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Did anyone participate in the crappie tournament on Greers this weekend? I was just curious what the outcome was like. I think I heard that they were weighing in 10 fish? I also heard that it was a live bait only tournament. I can't hardly believe that one. I was just curious about what size fish were brought in. Thanks.
The live bait only was for boosting sales for minnow farmers in AR. [emoji12]
I think a tourney should allow anything legal. We have lots of great jig companies in AR. also. We are blessed with the best of both worlds.
Weather has put a hurting on the minner farms.
2015 Greenbrier Crappie Tournament
1st Craig Woods / Larry Holland 8.39
2nd Dustin Shaw / Jesse Price 7.92
3rd Eddie Mcpherson/ Nathan Shaw 7.29
4th Brady Hartwick / Bogan Hartwick 7.04
5th Dewayne Skinner / Colby Skinner 7.04
6th Eric Havens / Danielle Havens 6.81
7th Doug Ellison / Chris Fortner 6.09
8th Bobby Tarkington / Justin Shaw 5.72
9th Monty Fortner / Chris Davis 5.39
10th Zach Hartwick / Arron Rimmer 5.31
11th Jesse Ellison Sr / Jesse Ellison Jr 5.07
12th Chip Boudreux /Josh Mcentire 4.60
13th Paul Black / Joe Glover 4.58
14th John mceuen/ Cameron Goad 4.22
15th Gene Earnhart / Ronnie Garrett 4.20
16th MIke Mitchell / Ashley Havens 4.06
17th Jeremiah Rice / James Douglas 3.75
18th Jimmy Havens / Paul Havens 3.43
19th Melton Cotton / Jimmy Cotton 2.94
20th Doug Ward / Josh Ward 2.90
21st Kennieth Leveritt / James Avant 2.89
22nd Rusty Johnson / David Powell 2.56
23rd John Shores / Mike Finton 2.49
I don't think it was a live bait only tournament if so I saw some that could have been disqualified. I think it was a two pole only tournament
Thanks Wayne. Was is 7 or 10 fish?
10 fish so a little over a 3/4 pound average.
Unfortunately that's a good mess of crappie for Greers Ferry. I wish it was more like 15 to 20lbs for 10 fish. Come on D10, get the AGFC to stop putting those hybrids in there and replace them with some fertilizer. Maybe some more nutrients in the water would help all the fish do better.Quote:
Originally Posted by creekslick
I wish we could fertilize Greers but it is cost prohibitive. The cost to fertilize one of our 1000 acre lake is about $30,000. Multiply that by 30-40. The cost would be around 900,000 - 1,200,000 a year for fertilization per year! Also due to the Corps drawing out water for power generation and flood control, the water wouldn't have a very long residence time in the lake.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mac Daddy
As far as no longer stocking hybrids, I don't think hat will ever happen. It is an established fishery and the hybrid anglers wouldn't go for it. However, we are not stoking any predators, including hybrids, until we have an extended high water year and productivity in the lake increases, which will result in better shad production.
I would be willing to bet the area economy would prosper if the lake was stoked with crappie instead of those nasty hybrids. Take the power to be and let them look at the boat ramps at the big 4 in Mississippi then let them look at the boat ramps here. I bet the local business would rather have the crappie.:twocents
WE WANT MORE CRAPPIE!!! WE Want MORE CRAPPIE!!! We WANT MORE CRAPPIE!!! LOL
Might help if the director came from game and fish management instead of enforcement. My opinion-- not trying to put you on the spot, D10.
Unfortunately Greers is not have near the productivity (nutrients, algae production, shad production as the Mississippi Corps reservoirs. I wish is was as productive. You have to have the forage base to have the big fish. Those that know me who how I feel about your other point Wayne. :)
I know where you are coming from on the size of fish here vs Mississippi Matt, but I don't know why you would stock a fish that is not fit for human consumption that eats up all the baitfish in the lake and you have maybe 10% of the fisherman on the lake target them. Beside the fact they are mixing with the whites making a new hybrid. A lake can only sustain so many pounds of fish so lets try to get as many pounds of crappie bass walleye and catfish in here and get rid of hybrids.
Creekslick for president!! I'll campaign for you too, might even contribute to your campaign!Quote:
Originally Posted by creekslick
Maybe it's me but the overall size of Greers crappie seem to be smaller in the last few years. It has not been too long ago maybe four or five years ago and I know I was pulling out abunch of 1-2 lb fish and there were plenty of hybreds in there then also. So why the decline in size? Over fishing, steady bait decline, decline in Nutrient's? Maybe Im fishing the wrong spots now days. Maybe a perfect storm of all. My guess is getting the bait fish population too boom, a 10 inch size limit on fish and an aggressive stocking will help get them back up to the average size we all like.
No offence to anyone, but when you see tourney results like this and it only took six lbs to win the CACA tourney last year on Greers. There appears to be a problem. No matter what you think of tourneys they are a good source to look at to see what a lake is producing. And what I am seeing off of Greers right now is a problem in the average Quality/Size of fish and the results we are seeing now... are not the results we would have seen in the recent past for Greers. The lake needs some help for the crappie.
I vote for more crappie and less hybrids!!!
