There is a proposed fishing regulation that will be presented to the KFWC at its June 8 meeting. This is by a request of anglers commission members. If this goes through the limit will be reduced from 30 to 20. What do you think about this?
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There is a proposed fishing regulation that will be presented to the KFWC at its June 8 meeting. This is by a request of anglers commission members. If this goes through the limit will be reduced from 30 to 20. What do you think about this?
I like it, hardly ever keep 20 anyway!
I don't like it, never caught 30 on ky or Barkley but am looking forward to it!
I think 20 is plenty for one day
agree, 20 is plenty but would like to hit that 30 mark. In the best interest of the fishery, 20 would be better.
I think 20 is plenty for a daily limit. I don't know how it will affect the fishery though, so I can't really say I'm for or against it. I've been known to catch more fish than I wanted to clean when the limits were higher :o , but I sure wasn't going to waste them. We'll just have to fish more days if we want more fish.:)
With todays technology we are all better fishermen. It was said years ago that 10% of the fishermen caught 90% of the fish. I don't think that plays today. With any skill at all a large number of people can catch good numbers. 20 is enough for me. Heck that is all I want to clean anyway. It still bothers me when someone brags about bringing home 70 or 80 from Blood River or Jonathan Creek in one day of fishing.
THE BANDIT
Totally 100% don't like it. I can understand your arguements with the 20 fish limit and would maybe agree with it if I lived fairly close. I live 4 hours away and when I spend the money I spend and donate to the local economy like I donate at hotels and restraunts, I don't want to go home with 20 fish per day. I only go two or three times a year and I want to catch all I can catch legally to make it worth the trip. I used to fish Weiss Lake a lot more until the guides I use switched to a 20 fish limit. This was just not a good money decision for me. Actually, now that I think about it, I have not been back in three years because of their decision.
I would prefer they switch the limit to a 11" or 12" size imit. I wish every lake in KY was 10". I know you have to do what is best for the lake but I hope this doesn't end up being the beginning of a lot of other new rules, like only three poles max. I will have to think real hard on the question would I drive all the way to KY Lake for 20 great size crappie or drive an hour and a half away to Rough River to catch 10 more fish that are legal size limit. I got to spring to make that decision.
This is just my first thoughts and maybe once I think about it more I will have another opinion but not now.
I'm all for it, if it protects the future of the fishery.
I'm with Jigboy,How many out of town people can go to a lake once a year and catch a limit that often,The Guides make a living at it and catch lots of fish every day, who is hurting the population more? And thats O.K. wish I could do this!
I don't hurt the population that often, Theirs plenty of fish, leave it as it is!
Rowdy:)
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Originally Posted by Rowdy
Your statement makes no sense. You say the guides are hurting the fishing by fishing hard daily, but you wish to keep the limits at 30 in order to cater to the occasional visitor to the lake. By lowering the limit to 20 that is 70 less fish that guides clients may keep per fishermen per day (or 30%).
I say lower the daily bag. Forget the pole restrictions.
Sorry, I thought the guides were the ones pushing the lower limit?
There are some that think we should not catch "there fish",because they are trying to make a living at it, As I said before I hope they do well at it but dont get all puffie when we come in with lots of fish also.
Some go as far as calling the Game wardens every year, they check us , we are leagal,there mad, life goes on.
Rowdy:)
KFWC is the ones that are pushing the limit,they must know something we dont, im all for it if it is going to help fishing in the future.Iwould like for my kids to be able to catch crappie like we do when they get older.
If the biologists and people who are paid money to monitor the fish recommend this, then I'm all for it. Does anyone know if they are still studying the crappie movement on Kentucky? If so, is this recommendation being prompted by data they've observed or collected?
I might even go as far as to try and contact someone myself who could shed some light on the subject. I know the fisheries guys here at our local office pretty well, maybe they can refer me to someone.
