TWRA fishing regulations meeting in OCT.

Starting April 30 the TWRA will be taking comments on new or existing fishing regulations. There are quite a few lakes in TN that have either a 15 fish or 20 fish limit for crappie, then there are others that have 30. I would like to see it be either 15 or 20 per angler state wide. I would also like to see the size raised to either 11" or 12", I think the size increase (either) would do more to increase the fish quality and quantity than the first. My example would be the Big 4 in MS, granted our growing season is not quite the same but if we had the new size limit we would have a larger hatch per season and after a couple years numbers of quality fish would also increase. I would say most everyone on here has going to Granada, Enid, Washington or Sardis on there bucket list of lakes to fish. They are all popular for their big 2# plus crappie, it would be nice if my home lake(s) had that same reputation. You can submit your comments at [email protected]. You will need to have fish comments in the subject line.

Have a great day,
Ray

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Originally Posted by rayzor65

Starting April 30 the TWRA will be taking comments on new or existing fishing regulations. There are quite a few lakes in TN that have either a 15 fish or 20 fish limit for crappie, then there are others that have 30. I would like to see it be either 15 or 20 per angler state wide. I would also like to see the size raised to either 11" or 12", I think the size increase (either) would do more to increase the fish quality and quantity than the first. My example would be the Big 4 in MS, granted our growing season is not quite the same but if we had the new size limit we would have a larger hatch per season and after a couple years numbers of quality fish would also increase. I would say most everyone on here has going to Granada, Enid, Washington or Sardis on there bucket list of lakes to fish. They are all popular for their big 2# plus crappie, it would be nice if my home lake(s) had that same reputation. You can submit your comments at [email protected]. You will need to have fish comments in the subject line.

Have a great day,
Ray

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the last meeting i went to they said missippi fish grow faster than tn`s and they thought that a length change wouldnt make a difference.Dont believe you can compare tn to missippi when they grow faster there,but here on ky lake its not uncommon to catch a couple 2lbers or bigger each year,have a friend that caught a 3lber last year.

Keep the East of Nashville lakes a 15 limit. Also go to 11 on the size will be a big plus down the road. JMHO

Each lake is different. Some of the state lakes are over populated and to raise the size to 11 or 12" would make it worse.


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Originally Posted by tenncrappie

Keep the East of Nashville lakes a 15 limit. Also go to 11 on the size will be a big plus down the road. JMHO

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thats what i thought for our area when i went to the last meeting and the bioligest said they didnt believe it would help in our area.They also said drought years had alot to do with poor spawn years and you have a up and down cycle of keeper size fish and everything looked normal.

read a letter couple wks ago regarding this topic. basically saying that the reason for the down years is from the drought and poor fish recruitment from those yrs. it also explained how comparing to miss. lakes wasn't really reasonable because the avg. fish size of a 2 yr old crappie in missippi for the big 4 was basically right around 12" where as on ky lake it is 9.5". the letter was in regards to the big sandy area of ky lake. it also went on to say other methods of population control have been considered like lowering the limit along with setting a limit on the amount of poles an angler uses and even raising the size limit. all lakes will have down years due to mother nature and various factors none of which we can control. btw this was a letter from the fisheries biologist for that area.

Up here the 10 inch size limit on KY and Barkley only work when folks abide by the rules. Many who vacation here could care less about size or creel limits and figure they are spending money so they will keep whatever they want to. Our F&W is so understaffed folks know their chance of getting caught are somewhere just above nill.

I like to see a change on Ky lake, maybe reduced the limit down to 15. Its been the toughest year ever for me on the lake. I have had to fish reelfoot more than usual to put fish in the freezer.

I'm no marine biologist and understand the growth rates differ, but eventually we will start catching bigger fish and more of them. I also understand all lakes are not the same, 11" or 12" may not work on all lakes but would like TWRA to try it on the ones they think would be good candidates. Size restrictions has worked on other species. I think the important thing is to make a comment, however you feel, its our fishery and we have opportunity to voice, I don't know how many other states get that opportunity.

Great discussion!

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Originally Posted by CRAPPIECON

read a letter couple wks ago regarding this topic. basically saying that the reason for the down years is from the drought and poor fish recruitment from those yrs. it also explained how comparing to miss. lakes wasn't really reasonable because the avg. fish size of a 2 yr old crappie in missippi for the big 4 was basically right around 12" where as on ky lake it is 9.5". the letter was in regards to the big sandy area of ky lake. it also went on to say other methods of population control have been considered like lowering the limit along with setting a limit on the amount of poles an angler uses and even raising the size limit. all lakes will have down years due to mother nature and various factors none of which we can control. btw this was a letter from the fisheries biologist for that area.

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Exactly what the biologist said at the last meeting I attended

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Originally Posted by rayzor65

I'm no marine biologist and understand the growth rates differ, but eventually we will start catching bigger fish and more of them. I also understand all lakes are not the same, 11" or 12" may not work on all lakes but would like TWRA to try it on the ones they think would be good candidates. Size restrictions has worked on other species. I think the important thing is to make a comment, however you feel, its our fishery and we have opportunity to voice, I don't know how many other states get that opportunity.

Great discussion!

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What about the increased population of the small fish,I know I caught over 60 fish total last month fishing bigsandy and only had 7 keepers.I have heard reports of people getting 1 keeper out of 20 caught,next few years will probably be good[emoji2]

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This is what I've been saying. I had one day last week where I probably caught 30 crappie that morning and only had one fish over 10" long. I didn't keep that fish either since I was only fishing for fun.

Since I live by the lake I've only been keeping a few here and there to make a meal for the wife and I but I'm sure it's aggravating for folks that that are trying to stock up on some fish.

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Originally Posted by lowe rider

This is what I've been saying. I had one day last week where I probably caught 30 crappie that morning and only had one fish over 10" long. I didn't keep that fish either since I was only fishing for fun.

Since I live by the lake I've only been keeping a few here and there to make a meal for the wife and I but I'm sure it's aggravating for folks that that are trying to stock up on some fish.

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yes, same here we been hitting the lake hard since Feb. keep 1 fish to ever 15 or 20 you catch. we had to of had a bad spawn few years ago i guess

LAGER Fish have moved out of the shallows and are probably gonna spawn in the 5-8 ft range. This is the depth I found them and I got some dandies. I will post a pictur of a male later. The fish were not in the areas I expected to find them. Go scout them out. Water here was around 70* and the females still full of eggs. The fish are on the move. I know where theys ain't.

The above is my guess of course.