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The crappie in NEA lake Charles continue to seem stunted since the length limit was put in place several years ago. The length limit was lifted after a few years and there is with no shortage of population. There is currently no limits on crappie, length or quantity. Is there anything else that can be done to improve the average size of fish in the lake?
Tough question. Lake Charles is not in my district and I don’t really know the full story of what is going on out there (I haven’t seen the data) but I have heard about the stunted crappie population. Reducing crappie abundance is difficult. Especially if the lake has a reputation of having only small fish. It is hard to lure anglers in, even though there is no creel or length limit. It is a tough situation. My best advice is to talk to the District 3 Supervisor, Brett Timmons, 877-973-5438. He should be able to more accurately answer your question. Thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by TimberTalker
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Stock lots of Flatheads would help but that usually don't happen .
They have been trying that on Lake Greenlee. We collected brood stock on Lake Conway a few years ago for their project. I haven’t heard if it is making a difference or not.Quote:
Originally Posted by NIMROD
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A fish big enough to fillet out of Charles is far far and few between. I don’t expect anglers to impact the population in the current state. I just know NEA has very few options so I am hopefull there is some kind of plan for Charles along withPoinsett to be repaired and fishable again.
Nea is forgotten part of this state for our great AGFC
There are several flat heads in lake charles but the locals set out boxes and do alot of hand grabbing , sure that hasn't helped the flat head population there either.
I was over Charles for about 4 years. While I was there we did a multi-year population characteristic study looking at many aspects of that population to see if we could improve it. Unfortunately, Charles is plague with high spawning success and slow growth with lead to stunted Crappie population. There should have never been a length limit placed on that population. There is has been other unsuccessful attempts to improve that population over the years. I don't believe things will change until the crappie population is reduced significantly in order to improve growth.
Thanks Jeremy. So it sounds like we will live with an over populated lake until something changes. Is there any other solution to offset the over population other than relying on anglers reduce the population by keeping short fish? Average size is so small I highly doubt many anglers are keeping enough to make an impact even though it would take a bunch to feed an adult.
In a lake the size of charles, sport fishing pressure alone could never affect the population.
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Unless BRM and Nimrod got started on 'em.
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From my viewpoint, the problems with Lake Charles is similar to the problems with all the other local lakes in this area. Each lake has it's own unique problems but share common issues. These lakes cycle from productive to non-productive over a course of time. I've noticed as they age, the cycle is becoming slower to rebound and quicker to crest. Specific to Lake Charles and it's problem with crappie, I think there's a very good argument to be made that the issue is directly related to the lack of predatory fish in the ecosystem. The lack of a healthy population of blue and flathead catfish is taking it's toll. Let me explain a little further. 30+ years ago, the lakes were that much younger with better nutrient levels and a vastly larger amount of structure (trees, bushes, lilly pads, aquatic grass, etc.). All of which helped keep the lakes up-cycle higher and for longer periods. Back then, stringers of large crappie, bream and bass were commonplace. And...the population of predatory fish including sizeable crappie, largemouth bass, blue cat and flathead helped keep the ecosystem in check. Specific to Lake Charles, there was also a time when it had a healthy population of Hybrid white bass in it that were a tremendous benefit to keeping bream and crappie populations in check.
Anyway, over the past decade or two, the changes to the ecosystems have not only included the most visible and notable reduction of timber (structure) in these lakes, but through newer fishing techniques, the apex predator populations have been decimated. Largemouth bass fishing is as popular now as it was 20 years ago. But the average bass fisherman is far better equipped with knowledge and equipment than ever before. Making them much more proficient. Some examples of what I'm describing in regards to bass fishing are Mallard lake (fished extensively by fisherman from near and far following the report of a state record catch), Lake Ashbaugh (large numbers of large fish in both size and stingers during the 80s led to club and benefit tournaments being held every weekend with most of the catches being kept or unsuccessfully returned to the water, following weigh-in.) And Lake Hogue (again, large fish and large stringers led to club and benefit tournaments with low return to water rates). All of what I just described is what turned the lakes' cycle downward. They've all cycled up and down since those days but you get the idea of what I'm describing.
And last but not least is the catfish. 20+ years ago, catfisherman were a different breed. Most used rod and reel. Some used a modest amount of limb lines or yo-yo's. And even fewer would set out a couple of trotlines. Yes, they did catch fish and reduced the overall population to some degree in these area lakes. But today, it's way different. I've personally witnessed one boat on Lake Charles with two men put out approximately 200 "floats" or "noodles" or new style "jugs". Same thing, just different names. And it's common place to see more than one boat running some form of jugs on any of these lakes. Now, ask yourself what the difference in the success rates might be between running let's say two 25 hook trotlines and drifting 60 floats across the lake. The overall population of catfish in these lakes compared to the days of "pre-float" usage is almost non-existent. And, ask yourself this. If two men are using the allowable 30 "floats" each, do you think the 10 fish limit per man is being honored? What if those same two men are running over 100 "floats" and camping out all weekend?
Everytime word gets around that the AGFC has stocked a local lake with catfish, you can bet it will be covered with "floats". Now, before I draw some negative comments on this, let me state. I own some floats. I've even put them out in hopes of catching a few fish. But, I also know for a fact through personal knowledge that these lakes are being fished for commercial purposes.
So what's the solution? I know that Brett is stocking large quantities of shad in some local lake such as Hogue in an attempt to boost growth. I've mentioned that the tilapia stocking program of years ago were very successful but he tells me that the cost of that program has exceeded funding. Limit the lakes to rod and reel only? That would definitely shift the apex predator population up, which in turn would help with the bream and crappie population. But it would surely upset a lot of folks. I don't have all the answers but I'm not sure that all the problem is being identified.
Sliderman you are only allowed 20 free floating (jugs or noodles) devices per fisherman . I used to fish those a lot on Nimrod. But Small bodies of water need more restrictions such as pole fishing only . I see folks spider rigging , jug fishing , trot lining some lakes here that are well under 100 acres and think how much pressure is too much . One small AGFC lake (Kingfisher ) near me has gotten hammered because all our bigger lakes are flooded . I know old folks that bank fish it every year . Fishing has suffered with several boats a day on it and it is not much more than a big pond . Maybe the guys with AGFC should look at restricting types of fishing on these for a better word '' community fishing ponds ''.
I agree.Quote:
Originally Posted by NIMROD
North east Arkansas is one of the few areas of the state without an abundances of crappie streams or large reservoirs. The small AGFC fisheries have gone through various cycles over the past few decades. In my opinion, the NEA Game and Fish lakes have never had the overall quality and quantity for any extended period, compared to similar lakes in central or southern part of the state. I don't know if the problem is a difference in the terrain, fertility of the soil, or slight weather conditions, or possibly the mismanagement of the lakes. One of the other major problems, which has not been mentioned in this thread, are the Asian carp. The carp population have so adversely affected the Mississippi and white river oxbows that it has added significant fishing pressure on other fisheries. Routinely when we lived in Jonesboro we either fished the big four in Mississippi, Horseshoe, or Oldtown but we also had at least twenty five of those oxbows to choose from. I know some people still venture out to duck, dive and weave around the flying fish but I still think the crappie populations have been seriously affected in the old oxbows. This problem needs to be solved before all of our lakes are infected.
The short 'peak' cycles around here are directly related to the fishing pressure / lake size ratio. NEA has a much larger fisherman base than it does water.Quote:
Originally Posted by RLCRAPPIE