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With all the primary CdC members from
around a 35 -50 mile radius of Leesburg,
why is there no reports of fish being caught
or pictures of follow lakes:
Apopka - Yale - Eustis - Dorr and
Panasafkee ??????
Monroe - Griffin - Dora seem to be in spot
light but no the above.............
All the bait places say the fish are biting(they sell bait). Yale=shallow canal, Dorr=no one wants anyone else to know about it(some nice ones being caught, Griffin=5 trips 6 fish., Apopka=????---shu
I think Shuorc has nailed it. Lake Eustis and most of Harris Chain can be good during the spawn, but probably not many huge slabs being caught. Dorr can be a nice lake, but smaller fish the last couple of years for me. Lake Apopka is intriguing, but I always hear the same thing...polluted and still hasn't fully rebounded. Lake Yale I hear is super low for some reason...I heard that just a couple of weeks ago.
3 yrs back we fished lake Dorr and it produced nice fish, than entrance at Ocala
Natl became to run down and shallow to launch...
Have also heard that Lake Yale can & does produce some nice spec's but entrance
is too shallow to launch.
Eustis - looks nice, has great boat ramp..... but no one says anythng about it ???
Apopka & Panasofkee - never hear anything about them....! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! !
Kinda sad that Middle area around Leesburg looks like a fishing magnet......
Kissimmee chani has gone kinda down hill last couple years, could be amount of
pressure being put on it and or all the spraying to fight hydrillia, fish are eating the
pellets and becomming ill, or pellets killing off lower part of food chain and stunting
growth cycle ????
Walk-in-Water not effected as much due to hydrillia being blown out of water due to
hurricanes of 2005 and has returned as heavy. Arbuckle also is not as heavy in
hydrillia, pan fish are very healthy and large - Pressure is very low also.
I would just guess it is because nobody is either catching fish there or not fishing there at all...if the fish were doing good there, I am sure it would be posted by someone...Just my :twocentsQuote:
Originally Posted by fishin813
Crescent seems to be Red Hot ticket now............but than again that lake produces
year around quality fish, believed to be attributed to influx of seafood from St Johns
and its own various available food sources....
Lake George is another lake with influx of Seafood from St. Johns, however, it is not
talked about hardly at all..........
Is this because lake of pressure or ?
Harris has not been good for several years.To early to know this year. Hope it rebounds soon.
Sometimes you wonder if a as they say a "lake goes through slow year or 2 - 3
low sponds and than a year of good sponning that will take 3 -4 yrs to show how
good it was" What caused that ??? too much pressure, too many chemicals
dumped into water, drought, to much rain.??????????????
Have sent these same questions to Marty Hale, FWC bio man for Central Florida
region... Will forward his response when i receive
This is just my opinion and I certainly hope I don't get bashed for it.....I think all the poor fishing in the lakes mentioned, as well as Monroe, are getting or have been slammed for several years. Maybe a statewide size limit or slot and a reduced bag limit would make things better. All these lakes hold big fish it's just that some hold more of them. I don't thinks its environmental...I believe it's the harvest. Again....just my opinion.:twocents Thanks Harold for giving us something to think about today.
It's really strange that after hydrilla and spraying the fishing turns sour, is it loss of habitat or food???--shu
i can't but more agree with you 150% Mike as i have watched at Kissimmee, people come
in each fall - mid November, and fish every day till first week in April and then go home
with cooler after cooler of filets - i mean 12 -14 collers in back of pickups...........
One of these which moved this past fall because he couldn't catch as many as in
previous years. Sold his mobile and left.....(good for us)
These people have been known to make or build their own fish cleaning stations in
back of mobile homes so as others wouldn't see what size or how many they were
taking. According to FWC, these people cannot be touched if fish is fileted as it
then becomes a frozen food item. However, such as case 2 yrs ago at Grape Hammock when someone dropped dime on some people out of SC that had stored
in their coolers - 2,500 plus fish (shellcrackers) uncut. One of states largest fines,
& confication of equipment. Grape Hammock was upset about this due to these were
"year after year" customers and they probably wouldn't be back. (another good ridance)
To me we don't need these people no matter what or how much they bring to the
economy, they steal more from our state than we can every replace.
Have asked Marty (FWC) man why Fl does not put a 10" limit and 20 fish limit, 2 day
position and regardless of many people on boat or pontoon limit of 100 per day.
Presently FWC working on various lakes on individual basis. The big "O" has 10"limit,
Griffin 10" limit, Medard Resvoir 10" limit......Believe Itenoc in Polk county FWC mangmt has 10 limit and 10" limit. It is based on creel count when shocked of size
and amount per acre sets the limit. Duh !