If they really have proof that the numbers are falling then I would understand it but I would like to see the proof or study. I would also put this question out there...how many of you got checked by a game warden this year on KY Lake or any lake. I fish at least two to three days a week in the early spring. I troll 12 poles, so I stand out. I have not been checked in three years. I see people all the time keeping short fish but I never see anyone getting checked on the water. I did see some people get nailed at a fish cleaning station at a local marina but I think most of the short fish arent being taken to a public fish cleaning station. Raise the size limit to 12 inches and lets take all the Alabama business away from Weiss Lake and lets see some more patrols out on the water. I know KY Lake is a big lake but they can at least cruise Johnathon and Blood Rivers. Imagine how many 2 pounders we would all be taking if they really raised the limit to 12". Lets see the proof or some sort of study showing why this is neccessary.
The KDFW are saying the number of keeper crappie will be lower in the next couple of years due to some weak spawns. They are predicting the lower numbers from shocking surveys that have been performed this is not showing alot of smaller crappie that is normally presnt. There has been 2 articles in the Paducah Sun and 1 article in the Princeton Times-Leader that I have seen on this subject. I support the lower limit, anyone wanting to comment for or against this can email [email protected].
WE were there 1st.week in april, we had lots of 7 to 9in. throwbacks,What happend to the raidio tagging,that was a good study.
Rowdy
it's on the KDFWR website. It's over and done with, a couple of years now. It wasn't so much for determining the state of the Crappie population and size, as it was to show folks the changes in timing and movement of the Crappie ... due to the Black Crappie population becoming the dominant population in KY Lake. (I think Barkley Lake is still predominantly populated with White Crappie)Quote:
Originally Posted by Rowdy
Here's the link to the study : http://www.kdfwr.state.ky.us/navigat...vPath=C101C552
..... cp :cool:
I was checked two times this spring on Barkley. I didn't mind the check at all. I always try to stay legal anyway.
THE BANDIT
I agree Eddie Creek Bandit, I want to see them checking. Maybe I am the luckiest guy on earth and just never get checked. I get checked every year on my Lake Erie smallmouth trip. Our deer camp gets hit every year also. I just don't see them out on the water much but maybe I am just missing them. If the numbers are really down, I am all for it also. If the numbers bounce back, I believe they will raise it again. I am sure the spawn from a few years ago has most to do with this problem but people keeping the little ones is not helping. I personally never keep any crappie from any lake less then 10" because you simply just don't get enough meat off of them. No matter what, I still stick to raising the limit to 12" but I know I will be looked at like I am crazy. I like the debate.
I did not like it when they changed the size limit on Barren and Nolin to 10in several years ago,it turned out to be a good thing then they dropped it back to 9in, thats to short for Nolin as thin as they are you have nothing after its fillet'.
The ky fish are so broad they dont fit in a slide in board .A good fillet on a 10 incher.
I stold an idea yestrerday,Take a hacksaw and cut a "V" in the slide in board all the way through, you can hold the fish till it is started in or even leave the hook in it till you measure it, someone had this on the net for $15. plus shipping.
Rowdy
I have been fish'n Ky. lake for over 40 years starting as a kid with my grandpa. I have seen the numbers drop over those years. TVA has NOT helped the crappie. They are bad about pulling water off the beds and destrroying an otherwise good spawn. I'm nnot saying they're totally responsible for the drop in numbers but they contribute TVA will tell you real quick that they are not in the "fish" business. They are flood control. TVA will not hold 1 drop of extra water. I'm on the boat right now and just about every pool up the river is down. As for the checking I was checked 3 times this year. As for the Crappie study. All that did was key more fishermen in on the fish. For years everyone thought that you could only catch fish in April. We who fish Ky. lake knew that was not the case. I have seen alot more pressure put on the fish since the survey results came out. Don't get me wrong, I like to see everyone catch fish, but I believe that the resource has been grossly mis-managed. As for the 20 fish limit; If that's what it takes to insure fish for my grandkids, so be it! I believe that in the past that the KDFW has been reactive instead if proactive. A couple of good years of suplimental stocking programs during poor spawning years could have helped stave off the new limits. There is no reason a lake with this much water should have a fishery in this kinda shape. Just my thoughts!
they don't give a darn about the fish... I seen down at Guntersville a few years back they lowered water level at bass spawn time and even took out a bunch of millfoil !! We have problem around here that they let factory pull so much water at low drought times to screw things up!!! Not the TVA here..but same kind of a-------!!!!!!good luck up there..Good friend of mine was around there, not sure if she still is,,she even talked about guiding for crappie there...Erma from Momence, IL.
