Hadn't Heard Of This Before...

[Outside Bend]

Magnolia Crappie?

Apparently they're a sterile hybrid of white and black crappie, they're using them down south to stock small impoundments. The idea is to still have a viable crappie fishery in those smaller ponds, without the population going nuts and stunting. Here's the link:

Magnolia Crappie

[fishinwrench]

News to me too. With the mindset of crappie anglers they'd have to stock like crazy...unless more reasonable limits apply in the areas where they plant them.

[Greasy B]

More hatchery delendecy. Maybe not such a good idea.

[Gavin]

Why not manage for a sustainable bluegill or bass fishery?

[Gavin]

http://www.mdwfp.com/north-ms-fish-hatcheries/fish-hatchery/magnolia-crappie.aspx

Weird looking fish to boot!

[Bird Watcher]

It's hard to have a pond stocked with crappie and they not become overpopulated and stunted quickly. These are a good option for people who would like to have a crappie population with the chance at some to grow some nicer fish without them completely taking over the pond.

Interestingly enough, there's a lot written about the use of Hybrid striped bass to control crappie populations in ponds that become overpopulated. I think that's the model I'll use if I ever have a private lake in my backyard. a balanced, sustaining crappie population and a population of large hybrids.

[Outside Bend]

I think removing the tempation for anglers to stock crappie on their own is a big component. Lots of small public impoundments have crappie, even though few of them were ever stocked with them by agencies. My guess is it's a compromise, offering folks the opportunity to catch crappie without all the negatives of overpopulation and stunting. Hope it works out for them.

[Jack Jones]

Pretty neat to see that. However, my immaturity kicked in halfway through the article and when reading about the process I had to giggle a little. I couldn't help but think about the poor guy who's job it is to slice and dice fish nuts. Also, the whole stirring with a feather made me laugh too. Oh well guess I'll never grow up.

[Guest]

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