One added thought: It was mentioned by someone on CdC that when Crappie USA and Crappie Masters national tournaments come to state, that they pretty much "cean
out the lake involved" This is not true: Rule #12 of Crappie Masters specifically
states "that all healthy fish when weighed in will be returned to the lake" Same
holds true for Crappie USA......i do not have rule in hand but will have shortly.
Same holds true for Florida Crappie Club, any competitor may keep or return his
healthy fish to the lake .... In most cases, at time of weigh in, we have a lot of
locals asking ahead of time for our fish for their personal use.
From what I have seen at Talquin this year, not as many 2+ lb fish have beem caught as has been in the past. Just my opinion, but I think too may people are keeping those 10-11 inch fish just to have numbers...I'd love to see the size limit increased to 12 inches on that lake...For example, look at Monroe. Remember when that was the lake that was the talk of the state?? Then they took a size limit off that lake. I don't think anything else has to be said..Unless you want to add Grenada to the discussion that has a 12 inch limit.Is there anyone else out there besides me who would love to spend a few days on that lake??..No need for more about that!! I think it is up to the fishermen and women to do more catch and release to make the lakes with smaller fish turn into lakes with bigger fish. Yes, Crescent is on fire right now with 2+ lb fish being caught and that is bringing a lot of attention to this lake. But unless you practice catch and release like Anchor Man and others are doing, that lake will also fizzle out. There are a few Florida lakes that could compete with other lakes like Grenada if the STATE of FLORIDA would put a few of these lakes on a 12 inch limit and smaller creel limit and force anglers to Catch and Release. I love hearing of folks on here that have had fantastic days catching fish on any lake but it puts a bad taste in my mouth to see folks post pictures of limits of fish and at least 1/2 of them are fish that should have been released...Just my opinion, but Quality over Quantity is what I am fishing for. My freezer or cooler may not be full of fish, but I have plenty for me to eat....Just my :twocents
Well written and expressed TnT...............Thank you..
Also, with the help of web sites such as CdC, National Tournament Organizations,
State & Local fishin clubs - we can lobby the FWC to enact strictor laws and back
them up with fines to deture their breaking. Example: Indiana has various power
plants cooling lakes that they allow fishing on but have enacted rules with harsher
effects than what the state could impose and they back it up. With these rules
fishing these lakes have vastly improved the quality of fish caught. Florida should
think about this more. Sad to know that "night fishing" can be fun but also to the
right people who know that FWC officers aren't around at 3 in morning to check
catch or size limits can be devastating. I not being with FWC am not going to ask
to check someone's live well at 3am and take chance of being shot, and according
to FWC, they must be caught at time of possession not dropping dime on them with
a lic. plate number that can't be followed up with live time frame..........Bummer
i noticed that with the heavy dropping of hydrillia and weed control pellets a few
years back - around 2010 that the bluegill on Kissimmee didn't change their size as
much as they changed in thickness - "meat on the body" they look great but is
nothing there. Bluegill when pellets are dropped onto water will come to surface
and eat them whereas, crappie, shellcrackers and bass are more towards the bottom
part of the lake where in maybe the pellet is more desolved by time it reaches them.
Just a thought - FWC won't get into that one ..........as have asked the question
before.
Love the topic of discussion...I have said it before, crappie fishermen and women are known for, and sometimes out of habit, keeping lots and lots of fish. It is nice to catch a limit, but it is also nice to release them and hopefully catch em again.
I'm repeating my-self, but I'll say it again. The best thing that has happened to Lake Shelbyville in IL. was the 10&10 rule. Thats 10 fish per/day, 10" min. That rule has made a world of difference in size of fish being caught today. The lake is a great crappie lake now. If you get caught with to many or fish to small, the fine is $75/fish. This rule is really needed on the Harris Chain.Quote:
Originally Posted by Speckanator
This is why the same 10 people only post on the FL forum. Please continue and prevent even more crappie fisherman from sharing their reports and pictures. The fact is that most who panfisb keep fish to eat. I joined as a member sponsor to support crappie.com and share my guide trip reports with members and visitors. I try to tell everything I can EXCEPT where I fish, I'm not going to tell folks exactly where to go and how to fish, I spend too much money finding the best locations. But, as of lately witb all the negative comments on keeping fish and throwing anything over 13" fish back I haven't shared any of my reports at all in fear of being bashed even more.
To my knowledge no one has ever bashed you TC... You are considered a complement
to our group and your knowledge the past few years as been very, very valuable.
I personally injoy your daily reports and pictures of your catch. Your thoughts and
help i believe has been very helpful to a lot of anglers. What most of conversation
tonight is centered on size of fish being caught ie: 10in and over. Not keeping
everything that hits the boat. Also amount of fish being taken again 25 is present
limit not 200 if you have 8 guys on a pontoon boat........which is legal. Guides such
as yourself are the examples of what fun fishing and good fishing is about. You are
not only teachers, but instructors on how, when and what to use.
