AGFC Constant Contact Crappie Article

I wanted to share with y’all an article that we wrote addressing AGFC’s response to LiveScope. This article was sent out to the state wide constant contact email database that I sent y’all a link to sometime ago. You can select the areas or the state you are interested in hearing about or you can select all of the areas, like I did. Enjoy!


Seeing crappie more clearly

Over the last several months, anglers have approached fisheries biologists around the state with their concerns about the potential impacts of LiveScope sonar technology on crappie populations. But rest assured, anglers are not the only ones who have recognized the potential increases in angler efficiency that this technology could provide. Fisheries biologists across the nation have been discussing this topic for a while. Additionally, members of the AGFC Statewide Crappie Management Team have also been discussing and investigating this technology for the last few years.

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Garmin LiveScope Image of a school of crappie hanging out under a dock.
?Photo courtesy of Crappie.com - America's Crappie Community.

As with any new technology comes warranted and/or unwarranted concern about its potential effects on fish populations. For example, products such as umbrella rigs, sidescan sonar, and many others break into the fishing industry, each one bringing a wave of concern about its impacts. Before any decision about potential regulations can be made, fisheries biologists must first conduct rigorous scientific research to allow us to make a well-informed decision. Some of the first data collected regarding LiveScope usage in Arkansas were collected during the 2019 spring season angler creel survey on Lake Overcup. AGFC staff are also working with university fisheries researchers to analyze the usage of LiveScope (and other technologies, such as sidescan and downscan sonars) at multiple locations across the state to help determine if anglers using LiveScope are more successful. Researchers are also investigating the potential long-term effects of specifically harvesting larger crappies from a population at a faster rate.
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The good news here is that crappie populations have a very high "turnover" rate. In Arkansas, the average crappie population has an annual mortality rate (amount of fish that do not survive to the next year) around 65%. The average crappie only lives about 3-4 years, in Arkansas, and they are very prolific spawners. Therefore, even if it is determined that LiveScope is having a negative effect under current regulations, it will take crappie populations very little time to recover after AGFC passes any potential new regulations deemed necessary. The bottom line is that AGFC fisheries biologists are evaluating LiveScope, along with anything else that may potentially affect the fisheries of Arkansas, and with due diligence will propose appropriate, scientifically defensible regulations if they are determined to be necessary to conserve the fisheries of Arkansas for future generations.




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Thanks Matt, very informative Artical. I’m sure the same holds true for most states out there. For sure it’s not just a Arkansas issue or point of concern.

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Originally Posted by Cray

Thanks Matt, very informative Artical. I’m sure the same holds true for most states out there. For sure it’s not just a Arkansas issue or point of concern.

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You are correct Cray. I’m sure multiple states fishery agencies are looking at this.


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I know many will not agree with me, but having grown up in another state, I appreciate all that AGFC has done for fish populations, public access, etc. Government agencies are never perfect, but this is a step in the right direction IMO.

Thanks for sharing!

All the guys I know sure have been catching more and larger Crappie since they started using livescope .

Several things to look at here. and yes I am guilty of owning one. 90% of the time I am using 1 12 pole, but if I am needing fish, I am not above adding couple of more poles. I am seeing bigger crappie this year but less fish also. The boat companies are doing good business, at least I've never saw this many people on the lake. Wonder sometime if we see other ways to cut down need to go back to 20 fish, plenty of fish for a normal family. I will abide by the rules but can see 8 poles sticking out of one boat could do as much as one or two with livescope. Nobody wants to not fish the spawn but look at the eggs and size of females we take out of production. Just my opinion

I found comment that 65% of crappie population turns over annually to be interesting. Similarly heard a bassmaster angler mention on podcast that approximately 60% of bass turn over yearly as a point stating major league fishing format of “saving bass” is really nonsense.


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Thanks D10!
I too found the 65% amazing.


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If you fish the “Big Four “ in MS, you can’t keep a fish smaller than 12”. These lakes get a lot more pressure than anything in AR and they keep producing year after year. Just because a few vocal fishermen catch fish using Livescope, you can’t assume all fishermen using it do so. My observation is that 10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish, most of the time. A high percentage of crappie are more pelagic and stay in open water where the bait schools are, so this doesn’t lend itself to Livescope so much. Respect limits and let AGFC manage the fisheries and we’ll be fine.