Here is our theory of what is going on right now. I say theory because we are still collecting data, building models, and analyzing data. Because we had a record breaking high water year in 2008 (gage height and duration) followed by another high water year in 2009, Greers saw a boom in all species produced in the lake (forage and predators). Following this we have had 6 low water years out if 7. This has caused a big hit in the forage. What Greer needs is an extended high water year to boost productivity and the forage base again. Stocking more crappie wouldn't help the problem of no forage. A minimum length limit wouldn't be appropriate for Greers either due to slow growth and lower exploitation. Minimum length limits only work when you have really good growth and the majority mortality is due to harvest an not natural causes. While the forage base is down, we will not be stocking anyone predators. We have talked about stocking shad through the nursery pond but to be honest, this would at most only help the immediate area closest to the pond. Also, if we do stock threadfin shad (the preferred forage fish) we would need to budget for them an buy them. Due to issues with raising shad, AGFC does not grow them on the hatchery. But this is something we are looking into.Quote:
Originally Posted by CrappiePro
The fact of the matter is that a Hybrid fishery has been established on Greers for a long time. We will never be able to quit stocking them all together, but if data indicates that a reduction in stocking is needed, a reduction will made. This is a complex dynamic of Greers and much thought will be needed before any permanent changes are made.
I say the problem with the crappie at Greers is Creekslick!! [emoji12]
Hush gewber
Them little fishies need a place to hide. I saw this in Greeson. The more habitat that was placed, the better the fishing. It will be interesting to see what happens to it now that Jerry doesn't work there any more. I would love to start a habitat program on Greer's if somebody would volunteer to feed Mrs DP and the kids. DP
Feel free to place as many brush piles as you like. The AGFC and USACE has placed hundreds of brush piles in Greers over the last 6 years. We plan to continue this in the future.Quote:
Originally Posted by DRPEPPER
Let's dump a half million hybrids in the Little Red and make it a hybrid fishery and see what the trout fishermen have to say. I thinks its time we say we messed up and try to fix the problem. If they are crossing naturally with the whites then I say we have a problem. Don't stock any for 5-8 years and see if the lake doesn't fix itself. But we can't keep stocking them and no take any out of the lake.
Yall feel free to vent. I have explained it the best I can.
I know the size and numbers are down from what I normally catch.One time while out fishing I saw some birds diving and knew fish where in the area,when I went to the area there where hybrids all around but they were not busting shad,they were busting small crappie.There must have been at least 50 or more small crappie floating on top of the water.Seems the hybrids could not swallow them so the crappie were left damaged and dying,what a sad sight to see!
Crappie eaters!!!Attachment 199514Attachment 199515 Crappie eating machines!!
The Hybrid Carp are definitely a problem. I commend Matt for the hard work and research that he has put into trying to find a solution. I also commend him for being civil in his explanations, as I know he feels the same way as the rest of us. He just has to be tactful on here, so cut him some slack.
Last year, I personally witnessed a months-long LMB stocking effort flow out of the drain pipe of the nursery pond and right into the mouths of thousands of swarming Hybrids. Each one we kept had between 75-150 fingerlings in their guts. Do the math. With an estimated 250K fingerlings stocked, I seriously doubt that any survived. And the stunned brood stock that came out of the pipe was scooped up by Hybrid guides and their clients! They are a problem. I seriously doubt that you will find anyone on this site that will argue that fact.
The shad seem to be almost gone from Greers and no one can explain why ? What I don't understand and never will is , Money is the driving force of most things and I can assure you there is a lot more money spent chasing crappie and black bass at Greers ferry in one year than 10 years of what hybrid fisherman are spending put together . They are not a native fish and shouldn't be in the lake !!! If we want to stock something keep stocking forage like threadfin every year , I bet the rest of the fish will do just fine . I guess I get tired of hearing Greers is not very fertile we can't do anything to make it better . I don't buy the ( we can't do anything to help it ) . The game and fish has the resources 1/8 cent sales tax plus all the millions they just received from gas leases to help a little ! A little help is sure better than nothing . I think D10 is a great biologist but has his hands tied by folks that have been around way to long and have always had a negative attitude toward Greers. Sorry if I stepped on any toes but I get fed up sometimes and have to vent .
Some people like to fish for hybrids.
Some people like to hunt for feral hogs.
Both are killing us.........and neither can probably ever be stopped.
Sad.
Quote:
Originally Posted by faithfularcher
Yeah, but all that fisheries management would interfere with the nature center building program! :yikes
May be time to start a movement for election of commissioners by the sportsmen of this state, instead of appointments based on political donation.
With absolutely no disrespect to D10, but it is my opinion that the whole Hybrid Bass issue is totally political. With the ones who believe that the whole stocking program is somehow justified based on economic benefit to the state economy, if that's the basis, are also the ones who think they make a great fishery for the few, elitist behavior probably of which they belong, who want to fish for them. But, I bet they don't eat them. Therefore, essentially tax the many, for the few, who are also the decision makers, and the means justifies the ends. And D10 is correct they are not going to stop it, anymore than we'll stop the rest of the political corruption that takes from the many and rewards the few, that plagues our nation as a whole. I don't really know anyone who gives a rip about hybrid bass fishing. But I know multitudes who spend incredible amounts of money on fishing for our native species of fish. :twocentsQuote:
Originally Posted by rockmike
The problem might come from who furnishes the Frankenstein fry. Might be someone high up the food chain
"Frankenstein" my new name for hybrid stripe bass
Follow the money.Quote:
Originally Posted by creekslick
Attachment 199741Caught first 30 fish limit on Greers 4-11-15 and they all fit in my dip net
Well that's still pretty good, especially left handed. :Rofl Welcome from Batesville.