People need to watch you instructional video as posted on CDC.
Promoting Florida, fresh or saltwater fishing is needed but to some degree controlled
to insure the growth for the future.
Harold there have been numerous threads with "all released" underlined and made to stand out along with several knocks on catching a cooler full of fish. The only person I know that has always thrown back large fish is AnchorMan. This talk doesn't bother me, just makes me not want to post my reports. I enjoy this site but it looks like I'm am going to have to wait until I move back to SC (if I do) before I can share pics without offending anyone.
Let it up to someone who thinks the world evolves around himself to take a positive good reading thread and make it a negative.
It is only meant to "encourage" others to release a few big fish, not "bash" TC. I too release most all of the big fish I catch, especially the 2lb. + fish before they spawn.Quote:
Originally Posted by Southern Young Gun
Keep a few to eat throw the rest back for the next trip.............................Just think that some kid may catch that big fish you threw back..................................
At least I haven't resorted to position fake pictures and reports .....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Southern Young Gun
:Rofl :Rofl :Rofl :Rofl :Rofl :deadhorse
The Harris Chain of lakes are still good fishin but you have to work for them. It is not unusual to catch 50 to 75 fish per day ranging in size from 4 to 9 inches. It is also not unusual to catch 20 to 25 fish over 10 inches each trip. I agree that a size limit on every lake in Florida is definitely needed but will probably never happen. 12inch limit would help. Stocking the Harris Chain would also be very helpful and smart. The FWC is constantly stocking bass but nothing else. How dumb is that? Nobody keeps the bass. You can see the biologist on Lake Carlton at least twice per week checking on the bass they have tagged and released. When you ask the biologist about stocking Crappie they tell you that they are so prolific that it is not necessary. When you bring up the point that 10 times more people fish for Crappie than bass and nobody keeps the bass they have no response. Just my thoughts and opinion!
Most people cant catch that many so it is easy to slam somebody that can!!!
From what I have just read, I don't see anyone being bashed or slammed. If I have done that to someone on here, it was unintentional. SYG, the lakes I was mainly talking about were the lakes that you don't hardly go to anyway because of what I originally posted in response to Harold. Those lakes were once really good fisheries and alot of people fished them with without respecting the sport of crappie fishing and that is a top reason you don't see many reports from those lakes. I remember when Kissimmee was an awesome lake and everyone fished the dickens out of it. That along with the spraying for hydrilla has out a major decline in the fish there. Anchor Man is definitely a prime example of a Catch and Release angler. Hooker, Rawhide, 65Pontiac, Speckanator, Chuck Auten, Heavylead, Justfish, myself and many others I fish with also Catch and Release more fish than anyone will ever know. All I am saying is that it is gonna take more than just a few folks to make this thing work and the only way that will happen is to get the State involved. I don't mind seeing pics of a good fishing trip, I encourage it. I post pics too. To be honest, I didn't put the first fish in my freezer from January of this year until November of this year. All fish were given to those that can't fish for reasons they can't help, to friends that didn't catch enough for their fish fry they had planned or they were just released. Heck, I only have 3 quart size freezer bags of fillets in my freezer now (15 fillets/bag). Harold has brought up a good point and I personally believe my response to him is one of the reasons why these lakes are never mentioned. I know that I am one the the "10 regulars" that post on here year around and I wasn't aiming for anyone in particular with my comments. Like you, I spend alot of time and money trying to find and catch fish, I try to give a good report when I have one and I even mention what lake I fished at. That's what it is all about, helping each other. If the only reason someone is posting on here is to advertise a particular business, maybe it should be posted on the Member Sponsor Classified Ads Forum....As Forest Gump would say, "That's all I got to say about that!!"
Careful what you ask for, you might get it. Good speckled perch lakes are cyclical. When people hear they are catching fish at Lake Bluebird they flock to Lake Bluebird. After umpteen boats and people deplete the stock a little and not catch as many, they flock to Lake Quail, where they heard fish are biting, while Lake Bluebird recovers. And so on. If you do not harvest fish the lake will become unbalanced with a lot of small fish with not enough food to get bigger. You start getting the government involved and first thing you know you will be complaining about over regulation. SYG please post your reports they are very enjoyable.