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Originally Posted by Redge

Thanks D10!
I too found the 65% amazing.


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On Lake Conway it is generally around 70% of the White Crappie die in a year!


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Originally Posted by rockmike

If you fish the “Big Four “ in MS, you can’t keep a fish smaller than 12�. These lakes get a lot more pressure than anything in AR and they keep producing year after year. Just because a few vocal fishermen catch fish using Livescope, you can’t assume all fishermen using it do so. My observation is that 10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish, most of the time. A high percentage of crappie are more pelagic and stay in open water where the bait schools are, so this doesn’t lend itself to Livescope so much. Respect limits and let AGFC manage the fisheries and we’ll be fine.

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Last year on Lake Overcup during the spring angler creel survey, 16% of crappie anglers were using LiveScope. I bet it was higher this spring.

Although I do not have a LiveScope unit, I have talked with a lot of anglers who do have one. I think they are pretty effective in open water, if you know what you are doing. I believe this is how the tournament guys are catching the large fish. They are searching open water for slabs and chasing them down with the LiveScope. I could be wrong about that though.


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There is definitely a big increase in LiveScope users. But, there are a lot of anglers that still struggle to use them efficiently. I think creel and length/slot limits would be possible options to look at if there is significant impact. I would hate to see anything happen to LiveScope usage as I have witnessed first hand how our younger, technology dependent, youth have really taken to LiveScope fishing. I watched a 14 year old young man that couldn't stay off his cell phone texting during a camping trip. His Grandpa was so aggravated about it. I put him up in front with the LiveScope fishing and the phone never came out! He had a blast and couldn't wait to go back out. He even went out, just him and my son, for a very successful night fishing LiveScope trip.

I have caught a lot of fish and kept them for a fish fry. I have also caught a lot of fish, cleaned them, and given them away to others who do not or cannot go fishing for themselves. I have also caught a lot of fish and felt real good about pitching them back in to be caught again. There's a one eyed crappie and a 3+ pounder swimming around in White Oak Lake thanks to my friend P.R. and me. Both he and I caught some a couple of weeks ago at Greeson and released them.

I know now a guy who has gone to Millwood and caught 30, took them to his parents house, then went back out for 30 more......and this happens for days in a row during the spawn. What does he do with that many fish? I also have talked with a guy at Greeson who goes almost daily and chases them down with his live scope and gives fish away nearly every time. I've seen him do it. Why can't he just pitch em back every once in a while?

I guess the bottom line for me is if you are hungry for fish or you have a relative or friend who would like a fresh mess of crappie, then by all means get after them and catch em. If you don't really need them and you're just gonna throw gallons of fillets in the freezer......why hoard them up like that?

With my opinions there on the table, I'll say that it's been a long, and I mean long time since I caught and kept 30 crappie. It's been a long time since I caught and kept 20. I just don't need that many at one time. My dad does like small "scrapers" and I hope that a size limit is not imposed. I've been asked why I keep small ones instead of turning them loose.......my dad has a standing order in every time I go fishing for five scrapers, which could include bluegills too. So the first five are going in my live well because that's the size Mom & Dad like best.

I do not have a live scope and probably not gonna drop the dough to get one. I just don't feel like I gotta have it to catch a mess of fish, but I'm sure they do improve the likelihood of doing so.

Good read! Thanks for sharing


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Originally Posted by rockmike

If you fish the “Big Four “ in MS, you can’t keep a fish smaller than 12�. These lakes get a lot more pressure than anything in AR and they keep producing year after year. Just because a few vocal fishermen catch fish using Livescope, you can’t assume all fishermen using it do so. My observation is that 10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish, most of the time. A high percentage of crappie are more pelagic and stay in open water where the bait schools are, so this doesn’t lend itself to Livescope so much. Respect limits and let AGFC manage the fisheries and we’ll be fine.