I crappie fish Jonathan Creek almost every weekend pretty much year around and I cannot count the times that I have been check this year alone. Not only by the game warden but also by Mr. Flynn that does the creel survey. I see lots of out of state people come here an catch undersize fish and put them in the livewell. I have said something to people in the past about the size limit being 10" and they act like I am stupid or something. For myself I am scared to keep a fish that isn't atleast 10-1/8"-10-1/4" long because after putting them in the livewell or icechest they will shrink. I get checked so often that I won't keep a fish that's 10" exactly. Also I don't use these new crappie measuring devices that you drop the fish into because they don't always measure exact - I use exactly what the game warden uses to measure with the golden rule.
As far as the articles in the paper I talked to KDFW during spring catch and he was telling me that it was appearing to be that there survey done last fall was off a little because it seemed that people were catching lots of 6-7 inch fish this spring (last years hatch). He said that the fish had already made a move back in the fall and he thought the results might not be 100% accurate. Also during the spring creel survey they started asking each fisherman a list of about 10 questions of what KDFW can do to better help crappie fisherman and I would like to see the results of that. I believe KDFW are working to make crappie fishing as good a possible and if that means reducing the limit then so be it. My dad and I fish together all the time and we typically don't keep more than 25-30 anyway.
We have been going to the Blood River in April for the last 6 years or so. We have never had a limit of 30 fpp. We are there for a week of fishing from sun up to sun down. This year we were checked by the DNR, all of our fish are legal size, and we are from Ohio. We observed quite a few people fishing from shore keeping everything they caught. Dont know where they were from! I feel that 20 fish is enough, especially after fishing all day then come back and clean fish for 1hr or so.
Judging from you handle I'd say you're from Ballard County. I'm from BC to & I bet I know you or some of your people. I know right where the ol'Fin & Feather used to be. Crappie fish'n down in the bottoms has gotten pretty bad also I hear. As for KDFW and Ky. Lake Crappie. They have known that the Crappie Population has been steadily dropping for the last 30 years and are yet to do anything but put a 30 fish limit & 10" limit on the fish. They have spent money stocking trout, stripers, elk, turkey, otters.... You name it! They need to do some Crappie stocking. Crappie are a very important part of the local economy. When they are gone it is gonna hurt this area bad. I have chatted with people that are gonna start moving their vacations to other areas just because of the low catch rates they are experiencing. And they tell others. I really would like to see some agressive stocking programs for a few years along with reduced limits to help the population rebound. I would also like to see TVA, KDFW, & TWRA start working together to limit the water fluctuation during the spawn!Quote:
Originally Posted by fin_n_feather
It would be great if you could get some cooperation from the Corp. The impact crappie fishing has on the local economy is being overlooked! I would hope that given the significance of the boost Crappie fishing creates every spring, someone would recommend doing something to improve habitat and spawning conditions, ie....water level!
I've never heard of them stocking crappie, but like you said....trout, musky and hybrid are stocked regularly. I know that musky and hybrid are being stocked because of their popularity and many reqeusts made by fishermen. I agree that there should be more emphasis placed on the crappie.
Maybe we need to unite together and somehow let KDFWR and TWRA know where we stand on the issue. Maybe need to start a petition or something.
I would be willing to help with a pettition or any thing else to help.
The water level will be the hardest to change since that has been a ongoing battle there has been petitions and even Ed Whitfield has tried to use his political influence to get the Corp to hold the water levels at summer pool until October without much success. I know that has nothing to do with the crappie spawn but if no one can get them to bugde on the drawdown it will be hard to get them to hold the levels for the crappie.
I like the crappie stocking that to me would be the most beneficial to help the populations. If anyone knows some of the KDFW guys they should ask them about this and get their input.
