there input and its nice to hear from you to Jake!!!!!!!!!!!