This information was provided by the local (Abilene) TP&W fisheries people, but probably is applicable in most sections of the State. They often utilize help from volunteers when they conduct these surveys. You might check if you are interested and volunteer now to go on the annual fall sampling surveys for crappie (Late October/early November)before it is to late. This might go along way as far as dispelling myths and providing scientific data about crappie. This is not a fish shocking situation.

In the Abilene area, they conduct their Fall sampling usually in late October or early November. They do this because they have no trouble collecting crappie of various sizes that remain shallow(15 feet or less) during that time in the Abilene area. The system they utilize is a barricade fence running from the bank out to apprx. 75 feet horizontally in length trying not to exceed 12-15 feet deep. Along the bottom of that barricade fence is a capture net that the crappie are eventually funneled into.

The fisheries people conduct the sampling randomly in the lake and do not specify certain areas typically,trying to get samples from all portions of the lake. (Abilene area, this method probably depends on depth in various lakes) and may be different in your local lakes.

Volunteer now if you you are intersted in crappie in your part of the State and see what your fishing license dollars are going toward. In addition, in Abilene at least these biologists are also providing mapping details of some lakes and some of the small city lakes with depths and gps information.

Hope this helps in your crappie information.

Regards
Ron, Mud-Dabber

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Good info,,,but how do you go about it ?

Roger:

Just call the TP&W Fisheries Biologist office probably there in Lubbock. The guys here office in a completely different building than the game wardens or where you register your boat. Ask to speak to a biologist and ask if they need volunteers to help with the sampling net surveys for crappie. You can mention that it is done here in Abilene and you can see where the samples are being taken ??? for future referene. I asked specifically about doing it at Stamford again. They do alternate lakes, so not every lake gets the sampling survey done every year. No more lakes than you guys have, I have actually seen times when they came into Lake Stamford and Millers Creek to help those districts.

Look up State of Texas TP&W in the phone book and there should be a listing. I think it would really be interesting on Alan Henry also, that might help with finding those elusive day time fish.

Regards,
Ron