Like the pro-active movement, but would like to see the numbers and how it really is affecting the population of the lake, I know Oklahoma you can keep 37 any size, and they have great fishery. Hugo has been great for years and they make meat loads all the time. Just be interesting to see what the numbers come back and say. Now and then again in about 2-3 years to see what if any the change from guides will are going to have on the lake.

Guide consensus is a great start with reference to # of fish kept per client. Most clients can't fish or don't know how to fish and the deductive reasoning curve says the limit of fish taken goes freezer burned in short order. Personal philosophy from said idea !!

First let me say, the guides willing to put their neck out there and support this is awesome. Secondly, I do believe data is important. And lastly, I think there needs to be an agreement on what the goal is and work towards that goal. For example, my goal would be that when I went out I had a tremendous chance at catching plenty of 2-pound crappies regardless of the lake. So how do we get that done? Slot limit? Change the bag limit? ect. Whatever it would take to get that type of fishery is what I would sign up for. Blessings to all. B

The issue with the data is that TPWD does not have the funding, time or concern to conduct more surveys. Fork hasn't been sampled since 2017. Maybe now they will, only time will tell.

This is an old school mentality that a lot still have. I think there is alot we don't know about. One thing to remember is that when these limits were set, there wasn't anything close to the technology that we have now so truthfully, they just had to pick a decent number so that no one person could fill the back of their truck up with fish. Back then with the limits in place and minimal technology, was anyone at TPWD really concerned with crappie population being depleted, probably not. I would love to see a study and see what it says. With that being said, I think studies on these fish with electro fishing and netting, etc.. are not fully accurate. Crappie are schooling fish and if you aren't looking in the right place at the right time of year, then those studies are not fully showing the fish population. Guides are chasing and looking at crappie daily and know the average sizes of fish they see and catch so I really think if guides say they are noticing a decline, I trust them more than TPWD honestly.

Fork and pines have those rules because of the depth the fish are caught, they would die anyway. Not because they need to control the population.

And I agree with the guides being proactive and taking steps to protect the resource. Kudos to them for thinking about the future of our fisheries.

Guides started the talk about size limits on Tawak catfish to protect the trophy fishery. They got TPW involved and provided data to TPW. So maybe crappie fishermen can get TPW more interested if "we" let them know we want this fishery studied and resource sustained. The guides and tournament fishermen can supply a wealth of data without TPW having to spend much money. Where do we start?

I don't want to hijack Anthony's post so if we need to start a new one, I'll do that. Your call Anthony.

Im for wildlife conservation and all, support the guides that want to limit their keep. Just trying to put #s down. Does anybody know how many crappie are in Lake Fork as of the last time it was surveyed? If im reading right, the last survey was 2017?

pretty good point

"Guides are chasing and looking at crappie daily and know the average sizes of fish they see and catch so I really think if guides say they are noticing a decline, I trust them more than TPWD honestly"

I signed up for this as soon as Jerry Hancock called me with the idea. Since then, the amount of griping has actually surprised me a bit, although most folks seem to like idea.

Here’s why I’m all for it, and why I’ll be practicing the conservation effort on both of our boats:

1) limits aren’t as easy to come by as they used to be, and neither are big fish.

2) worse case scenario, other anglers will catch more fish

3) 40 keepers for two people on a half day trip is a really strong day on the water

4) a lot of fish we clean get wasted. I can’t tell you how many times a year I hear “we still have fish from last year’s trip”.

5) most of the people who have voiced their negative opinion with this movement don’t book with us (guides) anyways

6) our state biologists aren’t on the water as much as professional fishermen

7) there are still plenty of REALLY good guides who won’t practice the keep 20 movement

8) it wasn’t supposed to be possible for ducks and buffalos to be hunted to near extinction

9) everyone is still free to choose as to whether or not they want to keep a limit on their own boat, so with guides throwing back fish, it should only make their chances better right??



Looking at the fighting online, it seems like a lot of people haven’t gone fishing in awhile.

Ken, no worries at all. You are not hijacking anything. I wanted this to be an open conversation

will the guide prices go down if the fish keeping goes down,...??

Seems that lowering it to 15 would serve a better purpose. Guides do take ALOT of every fish out of the lakes each year, just look at the pics they post. Dont limit it to guides though, make it for everyone. Technology has changed getting everyone on a more level playing field. 15 fish a day is plenty for anyone to have of any species of fish.

What about those that only get to fish a few times a year? I feel like for them, keeping a limit isn't an issue

I'm one of those guides that has joined this. This came after much discussion among the guides specifically on Fork and Pines. Which are the two lakes that get absolutely blasted

I agree with everything Lane said and will add a few more points.

Just because we reach the 20, 40, or 60 fish threshold, does not mean we will stop fishing. When I have just a single customer (which isn't often) and if they catch their limit fast (which isn't often haha) we head off to the catfish hole, or go snatch some shell crackers. No one will be shorted on my boat or any others that I know of for time on the water.

Like Lane said, a 40 fish day is a good day!!

We cant wait on bureaucracy to keep up with technology. It never has yet!

If in the future we are proven wrong, and I hope we are, then great!

Tight lines TFF

7 walleyes are you can keep up north,...I think trout is 5 around here,...redfish are 3 a day,...and bass are 5 unders at fork...

25 does seem like a lot !