I was having a discussion today about the Crappie spawn..what came up in the discussion was whether or not it is a slaughter of the species.
I have seen people on lavon (and other lakes)catch 25 and put them in the car and catch 25 more.I have also seen them hide the crappie on a stringer under the water.You count the number of crappie and the number of people fishing fore them, do you think it hurts the crappie fishing in the long run.Maybe they should make it a law not to crappie fish during the spawn for a fw years..Any thoughts on this?

even though there are the ones that like to break the law, i dont think tpwd will put a season on fishing. that is why they started putting daily limits.

Nazman....people have fished the "crappie spawn" or "white/sand bass spawn" for as long as we've known life.....The crappie and whites are still around in great numbers as they are prolific species. I think the daily limit takes into account some cheats or TPW would lower them.

It does suck to see people do that kind of thing. I'm not a rat but I will report any wrong I see on lakes and whole hunting because its up to us to keep fishing and hunting legal.

I tried to stock my grandmas lake with Crappie but the fish dude said he will not stock a lake/pond under 25 acres wih Crappie because they produce so many fish and it will cripple the fish in the tank due to lack of food. I think that means they produce like rabbits

According to all I have read, and all that has been verbally relayed to me by TP&WD staff, crappie are such prolific reproducers, that consistent taking of limits from established fish populations has little impact. So your "slaughter" fears, though seeemingly well founded, should not be one of your main concerns.

That being said, TP&WD also tell us that crappie seem to naturally run in 5 yr cycles, numbers wise. So catching a phenomenal run a yr or two in a row, then practically zero the next yr or two, apparently is a natural cycle, and again should be no major cause for concern.

Now the poaching of undersized fish is indeed a problem in some places(winter creeks!) and that needs to be addressed and curbed asap!

Rudy

Crappie have lasted this long, even before the daily bag limits were in place. They need no help in surviving.

When you see violations, call the 800
number on your liscense. Almost everyone
carries a cell phone these days, Use it.
If you see multiple violations and the local
Wardens ignore your calls, call Austin.
Rudy-- I have read your comments for a few years
now, Have the wardens been notified of the
situation on WRC, and do they respond?


Good luck
MO

YES, THEY RESPOND! AND BELIEVE ME GUYS, NO MATTER HOW BAD YOU THINK IT IS UP THERE RIGHT NOW, IT HAS IMPROVED SO MUCH FROM WHAT IT USED TO BE! THE DIFFERENCE IS NIGHT AND DAY!

The all time classic WRC story, actually it was Dixon Branch up on Buckner blvd, is when that creek was so high, the current so fast, and it was so choked with crappie, that guys were casting SNAGGING RIGS, LIKE THEY DO FOR BUFFALO, GAR, AND OTHER "TRASH FISH"(BIG WEIGHTS, TREBLE HOOKS, HEAVY LINE, BIG CAST RODS FOR DISTANCE AND BACKBONE), and snagging huge crappie ON EVERY CAST!! The game wardens were in a grove of trees with binoculars, and THE BIGGEST HAUL MADE THAT DAY WAS THE ONE MADE BY THE GAME WARDENS AND THE DALLAS PARK POLICE, of all the violators!!

IT WAS TRUE GREATNESS TO SEE THOSE THIEVES CAUGHT IN THE ACT!

It is nowhere near as bad up there as it used to be but, conversely, as crappieslayer posted on another thread here, there was indeed a time when limits kept at WRC were of 1.5 to 2.0 lb or better crappie, consistently, daily, and all winter long!

The creek is making a major comeback on size, if this yr and last are any indications, thanks to guys like the TFF'ers and the legislation in place to protect the fisheries!

Rudy