Crappie Bite

[Walcrabass]

Tens_Coach and others,

OK. If this is the case then I would like to hear it from MDC. I truly expect studies and recorded facts to accompany it. With the Shad population that Stockton has I would be hard pressed to believe we could not increase the length for the Crappie. Of course if we were concerned about the food supply and quality fish as a whole we could make different regulations for the Kentucky Bass........ ( Sorry but that is something that we the state of Missouri need to follow in the footsteps of other fish and game people. It is embarrassing to be led by others.......it is more embarrassing to not be open minded enough to get into the game. )

Personally what Crappie fishing I do ( which isn't a whole bunch ) I will do at Table Rock. I know the length limit there is the same but the Crappie seem to run bigger. In fact I go with a guy who basically does not keep any under 13". Not saying he catches a limit every time he goes but he does pretty good.

Anyway this is all good food for thought and we need to deal with the information we receive ( I hope we get some ) without letting our personal preferences or emotions get in the picture.

Hoping your Christmas Trees were filled with Fishing Tackle, Guns, Ammo, Tree Stands, Fish Finders, you get the picture,

Walcrabass

[waterpossum]

To an extent I think your probably right Walcrabass . The raising of a length limit would probably result in a little better quality. On the other hand the genetics involved in this strain plus a lake like Stockton that can't be deemed as a high fertility type of lake is a more contributing factor. Case in point if you truly want to catch a large crappie in the Midwest a few shallow stained/farm basin lakes in Kansas would be a good choice. Lakes like Fall River and Toronto have a creel limit of 50 with no minimum length limit but regularly produce 2-3 lb crappie. I have fished Stockton since 1980 and have seen this lake gradually improve. The 80's were a disaster. However in all those years of hundreds of fishing trips I have never caught crappie out of Stockton that can compare with 4 or 5 Kansas lakes.( Not talking numbers so much, but size) At one time Smithville Lake near KC experimented with introducing Florida strained bass. For a number of years double digit bass became very common. Unfortunately after about a decade of unprecedented bass fishing a bass virus destroyed the majority of bass in the lake. Whether the Florida strained stocking would have taken hold could never be substantiated. Would the MDC be receptive to experimenting with a crappie population that is thriving, but probably not the genetics to get trophy size?

[Walcrabass]

Waterpossum,

All good points in your post. However, in this case we are not talking about trophy size. Or introducing a new strain or hybrid. We are just talking about bumping up the length limit in a lake that has a great food supply. I think one of the things Stockton has going for it is that it has a lot of "river" or "Creek" percentage in the total water surface area. These creeks constantly bring nutrients into the lake. Granted the lake does not have the original trees it used to have but " fertile water" feeds into the lake in several places. I too have seen the Crappie improve since pre 1980...... I just believe it could improve even more. Like I said in my earlier post.... I would like to see some facts and figures published by MDC showing us why the length limit should not be increased. Until this happens I will be in favor of an 11" length for this tasty fish where Stockton is concerned.

Walcrabass

[terryjones]

I too agree that I'd like to see 11 inch crappielimit and an 18 inch walleye limit.it takes a walleye three years to reach 15 inches but at the same time it takes them 3 years to become old enough to spawn.that is the case from what I've read in the publications if this is true then we are harvesting walleye that aren't even old enough to spawn.if we had an 18 inch limit the wallyewould have 3 years to spawn

[Dutch]

Walcrabass I totally agree with you on the Spotted bass thing. It also applies on the white/hybrid/striper fish. A few years ago friend emailed me and said he was catching monster whites outside of Cow creek on the Rock and only able to keep 4 each day. That was because of the rule which throws hybrids, whites and stripers into the same class where no more than 4 20+ inch fish can be kept daily.

I have talked with several MDC biologists and agents about these 2 regulation issues. They all agree that new rules would be better but the powers that be don't think the average MO fisherman can tell the difference in the different species. My reply has always been give them a ticket or 2 and they will learn the difference.

[fishbait3]

In my opinion all bass should be caught and released (execept whites) and walleye should be 18 in or more to keep and crappie should at least be a 10 in.

Crappie will always be a plentiful fish

[waterpossum]

Walcrabass I totally agree with you on the Spotted bass thing. It also applies on the white/hybrid/striper fish. A few years ago friend emailed me and said he was catching monster whites outside of Cow creek on the Rock and only able to keep 4 each day. That was because of the rule which throws hybrids, whites and stripers into the same class where no more than 4 20+ inch fish can be kept daily.

I have talked with several MDC biologists and agents about these 2 regulation issues. They all agree that new rules would be better but the powers that be don't think the average MO fisherman can tell the difference in the different species. My reply has always been give them a ticket or 2 and they will learn the difference.

Seems that would be an odd regulation on Table Rock since Hybrids and Stripers are not stocked there. I guess it might be possible someway that a few might get discharged out of Beaver Lake. Currently the MDC and AG&Fish are in a rift about MDCs plan to stock 16,000 stripers in Bull Shoals. The locals in Ark are all against it.

[jbeenemd]

I don't get to fish very often and when I do it is mostly for crappie. Don't catch the numbers that some report on here. However, almost never catch any less than 10 inches. I think that raising the length limit to 11 inches would be beneficial. Wonder if we could talk them into a 2 or 3 year trial at Stockton?? Would be a great experiment for them to do on just one lake.

Jackie

[ozarkgunner]

I would like to see zones on some lakes. On stockton I would make one arm of the lake regulated for big fish and one with the current regulations. Ie the big sac below the mile long bridge would be crappie over 12 inches walleye over 18 inches and bass over 18 inches.

[Boobie]

What percentage of walleye successfully spawn in Stocton. I heard it was very low like 2%. Anyone have any facts on that.