Managing our crappie: Time for change? - News - The Lake News Online - Camdenton, MO
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Thanks for sharing. Very good read and information. I have hunted and fished in at least five different states and Georgia does not do enough to protect our Natural Resources for future generations. IMHO. Lake Sinclair should have a 9 inch limit and Oconee should have a 10 inch limit. Cuz and I have caught over 300 crappie in one day at West Point just to have 60 keepers. Either raise the limit to 45 per person at West Point or go to a 9 inch limit at West Point. I do not even need to get started about deer hunting regulations and season dates.
I have a personal 9 in limit in my boat.Quote:
Originally Posted by EARL KITCHENS
I would really like to see a 9 inch slot statewide (like Alabama) or a 10 inch slot on crappie at least at Oconee and Blackshear (with a 15 fish limit on Blackshear, since its a small lake). Do that and those two lakes would rival alot of popular lakes in other states that are heavily managed. But I doubt we will ever see it in this state due to the DNR's lack of concern on managing our natural resources .
I would like them to pick one lake and try it. To me you don't want to change it state wide until you see how it goes. I think Eufaula or Oconee would be great lakes to try a length limit on. Another reason I am kinda against it is because we need to get more kids interested in fishing especially young ladies. Kids like to catch fish and they want to keep them (they want to keep all of them, LOL) and eat them. To get kids interested you have to let them keep a bunch of fish and hopefully have a good day fishing because they love catching them. It is very hard to compete against video games and smart phones. I think we are in a battle for our outdoors and for hunting and fishing. Sorry but to preach further, once they ban guns in the years to come they are going to try to end all hunting and then once they end hunting they will go after fishing. In the long run I think it is going to be ladies that make the difference in us being able to keep our guns, and hunting and fishing continue to be enjoyed by future generations. The woman are going to make the difference in their voting and their voices speaking out. Just my opinion and not really worth much.
I think ga needs to build another lake just for crappie fishin. And no bass tournaments or jet skis!!!!!!! White perch rules!!!!
We use the 10" rule on oconne. I would love to see them try it there. I wonder how long it would take to see catching a 3 pounder as common as catching a 2 pounder nowadays
I agree we need to have a size limit on our Ga lakes. Look at Lake Talquin's 10 inch limit and 25 per person a day. Talquin is about 225 miles from us an worth the drive to catch good quality slabs. We went to Lake Oconee on Saturday and heard a guy shout to another boat "I Sure hope that the game warden don't show up" . There was at least 30 boats in that area at the time but he didn't seem to care who heard him. We fish for a couple of hours around the 2 guys and they was still catching fish when we left. That's what bothers me !!! If people would obey the rules and limits our lake would be in alot better shape.
Every state around us has changed regulations on crappie. I have called the DNR myself and have had numerous conversations about making change's. I think we need change's to some of our lakes. They told me that the more people to call in the better of it getting done. I would like to see the future of our resource's preserved for generations to come. I have set a personal goal myself, heck I went to Oconee this past Thursday and caught 47 and threw everyone back and it wasn't because they were not big enough to keep.
Outlaw, I have heard the same thing at Oconee and I wrote his registration number down and called the DNR. They met him at the ramp later that day when he came off the lake.
The problem is like yesterday when we went to Weiss. There were 4 guys under a bridge catching them left and right. I never saw them throw a fish back. We caught nearly 50 and didn't keep half that many because they were 9.5 or so inches. If they make a rule they need to keep enforcing it. I have a personal 10 inch size limit in my boat unless it's a fish that swallows the hook and I know won't make it. I'd love to see Oconee with a 10 inch size limit and it would help if half of the fishermen followed the rule. Alabama didn't put a 3 rod per person rule and 10 inch size limit on Weiss for nothing. It was getting fished so hard and with the fluctuating water level in the spring put a hurting on it. It would have to be done on lakes that can support it though. If you put a size limit on a lake with poor baitfish populations I think it would result in overpopulated fish with stunted growth.
Danbo: That's some great information....but It does spell out the pro's and con's doesn't it! People ask me all the time about that when I'm guiding and my usual answer is ...I DON'T KNOW! Too many fish to bait ratio...= small fish...... My customers keep alot of crappie...I encourage them to throw back smaller fish...but it's their call...I don't want to hurt myself either!... I've caught my fair share of 2lb+ crappie at oconee, But I doubt I'll ever see a 3lber! We have some of the best crappie anywhere due to Oconee's structure and massive amount of shad....But is it enough shad to go with a 10" limit? Lord knows the stripers and Hybes are rough on em!... Then there's the enforcement issue...If the state can't man the waters enough...You'll have the violators out there with no worries! I don't even go to Sinclair to fish...lack of cover and bait there has made for smaller crappie on the average than Oconee. Ask this million dollar question to 100 fishermen or heck...even Biologists for that matter....you'll get more opinions than we can digest!
