2013 Lake Conway Crappie Assessment

I recently fininshed analyzing the 2013 Lake Conway trapnet data. We use the data collected to assess 5 aspects of a crappie population (density, growth rate, age structure, size structure, and recruitment). This year Lake Conway scored a 92.5 out of 100 in the assessment. This is the highest and second time Lake Conway has scored this high. Here is a brief summary of the assessment.

Density
-On average we captured 36 crappie/net night. This is in the range of an ideal density.

Growth Rate
-The mean length of a 2.5 year old crappie was 12-in. Most years on Lake Conway, the mean length of a 2.5 year old crappie is around 10-in. Growth has been EXCELENT! Our theory is that this is due to the extremely low water we had in the summer of 2012. This allowed the surviving crappie to fatten up and grow fast.

Age Structure
-14.5% of the crappie sampled were 3.5 years or older. This is slightly higher than most years.

Size Structure
-61.8% of the crappie sampled were greater than 10-in. Same explination as for high grwoth rate (low water in 2012). In a normal year we see less than 40% are great than 10-in.

Recruitment
-The averaged 13 young-of-year crappie per net. This is normal. Good production in Lake Conway!

Lake Conway's crappie population is in good shape. I predict that 2014 will be another good year!:biggrin

Thanks for the update and all that you do D10.

Thank you for the info. Interesting. So all of the fish I catch which are normally 7 to 8 inch how old are they?

Thanks D10 them some nice numbers for conway. I like the part " fatten up and grow fast."

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Originally Posted by shawnh

Thank you for the info. Interesting. So all of the fish I catch which are normally 7 to 8 inch how old are they?

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Shawn - this time of year a crappie that is 7-8 iches was born last spring (2013).

Thanks for the Report and all that you do D10.

Thanks for the Info Matt. I was wondering if you had any info on how many crappie on average there is per surface acer for Conway.

That is good information. Looks like Russ has not hurt them that bad!

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Originally Posted by CrappiePro

Thanks for the Info Matt. I was wondering if you had any info on how many crappie on average there is per surface acer for Conway.

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Russ - we used to be able to estimate that when we did cove rotenone samples. Since rotenone samples have been done away with (ThanksGoodness!), we can no longer estimate density on a per acre basis. All we can do now is compare density caught per net from year to year. I would venture a guess that Lake Conway has a high density per acre relative to most lakes due to its shallow nature and abundant structure. Just a guess though.

Thanks D 10!! Don't need nets!!!! Just ask CrappiePro all the crappie in conway has his name on them after he caught and released them!!! LOL!!!!

Hey if Conway has such good numbers why not increase the limits.

Don't start me.

NO REASON for 30 limit south and 20 north. Should be 30 everywhere. Or 25, split the difference. But I don't get the 20/30 deal, never have. Plus, the line is sorta goofy. 10" minimum statewide (like Texas) would make way more sense to me.

OK, sorry, opinion only. Forgive me.

Matt,

Good info, thanks, is there is web site where these statistics are posted for all of the Game and Fish lakes?

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Originally Posted by gzrglide

Matt,

Good info, thanks, is there is web site where these statistics are posted for all of the Game and Fish lakes?

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Not yet. District Biologists, like myself, are supposed to write a report every year on the lakes they sample. This report would have this kind of information in it. Supposedly these reports will one day be made available on the internet. However, many of us are so busy, there is little time for writing reports. So there may or may not be a report on the lake you are interested in. If the lake was sampled, the biologist would have the data on it. What lakes are you interested in? I will see if I can find something for you.

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Originally Posted by arkansasbowhunter

Hey if Conway has such good numbers why not increase the limits.

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It has to do with an attempt to simplify regulations and the 20/30 split that Buckrub is talking about. I think that one of these years, this will be changed to something state wide. The problem is that biologists in the north don't want to change the creel to 30 and biologists in the south don't want to change to 20. There will probably be a compromise of some kind. In the end the change in creel limit will make some anglers unhappy. The reality of it is that a creel limit has the least amount of impact on most fish populations. Environmental conditions and length limits (to a lesser degree) have a greater impact on the population.

great info D10 thanks the good forecast

Thanks, never understood the limit either. I wouldn't mind seeing statewide or lake limits set instead of the way it is now.

