How much and how long ?

I know factually crappie shrink in length when they come out of warm water and go into cold water . So how much do they shrink in length and in what time frame is my question ? I have seen some lose an inch easily over night on ice , but I am pretty sure I have seen some lose a half inch or more in just a few hours submerged in ice water . One fish lost well over an inch in about 36 hours in an ice bath .
And one more thing to think about , how much weight do they lose in this condition as well ? A State fisheries guy told me a 1.25 lb. fish was possibly 1.75 lbs. before I iced her for almost 2 days .
Wondering what yawl think ?

:scratchhead:popcorn

I have never measured them after they were on ice over nite but I on my home lake we have a 12 inch size limit and you better not keep one smaller than 12 1/8 inches, if you do and put him on ice before you leave the lake he will be under 12 inches.

We have the 12 inch limit where I fish.....and it reads over 12 ....a 12 will get you in trouble......i do not keep them if they are not over 12 and a quarter inch

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On two different days, my first fish caught was 12 3/8, caught at daylight. Remeasured at around 3:00 PM while cleaning them. After being on ice from from daylight to 3:00 PM, both fish measured 12 1/8. Too close for me. I won't keep one unless it is over 12 3/8.

Lose a 1/4 inch of length on ice in a reasonable amount of time, possibly more the longer they sit (overnight). As far as weight I dunno, if I have a fish I wanna weigh, I do it before it goes on the ice..

Hard to say for sure. But I wont keep a redfish or trout unless it is a solid inch over minimum slot.

I'm thinking you need to clean your fish quicker when your trip is done! :Rofl

1 1/2 to 2 days before cleaning? I get antsy if I'm not cleaning within an hour of getting home:popcorn

We have a "over"10 in length limit and 15 crappie per person. On Norfork lake. We only Keep 10 per person"our self imposed limit" and make sure they are "over" 11 in before putting them on ice and taking them Home no need or Reason to take a Chance.With that being said if you catch a short fish and hook it deep."If you keep it you are breaking the law if you return after killing it you break the law."Wasting".We try our best to revive the fish the best we can.Don't like length limits because of this Law.Good post will be interesting.

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Originally Posted by 6poundtest

I'm thinking you need to clean your fish quicker when your trip is done! :Rofl

1 1/2 to 2 days before cleaning? I get antsy if I'm not cleaning within an hour of getting home:popcorn

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we ice them in slush ice for up to 2 days sometimes ....of course we dont open body cavities when we fillet them but if you keep them in slush they are ok meat wise ..
i almost never clean them the day i ketch them ....fresh fish of the day are a pain to fillet and bleed to much for me ....

12.25" is on the line, after a full day on ice. 12 3/8" is better.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 6poundtest

I'm thinking you need to clean your fish quicker when your trip is done! :Rofl

1 1/2 to 2 days before cleaning? I get antsy if I'm not cleaning within an hour of getting home:popcorn

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I have let them sit overnight on ice for over 40 years with no problems. occasionally 2 days, but not often. get something else to worry about :twocents