063014-- Crappie fishing trip with two bonus bass

Comment

Comment by Jim Gronaw on July 3, 2014 at 6:35pm

My guess is that the downfall was at least due in part to overharvest of pike, bass and panfish. A small BOW like that has to have adult sized predators to keep smaller panfish numbers in check, where as the remaining panfish have a chance to achieve quality size if they are not harvested as soon as they are big enough to fit a frying pan.

I would question some of the actions recommended, but then again, I am not a fisheries biologist nor do I have a firm knowledge of the lakes history. My opinion of a 'prefered' fishery has many large bluegills and other panfish with high numbers of smaller bass that help maintain the quality panfishing. Most anglers consider this as an 'unbalanced' fishery, and most would rather have it just the opposite.

Anyway, it's great to see you are on those fine crappie and treating them with respect!

Comment by Slip Sinker on July 3, 2014 at 6:19pm

David... i remember growing up as a kid fishing was getting terrible on the private lake we owned a cottage on. So the association hired a team of professionals to correct and step up fishing on this once trophy bass and pike lake with tons of crappies 12 and over.

What they discovered was eye widening. The bullhead was the now the top predeter in our lake! To turn things around some of the things needing to be put into action.

1. Hold fishing contests for carp and bullhead.. (I remember catching many in a single day.)

2. Catch and keep any and every bluegill you catch.

3. release all pike bass and crappie.

4. Introduce walleye into the system. They love bullhead fingerlings. They were the chunkiest walleyes ive ever caught!

There were many more suggestions that were put into play. The point is we all know lakes are different in ecosystems from one lake to the next. The dnr size limits and limits are general and probably hurt more lakes than helps. The best solution is probably at the individual lake level and association just as you mentioned.

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on July 3, 2014 at 6:03pm

Nice day on the water Ken......good looking creel!

Comment by Slip Sinker on July 3, 2014 at 5:48pm

Thanks Jim 

Making plans to go back with my daughter to catch some eater gills.

Comment by DAVID L EITUTIS on July 3, 2014 at 4:03pm

HEY KEN they tried the same thing here on Lake Bloomington , size minimums for gills and backfired on em . They and the DNR discontinued it after a 5 year trial run. Now the lake is coming back with 9" + gills being caught now since they lifted the size restriction......

Comment by Slip Sinker on July 3, 2014 at 1:54pm

Carl and the lakes I've been fishing up here ... resevoirs crappie are tough to find and I constantly whine about it. This little natural lake they have really no place to hide. Alot of locals fish bobbers and worms for gills and the crappies basically ignore that offering.

Comment by Slip Sinker on July 3, 2014 at 1:47pm

Thanks guys!
Barely 100 acres in size and very well managed aerators and the works ... no feeders
Alot of catch and release crappie scars... i think I would of devastated the population.
They are talking about imposing slot limits in bluegills to enhance trophy populations.
I feel my 16 incher is swimming in that little lake.

Comment by carl hendrix on July 2, 2014 at 6:44pm

the CRAPPIE KING HAS STRUCK!!!!!    real nice catches Ken!!

Comment by Leo Nguyen on July 2, 2014 at 4:38pm

Great collage of catches. 

Comment by Jim Gronaw on July 2, 2014 at 9:10am

I might have kept a dozen! Great catches!

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