:eek:I like what I'm hear'n. We as sportmen and sportswomen need to do something to insure that the resource is not only maintained but inhanced. Our Children and Grandchildren will benifit from the efforts we put fourth now. I don't know how much a stocking program would cost, but I do know they raised my fish'n licence this year! I'm sure that the economic impact would greatly outweight the cost of the program. Face it, how many people are gonna travel and pay for lodging and all the other things associated with crappie fish'n for a 20 fish a day limit. How many people are gonna hire a guide for 20 fish? Some will but not as many. I have friends that guide, own tackle shops, restraunts, gas stations.... They all do well when the Crappie do well. What a lot of folk don't realize is that word's getting around about the drop in crappie numbers. We can turn a blind eye and pretend that all is well or try to do something about it. Heck we have Darrell VanVactor (President of Crappie USA) right here. He could help.Quote:
Originally Posted by Greenwing
You and I know that even if they drop the limit to 20 per day, that in 10 or 15years they'll be consdering dropping it to 10 or 15 per day. Look were we are after the imposed the 30 fish/ 10 inch limit. I got a little better, word got out, and here we are!
Reguardless of what is done, all of the Gov. agencies that have an impact are gonna have to work together to eliminate the problem.
Just my 2 cents!
I agree. I would be willing to help however. I want the fishing to be great for my kids one day also. I just think the economic impact could be huge. Someone, somewhere will care in the state government. Look how much advertising they have done to promote Lake Cumberland since having to do dam repair. They know how much it can hurt the economy. Down on Weiss Lake they have a Lake Weiss Improvement Association and they sell $5 permits for prizes on tagged fish. Guides early in the year go out and catch up 1000 fish and tag them. Local bait houses and marina's sell the permits and set up prizes. Just like Crappie USA does but on a local level. I know I always buy mine on Weiss Lake and I know all my friends and I would buy one on Kentucky Lake. There are enough local fisherman and guides to get the fish tagged. The business down there will donate because they need to keep improving the lake. They use the money down south to continue helping with crappie condo's and lake improvements. We could do the same or just use it for stocking programs. What do you think?
The crappie population at Ky. Lake is in good shape. I think the anglers pushing for this change are the ones who have'nt adapted to the Black crappie surge the past few years. The reason for this vote is someone thinks that there are'nt enough 6-9 inch fish in the lakes. That just isn't the case. Typically every yr. my spring fish at Ky. are 85% keepers. In the fall it probably drops to 65-70%. I don't know why thats just the way it's been for me the past 10 yrs. There are plenty of crappie,large and small,in Ky and barkley lakes. I don't get to go to these lakes very often and I think it should stay just like it is. Some people may have to change their fishing methods. Everyone seems to think if you lowered the limit to 20 it would mean bigger fish. I think the opposite, population goes up size goes down. If you want bigger fish you need the size limit to go up. If it's not broke don't fix it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by badbrad
Unfortunately you will NEVER get help from the Corps of Engineers or TVA on RECREATIONAL activities. I hate it, you hate it, all sportsmen hate it, but whats already been said in this forum rings true. The Corp and TVA aren't in the fishing or hunting business. They are in the flood control business. Any activities that happen to take place on Corp or TVA lakes or rivers are secondary to flood control. They simply don't care. One of my best friends is a very avid sportsman and works for the Corp of Engineers. He will be the first one to tell you that no matter the impact financially on the community or whatever they will not budge on their stance. Floods cost more money then loss of tourism. He and I spoke at great lengths about this very subject earlier this year when the Corps began to drop Lake Cumberland in Eastern Kentucky to make repairs to the Wolf Creek dam. Cumberland is another huge body of water with a thriving community funded almost entirely off of tourists visiting the lake. The Corps had to drop the lake 30 feet in order to start repairs. This left about 80% of the ramps high and dry. Just recently these ramps have been extended, on the states dime I believe, in order to keep people coming.
On a side note I think the size limits should be enforced strictly on KY Lake. I think the numbers should be dropped to 20 fish and I think that the possible pole restrictions should be dropped.
The local news says fishing is good at Cumberland despite the drop in water level. The biggest problem is with the trout, water temps are going to be higher not good for trout. Access to the lake is not a problem as a lot of the ramps have been extended. Gonna have to get down there sometime.
