on small bodies of water, one yr class of crappie will dominate if left alone(not kept). they will eat most all the crappie they spawn every yr til they die out. then the cycle starts over. the time that this lake was closed let one yr class dominate. if ya thro them all back, they will be there til they die. if ya eat them, they won't. I've seen many "new" lakes like this raped in the same way. then all wonder where they went. they are not infinite. Mississippi has several lakes that have giant crappies consistantly. there is a 10 fish, 12 inch limit there. I fish many days an thro them all back. when I want some to eat, I keep the 10-11 inchers an thro all bigger ones back.