Crappie Sampling

[mojorig]

This fall, we have been trying to sample the crappie population in Bull Shoals Lake using lead nets. Traditionally, it has been very difficult to collect crappie from Bull Shoals Lake. This year, we are finally having some success. We have been setting nets in East and West Sugarloaf arms of the lake. 

Yesterday, 80% of the crappie we sampled (64 out of 80 fish) were 10 inches and longer. Overall, 67% of the crappie sampled have been 10 inches or larger (204 out of 304 crappie).  We caught these four crappie in the same net. The smallest was white crappie on the far left that went 13.1 inches. The three Black Crappie measured 14.4 in, 14.4 in and 14.6 inches. We also caught two more 14+ inches in two other nets.