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Originally Posted by steve48

Several things to look at here. and yes I am guilty of owning one. 90% of the time I am using 1 12 pole, but if I am needing fish, I am not above adding couple of more poles. I am seeing bigger crappie this year but less fish also. The boat companies are doing good business, at least I've never saw this many people on the lake. Wonder sometime if we see other ways to cut down need to go back to 20 fish, plenty of fish for a normal family. I will abide by the rules but can see 8 poles sticking out of one boat could do as much as one or two with livescope. Nobody wants to not fish the spawn but look at the eggs and size of females we take out of production. Just my opinion

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Steve everytime I been livescoping around spider riggers the livescope outdoes them . I hear this from lots of folks . Even many of the big time tournament fishermen are switching from rigging to livescoping with one pole .:twocents Some guys will never have boat control skills to hurt much but ones that can been killing them .

D10 So when can we see the live scopes be outlawed. If fish are being caught by the tons, want we be in trouble soon. To me it just like the spinning wing duck decoys that had to be outlawed. There was being way to many ducks being kill off if them. If livescope is a game change like the electronics was in duck hunting. I see it being outlawed or everyone will have one.

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Originally Posted by Gindog

D10 So when can we see the live scopes be outlawed. If fish are being caught by the tons, want we be in trouble soon. To me it just like the spinning wing duck decoys that had to be outlawed. There was being way to many ducks being kill off if them. If livescope is a game change like the electronics was in duck hunting. I see it being outlawed or everyone will have one.

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I don’t see the technology being outlawed. I see potential regulation changes, such as reduced creel limits and possibly a limit on harvest over a certain size. Something like a daily creel limit of 15 or 20 and only 5 can be over 14-in. Don’t quote me on those specific numbers, but if we find out the technology is having a significant impact, we will likely implement regulations similar to those.


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If they cut big fish back to 5 a day. I bet we could see some really big fish come out the ponds.

If anyone watched the last ACT tournament on Grenada 2 young men using livescope from Oklahoma and Missouri came in 1st and 2nd place using livescope and a single pole. The best spider riggers in the country also fished that tournament. They both had their 2 day 14 fish that both weighed over 30 lbs. I have watched several fishermen on my local lake really struggle using it so not everyone is as successful as others. Don't think technology is going to hurt the crappie populations as bad as some people think. If you ask the fishermen on this forum that's successful using livescope they will tell you they spent a lot of hours using it before they became successful. Not all fishermen are gonna put out that kind of effort to learn how to use it just like any new locator. I don't fish with livescope but watching most of the local guys using them I'm not really concerned.

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Originally Posted by Gindog

If they cut big fish back to 5 a day. I bet we could see some really big fish come out the ponds.

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No but you will see less as live scope gets more popular . Only saving grace is more are starting to release some big ones . But the big fish starting to get spookier already on some waters . I have seen them run over 20' away or if wave slaps boat . Many times a fisherman using old tecniques won't get close to the big ones before they spook .:twocents

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Originally Posted by TimY

If anyone watched the last ACT tournament on Grenada 2 young men using livescope from Oklahoma and Missouri came in 1st and 2nd place using livescope and a single pole. The best spider riggers in the country also fished that tournament. They both had their 2 day 14 fish that both weighed over 30 lbs. I have watched several fishermen on my local lake really struggle using it so not everyone is as successful as others. Don't think technology is going to hurt the crappie populations as bad as some people think. If you ask the fishermen on this forum that's successful using livescope they will tell you they spent a lot of hours using it before they became successful. Not all fishermen are gonna put out that kind of effort to learn how to use it just like any new locator. I don't fish with livescope but watching most of the local guys using them I'm not really concerned.

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Like any other tool some guys will get good with it .I been amazed how many more and bigger Crappie I have caught . Seen days where I could catch over 100 good ones a day on some lakes . Never seen so many huge 7 fish strings caught this year . I am older and my eye sight not what it used to be , On days with lots of pollen in the water and bright sun it is tough for me . My eye sight is a handicap, but when screen has no interference from pollen and overcast I do best . The live scope helps me catch them when not on brush .
The young guys with good eye sight are killing the fish. It is like playing a video game and most of them grew up playing them . I have live scope and have been releasing more Crappie than ever .