I like the 10 inch limit Idea...but 20 nice keeper plus crappie per person is plenty of fish per person IMO. And I can tell you how hard it can be to catch 20 in a day...let alone 30.

I get that. In fact, that's my point. Most folks will never catch 20. But on those rare days, it should be more than 20 per person. Most of us don't go almost every day.

I don't have the biological data to back that up, it's just an opinion. I just simply don't understand why there are differences. If what you say is true, why is it 30 in the warmest 1/2 of the state?

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Originally Posted by Buckrub

I don't have the biological data to back that up, it's just an opinion. I just simply don't understand why there are differences. If what you say is true, why is it 30 in the warmest 1/2 of the state?

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The "theory" is that the area that has a creel of 30/day is more productive than the area that has a creel of 20/day. This may be true on some lakes, but certainly not all. As I have said earlier, I think that this will change eventually.

Ditto nimrod needs upped too

Thanks for the info. and your hard work . Do you have info on lake Overcup it seems to not be doing much concerning crappie.

Thanks for the report D10! You have been a blessing to us in the crappie world. Continue the good work.

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Originally Posted by fisherguy

Thanks for the info. and your hard work . Do you have info on lake Overcup it seems to not be doing much concerning crappie.

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We did not sample Overcup this year. We sampled it 3 consecutive years (2010
-2012) as part of a study. Overcup scored really well on the assessment in 2010 and 2011. In 2012 the assessment score dipped a bit. We have been having problems with the water control structure leaking water. This resulted in an extended period of low water following the drawdown in 2010 (?). The good news is that it appears that the problems have been fixed and the lake should reach normal level with a little more rain. Hopefully a full lake with stable water levels will benefit the population. We will sample overcup again this coming Fall/Winter. We will have a better idea of where it stands after that. Also sometimes this late winter we plan on adding some habitat to some of the deeper water by the dam. Overcup is a good crappie lake, things should turn around in a year or so.

Thanks D10. I love to here the FACTS as opposed to fantasy. Thanks for all the info.

Cool info! Thanks Matt!!

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Originally Posted by D10

Not yet. District Biologists, like myself, are supposed to write a report every year on the lakes they sample. This report would have this kind of information in it. Supposedly these reports will one day be made available on the internet. However, many of us are so busy, there is little time for writing reports. So there may or may not be a report on the lake you are interested in. If the lake was sampled, the biologist would have the data on it. What lakes are you interested in? I will see if I can find something for you.

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Nimrod and Dardanelle

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

Nimrod and Dardanelle

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I will see what I can find and send it to you. I will be out if the office the rest of the week, si it will probably be next week.

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Originally Posted by D10

Not yet. District Biologists, like myself, are supposed to write a report every year on the lakes they sample. This report would have this kind of information in it. Supposedly these reports will one day be made available on the internet. However, many of us are so busy, there is little time for writing reports. So there may or may not be a report on the lake you are interested in. If the lake was sampled, the biologist would have the data on it. What lakes are you interested in? I will see if I can find something for you.

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Ok, thanks for the response, I didn't have any lakes specifically in mind, just wondering how the state looks overall and what waters around the state looked like they were on the rise or on the decline. I tend to fish in Northeast Arkansas or Mississippi River Oxbows more than anything, decided I needed to broaden my horizons. From reading the forum, it looks to me like Conway gets plenty of pressure with out me adding to the number of folks fishing down there, so was going to look at the numbers for other lakes around the state and hit some that are not mentioned as frequently.

Anyway, thanks for your work on behalf of the sportsmen of Arkansas and so that our grand kids will have a sport to enjoy as they grow up and have kids.

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Originally Posted by gzrglide

Ok, thanks for the response, I didn't have any lakes specifically in mind, just wondering how the state looks overall and what waters around the state looked like they were on the rise or on the decline. I tend to fish in Northeast Arkansas or Mississippi River Oxbows more than anything, decided I needed to broaden my horizons. From reading the forum, it looks to me like Conway gets plenty of pressure with out me adding to the number of folks fishing down there, so was going to look at the numbers for other lakes around the state and hit some that are not mentioned as frequently.

Anyway, thanks for your work on behalf of the sportsmen of Arkansas and so that our grand kids will have a sport to enjoy as they grow up and have kids.

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When I get back to the office on Monday, I will put something together for recent crappie assessments around Arkansas and post it on here. Thanks.

D-10 does a great job!!