Sparrowfoot (Truman) 09/24

I headed out that way to see if I could pick off some larger keepers on the flats and around structure. I found some decent fish, but they were chasing shad or being run off by gar. I put a nice 11" keeper in the boat, but it was slow. That was until I pulled into a cove with massive bait ball. This bait ball was 20 yards in diameter and went from the surface to 12 feet down. They were holding there no matter how many larger fish charged the school. 15 feet off that bait ball was a huge school of fish. Lots of dinks at the top, with lots of keepers 10ft down and larger ones 12-14 feet down. I boated 40 fish, with almost all of keeper size. Only problem, I tossed all but 7 of them back.

Question for those who use one of those crappie measuring tools. A lot of the fish I threw back were over the 9" mark by 1/16-1/8". I really don't want to get in a pissing match with a game warden over 1/16 of an inch. Even worse getting a fine because my board says keeper, but they don't agree. Do any of you worry about them if the tail goes over the 9" mark, but just over? I don't want to hear about letting them get bigger. This school was massive and 10's didn't come up as much as the 9.062 or 9.125s did. I was content with keeping the 7 that I kept and they made some tasty tacos. I wonder if you have concerns on using a board vs how a warden might check them?

9-1/16" tasted the same as the 10 & 11" fish I caught that morning.
Attachment 437592

Awesome. Sure is some good looking grub

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

Awesome. Sure is some good looking grub

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I love fish tacos with crappie. I also enjoyed beer while preparing them. :)

Can't beat that

Anthony, I pretty much trust those devices. But usually don’t keep then till closer to 10”. For sure don’t trust the stick on ones MDC gives out after being in the sun a while they are not accurate.
would like to get out with youmagain this fall.
Ron

Yummy! Thanks for your postings.

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Originally Posted by Macbow

Anthony, I pretty much trust those devices. But usually don’t keep then till closer to 10”. For sure don’t trust the stick on ones MDC gives out after being in the sun a while they are not accurate.
would like to get out with you again this fall. Ron

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You know you are always welcome to join me. I owe you a day on my boat for sure!

I have never gotten a ticket if I showed the officer the measuring device and we checked it together. Once she said it is short but she did not write me up because she let me see if it would swim away. It did. I do know fish shrink some in a livewell if you've had the fish several hours. I give myself an 1/8 inch in my favor before it goes in the livewell.

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Originally Posted by GrumpyLoomis

I have never gotten a ticket if I showed the officer the measuring device and we checked it together. Once she said it is short but she did not write me up because she let me see if it would swim away. It did. I do know fish shrink some in a livewell if you've had the fish several hours. I give myself an 1/8 inch in my favor before it goes in the livewell.

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That is excellent information! 9.5 or better to be safe after sitting in the livewell. Definitely good to know.

I’ll check in soon. Have a trip out with Dillon Stocking Wednesday.

I've heard they shrink too, or at least that's what the tournament guys claimed and justified 100mph back to weigh in. :dono
Personally, I wreck 9" crappie when I try to filet them. The bones are just too soft for my Bubba. But I've had those days where the 10's are nowhere to be found and a keeper is a keeper to me. MDC does a fine job worrying about the heard. But I don't keep anything that is less than clearly over the 9" line.
I do feel like smaller fish fit farther through the mouth hole on the jig making them appear a bit shorter, so if my jig read's 9 I trust it.

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Originally Posted by Baitwaster

I've heard they shrink too, or at least that's what the tournament guys claimed and justified 100mph back to weigh in. :dono
Personally, I wreck 9" crappie when I try to filet them. The bones are just too soft for my Bubba. But I've had those days where the 10's are nowhere to be found and a keeper is a keeper to me. MDC does a fine job worrying about the heard. But I don't keep anything that is less than clearly over the 9" line.
I do feel like smaller fish fit farther through the mouth hole on the jig making them appear a bit shorter, so if my jig read's 9 I trust it.

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Hey Jake, get you a set of Mr. Twister blades for your Bubba, much better on Crappie.
g

I never worry about if over or m ot since my lakes don't have size limits! LOL. If on a size limit lake I error on 1/8th most of the time. Agents are usually good if you show them what u measure w in my experience.

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