[QUOTE=tubejig]The crappie population at Ky. Lake is in good shape. I think the anglers pushing for this change are the ones who have'nt adapted to the Black crappie surge the past few years. The reason for this vote is someone thinks that there are'nt enough 6-9 inch fish in the lakes. That just isn't the case. QUOTE]
I have to disagree with you on the crappie population. I know that the population has flip flopped from about 70% White Crappie and 30% percent Black Crappie to just about the opposite in the last 20 years. This is a proven fact.
If you study the 2 different species you'll see that the Black Crappie are not nearly as prolific as the Whites. In fact an adult black female carries only a fraction of the amount of eggs as a white female of the same size and age.
I have adapted to the Blacks very well and really like fishing for them. To me they seem more agressive which inturn makes them more vulnerable.
Now I'm not really for the reduced limit. If you read my other posts you'll see that I know from past experience that this alone WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM! And the problem is not just one thing, it is a combination of several factors like unstable water levels during critical spawning periods, increasing clearer water, increased pressure on the fish, people keeping small fish, stocking preditor species like the Stripers and Hybreds.... I could go on.
Now I don't have a degree in wildlife bioligy like the folks we hire to manage our fishery but thank god the good lord blessed me with a little common since and common since tells me that reduced limits haven't worked in the past and won't work in the future! What's that old addage about the definition of futility; doing the samething over and over and expecting different results? It don't make a lick of since to me! They are focusing on the tail of the snake and grasping for straws!
Another thing we should consider. How many crappie fishermen do you know that go out and consistantly catch a 30 fish limit. Answer; very darn few. Infact only a small percentage catch the limit so by reducing the limit you arn't really changing a darn thing for most anglers. Think about it, what percentage of your trips this year resulted in limits? I fish probably 120 to 150days a year and have a lot of those 15 to 19 keeper days.
Personally I think stocking would help but there again that's too simple.
I have been reading about this for the past week and I'm finally going to respond.I have been fishing Ky lake for about 6 years now and I have yet to be checked by the DNR! The past two years I have fished at least 25 days per year and have not been checked, I don't keep undersized fish but have seen several cleaned at the cleaning stations.As far as the 20 or 30 fish limit go I think that 20 Ky Lake crappie is a nice mess of fish and if this is what it takes to keep the fishery healthy then that is what I'm for.I guess wether its 20 or 30 or 10" it really doesn't matter if there is no one to enforce the laws!
Yes 20 fish is a good mess of fish but.... like I said in a previous post. I am really neither for or against the 20 fish limit. I'm just saying the prestent limit is not the problem. Very, very few people catch 30 keepers a day. The new limit will do nothing other than turn some fishermen away from the lake. With gas at $3.00 a gal. how many people are gonna travel any distance to have a shot at 20 crappie as opposed to 30. Its just gonna hurt the guides and the rest of the people in the local economy that depend on crappie for a chunk of their income. All the reduced limit is is a band aid. I'd like to see them stop the bleeding not just slow it down.Quote:
Originally Posted by slabdaddy
Quote:
Originally Posted by wannabe fisherman
Of course it is, now. With the lake dropped the stripers are ganged up in the river channel. Easy to corner.
Yes, the ramps have been extended, but like I said before on the states dime. The Corps doesn't care about boat ramps it cares about flood control.
I agree with wiskers, in that the limit reduction is not the answer. I fish Barkley 100 to 150 times a year and have also seen a tremendous downturn in the number and size of crappie in the last thirty years. As much as anything the lake is becoming clearer because it is not as fertile as it has been due to a lack of algae blooms. Also wiskers what happened to the willow flies? I can remember many hatches that would be a foot deep around light poles in the mornings. I can understand people who drive 50 miles and more not liking the limit reduction, myself I don't care either way, and am open to any suggestions that will help the lakes. IMO, other than sometimes dropping the water during the spawn, I think TVA and the Corp do a very good job of taking care of the lakes. Most complaints I hear are about dropping the water so early in the summer, and I always give the same reply, they sell navigational maps everywhere. I have fished these lakes for forty some odd years and have never ruined a prop. Do your homework before getting on the water.
Well I guess tomorrw we will find out the verdict. Either way, I'll still make the drive. Wonder how long it will be before we know something?
I hope we find out before the next time we catch 30! LOL