I know several people that would rather eat a six inch fish than a big one. People talk about catching a hundred and two hundred a day and keep twenty. I would hate to make a child turn back their first fish because the thing was not filletable . OR throw away a good eatin fish because it swallerrd a hook. I am for the meat. If I get 30 fish six inches long, I'm goin home to graze! Just like a deer, 150 lv deer is what it is. I want the meat and other people like the bone! Please leave me the 9.5 inch fish this year.
Quote:
Originally Posted by swamper4
AND THAT'S A GOOD POINT...I ALWAYS REMEMBER WHAT ANDY 1 COVE SAID TO ME ONE DAY...LET'S KEEP THE LITTLE ONES...MOMMA LIKES THEM!
SOME FOLKS LIKE THE LITTLE WHOLE FRYERS AND SOME OF US LIKE THE 12"+ FOR THE FILET TABLE! ...I HATE SCALING FISH! WHAT A MESS!
AND FOR ANYONE THAT DOESN'T KNOW THIS...ICE EM DOWN FOR AWHILE AND WHEN YOU CLEAN EM....HARDLY ANY BLOODY MESS AT ALL!
I have kept smaller fish for older people I know. They want little fish to eat whole. They are from the old days and that is what they like. I respect their wishes because they are my elders and they deserve respect. They are so happy to get the fish I clean whole for them. They can't fish anymore or do much of anything else so anything I can do for them is a Blessing.
i also have a neighbor that is in a wheel chair . i keep some for her . she likes any size especially the small ones . if i have time and feel like it i will clean them and some times when i cook fish i will be sure to cook extra for her .
A 10" size limit on any lake I fish wouldnt be a problem to me. My wife likes fillets and anything under 10" is just too little to fillet. I usually keep six or eight 12" fish to fillet for the 2 of us. Now that said...I do like a mess on the bone from time to time so every blue moon or so I'll keep me 5 or 6 fish that are 9" or so long for that.
I prefer fish 10-12" for eating. Try to turn the big ones back, to make more fish for us.
My boat has had a 10 inch limit in it for the past 30 years. When I came from Florida I brought the limit with me. I think the state should adopt a 10 inch limit state wide and a 25 fish per boat limit
WELL THERE YOU HAVE IT FOLKS ...SO THERE IS NO NEED TO BRING THIS SUBJECT UP AGAIN FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS!!!!! AND BY THEN WE WILL LET YOUR GRAND KIDS TELL THEIR OPINION WHEN THAT TIME COMES, AND BY THEN I WILL BE SO OLD THAT I'LL TELL THEM WHAT YOU ALL SAID IN 2016 AND EVERY YEAR BEFORE 2016 THAT I HAVE BEEN ON THE FORUM AND SEE HOW THEY FEEL HAVING PEOPLE SPEWING THEIR OPINIONS AROUND ABOUT KEEPING THIS ONE THROWING THAT ONE BACK....COME ON PEOPLE YOU ALL ARE HURTING THIS FORUM WITH ALL THAT COMPLAINING THAT'S A FACT...QUIT WHINNING I LOVE FISHING JUST AS MUCH AS THE NEXT GUY AND PROBABLY EVEN MORE AND I DIDN'T ALWAYS HAVE A BOAT. I CARE ABOUT THE FISHING AND REALLY HOPE THESE WATERS CONTINUE TO PRODUCE YEAR AFTER YEAR...BUT ALL THIS BACK AND FORTH IS CAUSING PEOPLE TO WANT TO LEAVE THE FORUM I'M NOT MAKING THIS UP THIS IS A FACT AND WHEN THEY DO YOU AINT GOING TO HAVE NOBODY TO PREACH TO OR THEY ARE GOING TO AVOID YOU ON AND OFF THE WATER..NOW THAT I HAVE SAID IT IF YOU DON'T LIKE ME THATS FINE, I THINK I SPOKE FOR QUITE A FEW OF THE MEMBERS AND AN UNTOLD NUMBER OF LUKERS.
Quick, I just don't worry about these kinds of posts. I will keep what I want to eat. I will give a few to my neighbor (they like 6-8 hand size or smaller). and keep some for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by quick
As stated in some of these posts, people have self-imposed limits. Those are not my limits.
I have learned the picture police always want photos with reports, and have been called out for not posting at times. I will post them when I remember to take them. Bottom line is, I know what I caught. If some CDC members post false reports, that's on them.
This has been a great support group for a number of CDC members.
Life is way too short to stress about this kind of stuff.
This was just an FYI post.
I'm sorry don't know what got into me...just rebounding from a nightmare where I had to release 30 crappie all over 2lbs the day after I dreamed I could not keep anything under 1lb :dono
We need to get together and have a group hug with CDC members.:cheers2:biggrinQuote:
Originally Posted by quick
we can do that at the blackshear get to gather .you all come join us will have a low country boil Friday night and a fish fry Saturday . April 8 and 9 th Georgia veterans state park . some will be camping and some will just attend all memebers and friend will be welcome just need a head count so PM me ig you are coming and how meany .