Release more crappie with eggs!

[Greasy B]

Thank you F&F

[Craig's Outdoor Sports]

Please don't misunderstand my point. I'm not suggesting that anyone keeping a bass for dinner is evil. Think I've made that clear. I'd prefer they didn't, I don't, and there are good reasons not to.

Just exercise a little self restraint instead of filling coolers full of fish to truck home. I grew up fishing some northern lakes where that was the norm, fish were meat and a cooler full was required to justify the trip. Killing every legal fish you catch is just an archaic way to treat our resources.

Thought it mostly applied to crappie down here, shocked to see folks are still doing that with bass.

Hmmm. if there are good reasons not to than why is the MDC setting the limits as they are? Conservation means to harvest, not catch and release as you advocate. That is why the MDC sets size and number limits, to keep the population healthy. Just look at what they tried to accomplish with their 4 point antler restrictions in parts of MO. Now they are dropping the restrictions because of CWD. The efforts for monetary gains on huge bucks backfired and now we have CWD to contend with. Why? Because they were more concerned with money than the health of the herd. The same could and can happen if the proper amount of big fish are not harvested in our waters. Sure, we would all like to catch 15" crappie, 10lb bass, and 50lb stripers with 2lb bluegills thrown in occasionally for fun. But, unless the proper amount of fish are harvested at the correct stage of life it will only be hurting more than helping. I personally wish they would lower the length limits on Crappie to 8" on most lakes. How many times have you caught a crappie under the length limit that swallowed the hook, cut the line at the mouth like you are supposed to, released the fish just to see it floating dead an hour later. That to me is the biggest waste of all.

Just my .02cents.

[Paul Nienhaus]

Everybody is talking about releasing bass on the Rock - what about crappie!?!

MDC:

Anglers released less than 4 percent of all the legal size crappie they caught in the lake (only 1% up the James River Arm). The average size of crappie harvested was about 11 inches. Crappie recruitment in Table Rock is much lower and more inconsistent than bass recruitment, so harvest definitely plays a much higher role in reducing the overall densities of crappie in the lake than it does for bass.

What about starting a campaign to release at least ONE female crappie with eggs in the spring. See how many we can confirm released to help recruitment.

Great idea Phil, I do the same with bass - although they really don't need recruitment help

[Champ188]

There have been reports on this forum of stripers caught in the lake. Not up river.

I can't recall the last report but it's been within the last year.

I don't recall any reports like that and I'm on this forum several times every day.

Not saying it's impossible but I think you're just trolling for a reaction bite that you're not going to get from me. Kind of like I don't go over to the Beaver forum and aggravate you guys anymore.

[J-Doc]

Actually I was being serious and see above post that confirms what I said.

I'm not implying the lake is full of stripers that's silly. Not enough evidence to support that. More would be caught regularly if that were the case. I do believe there is a tiny population that escapes most anglers. That population is so small it cannot possibly impact a fishery as large as Table Rock and I've been told that stripers do not spawn successfully in freshwater. They are a fresh water and saltwater species. I did catch a male spawning earlier this year.

I'm not trolling.....for a reaction. Just stating, they are not all chasing trout I'm the river. According to the resident biologist from over 20yrs experience (found on the Beaver forum) stripers like the cold water but they also like the deeper water due to oxygen levels. I could see both oxygen and water temp sustain them in the river but I would think....rather propose a theory that they live in the lake as well.

But not I'm any concentration that would cause someone like yourself to lose sleep over.

I was not provoking an answer or digging for an insult. I was simply stating what was again confirmed in a post above....stripers have been caught. I'm Table Rock. Arriving there from Beaver is pretty obvious.

Do I think they should stick them I'm TR? No I don't. Although as deep as that lake is and as big as it is, they would thrive and also bring in money to local economy. But as stated above, there are other options and other lakes. Only biologists know if stocking TR with them is a good thing. # even then it's an educated guess. People thought it was a good biological idea to use kudzoo vines and look how that turned out....

Not trying to argue or provoke as you do. I'm simply stating a few opinions and let you be aware that they are in the lake. Just not enough for you to worry about.

I'll be happy to come catch them out for you if you'll send me GPS coordinates. Lol! I'll be glad to help. :-)

I'm in Florida and just had red snapper, grouper, mahi, etc. I still prefer striper. Its just good stuff!

[Bird Watcher]

I don't recall any reports like that and I'm on this forum several times every day.

Not saying it's impossible but I think you're just trolling for a reaction bite that you're not going to get from me. Kind of like I don't go over to the Beaver forum and aggravate you guys anymore.

Here you go. Not Holiday Island, Eagle Rock. Not exactly down lake. I think this is what J-Doc is talking about. See post #11 for another classy response.

[abkeenan]

Man,

We sure it's not winter with all the bickering here on the boards the last few weeks? Maybe all the rain has everyone in premature cabin fever mode.

[buddygr53]

Will this ever end