The Most Popular Panfish Of This Or Any Other Time

REGULATIONS

In traditional areas of crappie popularity, regulations have evolved to address increasing harvest pressure and in response to angler interest in big crappies. While the number of anglers has not increased much, if at all, angler avidity has risen substantially.

Bullock decries the overall reduction in large crappies. "Today, nearly every angler has a boat and nearly all are equipped with sonar, a far cry from the bank fishing and rental boats so common 30 years ago. Crappie anglers read up on all the new techniques in In-Fisherman and Crappie World. Through crappie tournaments, more anglers have been shown the effectiveness of precision trolling. The 'secret' techniques that some of us used decades ago to catch fish outside the spring period now are common knowledge."

On average, anglers today fish more frequently and spend far more money (corrected for inflation) on tackle than in previous periods. And as Bullock notes, they're increasingly knowledgeable and efficient.

In Kansas, for example, In-Fisherman Field Editor Ned Kehde notes the adaptation of walleye trolling tactics by Kansas crappie aficionados. "When crappies spread across a large expanse of a reservoir's topography, or when the wind howls, trolling is far more effective than the drifting or casting methods traditionally favored in these parts.

"In response to fishing pressure, the daily bag limit was reduced from 50 to 20 in 2004 at Perry, Clinton, Melvern, and Council Grove reservoirs," Kehde says. "Leonard Jirak, biologist with Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, encouraged the reduction and he reports some positive benefits. Fewer fish are harvested at any one time, which has spread the crappie catch across the calendar year. At our best crappie lake, Coffey County Fishing Lake, the limit is just 2 crappie per day, and they must be over 14 inches long."

Wherever crappie have proved popular, the trend in management has been toward reducing daily creel limits. More states also are experimenting with length limits. Missouri led the way, though some Kansans resented folks traveling down I-10 to fish the plentiful and less strictly governed populations of eastern Kansas.

Mimimum-length limits of 9, 10, and 11 inches have been widely applied from Ohio to Oklahoma. In Minnesota, 9-, 10-, and 11-inch minimum-length limits have recently been applied to selected lakes, along with 5-fish creel limits. Grenada Lake in Mississippi, one of the best trophy crappie producers, is governed with a 12-inch minimum length limit.

In Canada, increasing interest in crappie angling has brought a reduction in creel limit from 30 to 15. Yet in New England and mid-Atlantic states from Maine to Delaware, where crappie remain overlooked, no harvest regulations are in effect.

Roger Bullock notes that regulations are great but enforcement is essential, as anglers get greedy. "On several famous crappie lakes, spring brings a huge influx of out-of-state crappie anglers," he says. "Many travel in motorhomes equipped with big freezers. Unfortunately, and despite the best efforts of game wardens, they engage in what's called 'tripping' -- taking more than one limit per day, often lots more than one.

"On several occasions, I've conned my way into their graces, leading them to braggingly display their bulging freezers. As I've left the area, I've tipped off the local conservation officer, hoping they'll make a case."

The budgets of many game and fish departments have been pared in recent years, and many are lacking a full enforcement staff. Here in Minnesota, the governor has made conservation enforcement a priority, hiring to fill nearly all vacant positions and adding some new ones. Other states need to set similar priorities.

For well nigh 20 years, we've been proposing and preaching Selective Harvest, emphasizing that this decision process is as critical for panfish as for bass and muskie. Keeping some average-sized fish, not necessarily a limit, for a fresh meal is one of the highlights of any trip. But releasing big fish to spawn and continue growing is necessary to maintain good fishing quality.

Meanwhile, below the surface, crappies follow their natural inclination to eat and spawn. A compromise in shape and size, crappies occupy a unique niche in our waters. They hold a unique niche in the hearts of all enlightened anglers, as well.