I remember when there was no size limit or creel limit in Reelfoot. I also remember Tennessee having a 3 pole limit and crappie being commercially harvested on Reelfoot. Pole limits, in my opinion, are to deter fishermen, not to restrict harvest. We caught a lot if fish on Reelfoot when all of the above stated was going on, but most of them were 8-10". There's better fish on Reelfoot now than then.
I personally think there is a problem on Reelfoot. It is probably a cyclical low, but seems to me the fish population is down some. Hopefully there will be a good spawn this year. With the spawn most likely being late, maybe more females will get those eggs layed