Anglers definitely getting better. Knowledge is power.
Biggest winner is Garmin. They have to be printing money with livescope.


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Thanks Matt for the info and all the hard work.Very appreciated..No the best interest is in the fish populations..Thank you..

Outlaw live bait would be more benefiting for our Lakes..Impossible but would be better..Slot limits..Folks wouldn't go by it anyway.
Have seen more little fish come out of our lakes with all the Corona crowd than Ever in my life time..

Thanks D-10 and company.

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If something is not done about live scope in a couple years those 10in. Crappie are going to look Big !!! They are killing our smaller lakes !!

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Originally Posted by MEATGETTER

If something is not done about live scope in a couple years those 10in. Crappie are going to look Big !!! They are killing our smaller lakes !!

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Even more than Spider rigging :ThumbsUp

I am not going to keep upgrading technology every few years. I spent more than my boat was worth just a couple of years ago. I will just keep pulling cranks when the weather gets warm enough. They is expensive too.

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Originally Posted by D10

I see potential regulation changes, such as reduced creel limits and possibly a limit on harvest over a certain size. Something like a daily creel limit of 15 or 20 and only 5 can be over 14-in.


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Matt, that sure would cause an issue in the tournament scene.

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Originally Posted by Cmj

Matt, that sure would cause an issue in the tournament scene.

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Maybe but no big deal with team tournament limit is 7 and two guys still could keep 10 or just do like Bass make it 5 fish limit .:twocents

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Originally Posted by Cmj

Matt, that sure would cause an issue in the tournament scene.

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Hey Chris - I think I also followed up that with “don’t quote me on those numbers”. Ha ha ha! The truth is if regulation changes are needed, we would look at a range of potential changes and which ever is the most beneficial to the resource and has the least amount of impact on anglers, is the one we would propose. I basically pull the 5 over 14” out of thin air. At this point, nothing to those numbers.


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I’ve always been a spider rig guy “wall of hooks”. But I’m proud to say I’ve gone to the dark side. Anybody recommend a place to have this installed? Not real sure I trust myself spending this much money lol

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Originally Posted by ArkieJason

I’ve always been a spider rig guy “wall of hooks”. But I’m proud to say I’ve gone to the dark side. Anybody recommend a place to have this installed? Not real sure I trust myself spending this much money lol

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You can do it.

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Originally Posted by D10

Hey Chris - I think I also followed up that with “don’t quote me on those numbers”. Ha ha ha! The truth is if regulation changes are needed, we would look at a range of potential changes and which ever is the most beneficial to the resource and has the least amount of impact on anglers, is the one we would propose. I basically pull the 5 over 14” out of thin air. At this point, nothing to those numbers.


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I understand Matt. Next time I will keep my options to myself. Hahaha

Opinions are always welcome.


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Originally Posted by ArkieJason

I’ve always been a spider rig guy “wall of hooks”. But I’m proud to say I’ve gone to the dark side. Anybody recommend a place to have this installed? Not real sure I trust myself spending this much money lol

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Gentry at Geared Outdoors is who I would suggest.

[QUOTE=ArkieJason;4001340]I’ve always been a spider rig guy “wall of hooks”. But I’m proud to say I’ve gone to the dark side. Anybody recommend a place to have this installed? Not real sure I trust myself spending this much money lol

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They're not that hard to install. Just read the instructions before ya start. I installed mine and it took me about 5-6 hrs. I'm very picky with my boat so I figured I could blame myself if something was wrong. Everything looked and worked just fine when I finished. Save that $$$ to buy some more jigs...

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Originally Posted by ArkieJason

I’ve always been a spider rig guy “wall of hooks”. But I’m proud to say I’ve gone to the dark side. Anybody recommend a place to have this installed? Not real sure I trust myself spending this much money lol

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:Rofl Not difficult . Just read and follow instructions . But if you have a long run use big enough wire , voltage drop not good with these . I added a 4th battery up front just for live scope ! May wish you had spent more . Several friends bought 12'' screens after fishing in my boat .