So Yelim...what you're saying is that without fishermen/women, there would be no large crappie? Most crappie would be stunted without us catching them? I understand that lakes can be cyclical, but is that only because of over-harvesting? I do not know the answer. I think someone else wrote on this subject last year and said that nowadays there are more fishermen with better equipment, and the same amount of water for fish to roam. At some point the creel limits will have to be reduced, which seems to be the trend. Somebody please tell me why the limit used to be 100...to 50...and now 25 per person? I cannot count how many times I've talked to old-timers who used to fish all the water around here and they report that fishing used to be outstanding...even in the Harris Chain! :yikes
In a sense, I guess I could be considered an old timer. I remember in the late 70's when a rather large lake here in GA opened up to the public for fishing. The limit was 100 per person then also, (which went to 50, then 30). It was nothing to catch a limit, but there were not hardly any fish over 1/2 lb, an occasional 3/4 lb fish was considered "nice"...I remember the first 1 1/2 lb crappie I caught and I wanted to mount it because I didn't realize crappie got that big. That's when I started getting more serious about crappie fishing and that they actually got even bigger than that 1 1/2 lb trophy fish I caught. Yes, crappie replenish themselves in a lake rapidly but creel limits have increased the quality of fish in that lake today without enforcing a size limit. I personally believe that a size limit could make it even better. A size limit will make fishermen to practice catch and release when under most circumstances they would have kept that 8 or 9 inch fish. Personally, I would rather catch 10 quality fish than catch 30 smaller fish. I'll guarantee you that any tournament fisherman, especially those "serious" ones, want quality. Not all, but most of us fillet our crappie because it is much easier and quicker. I like fillets because I don't have to worry about smaller children, and us older ones for that matter, accidentally swallowing a bone. A 10" fish really isn't much of a fillet, that's why I choose to set my own size limit at 12 inches. I know there are a lot of people that like those fish under 10 inches fried whole but a whole fried 8 inch fish don't really go much further than stinking up the grease once you cut the head off and gut it. I'm getting off subject here but these are just my thoughts. Size and creel limits made Monroe a lake people talked about all over the Southeast a few short years ago. The size limit was lifted and Monroe does not produce the huge fish it once produced consistently. Talquin has a 10" size limit and has been producing quality fish year after year, although this year the 2+ lbers have not been as common which I believe is due to the terrific amount of fishing pressure this lake has suffered over the past 3-4 years. Talquin goes in cycles also. But those pigs will be back in the next year or 2. I just believe creel and size limits, along with catch and release will increase the quality in "most" lakes. It is going to be interesting to see how Lake Griffin will be in the next 5 years...Maybe even Slab catch increase his daily limit from 1 fish a day to 3 fish a day!!
If you do not harvest fish the lake will become unbalanced with a lot of small fish with not enough food to get bigger. If you read my statement I said the body of water needs to be balanced. Someone mentioned the stocking of Bass instead of Speckled perch. The stocking of Bass helps the perch also by helping maintain a balance. A body of water needs a checks and balance system. In my humble opinion they need to stock shad also, in large quanities. !0" and under fish are too small to fillet. I don't keep a lot of fish but I do keep what I want legally and don't like the government telling what I can and cannot do.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crappielover
The next logical question that jumps into my mind is this...prior to humans ever catching the first crappie, did any lakes contain 2, 3, or 4 lb crappie? Were any lakes naturally balanced so that huge crappie existed long, long time ago, before we needed to help them grow? It seems to me that some lakes are very nicely balanced, while others not so much. Some water has a seemingly endless amount of forage, while some smaller land-locked bodies do not. P.S. I'm a small-gov't kind of guy myself. :cheers2
Well you might think I was here before humans were created but I was not. Harold tells me I am older than dirt but dirt was here first. Don't know how big they got "back in the day". I'm sure everything has size limits even in a balanced ecosystem. If not your prey might outgrow and eat you causing an unbalanced food chain. What percentage of population of crappie do you think are caught each year on say Lake Monroe? I don't know but I bet even today it is small.
One can only hope! :cheers2Quote:
Originally Posted by TnT
Have seen what happens to small ponds up North when there is not enough balance
between Bluegill & Bass or Bluegill, Crappie & Bass........When bass are taken from pond
the bludgill propulation goes wild and it becomes stunted, likewise when too many
crappie are taken from pond - bludgill population goes out of sight. Need the pretators
to control population, more bass, bigger the bluegill and crappie in a pond.
Yelim & I found a pond couple years back that you didn't catch many spec's but they
were big girls..as more and more found out about the pond, the large ones were kept
and now majority of lake is mid 8-11 sometimes a 12incher is caught... Too much
pressure on lake and/or people kept too many of the bass as well as spec's ...
Will interesting to see how Lake Medard does in next couple years now that it is under the guidence of FWC, somewhat like Iteneroc in Lakeland.
having fished Shelbyville the limit is now 10 over 10" and 5 under. You are correct about how the regulations have improved the fishing there. Fishinfred from IndianaQuote:
Originally Posted by EJL
http://www.lakecountybass.com/lake-a...s-fishing.html If you read this notice the effect shad has on size of Bass. There should also be large Specks also. Obviously, if there is nothing to eat they will not grow to.
Excellant post Ronnie, good read and makes total sense.
Didn't mention anything about Crappie, but stands to reason Black Crappie should
survive in same water as Bass as they are able to handle to a degree this type of
water.