Roger Gant fishes those lakes, as well as Pickwick Reservoir on the Tennessee River. “Pickwick is a superb crappie lake,” he says, “that’s overlooked due to the attention it gets for smallmouth. And it’s overshadowed by Kentucky Lake, which lies directly downstream. I primarily fish the north section of Pickwick, where most fish run 11⁄4 to 11⁄2 pounds, but we get plenty over 2 pounds as well. Arkabutla, in contrast, is a very fertile, dark-water lake that grows huge crappies and grows ’em fast. It’s a rare tournament where a 3-pounder isn’t weighed in.

“If you want loads of nice crappies, but aren’t necessarily looking for a trophy, try Sardis. That reservoir has more crappies per acre than any lake I’ve ever seen. Though they have pretty fair crappie fishing in Missouri, all those folks come to Sardis in the spring.”

Conservation Concepts

“Fishing pressure is taking a toll on our lakes, though,” Gant admits. “Today’s crappie fishermen are knowledgeable and versatile. They’re rigged with hi-tech sonar and multiple poles and they cover productive structure like a combine through a wheatfield; it’s not fishing, it’s harvesting.

“I recommend reducing the daily bag limit, which stands at 30 fish here. For three anglers in a boat, that’s 90 crappie maybe weighing 150 pounds. What’s going to happen to all those fish? I’ve seen anglers clean a limit, pack ’em in a freezer in their camper, and go out to catch more. Our lakes are productive and some people say they can’t put a dent in the population. But that’s what folks said about the ocean, too.”

Calls for conservation are heard from nearly all knowledgeable crappie anglers and observers of the crappie fishing scene. Fishing success can be increased and strong year-classes prolonged by innovative regulations that match the growth rate and mortality rate of the population, while addressing the objectives and attitudes of local anglers. When fishing is hot, lower bag limits save fish and spread the catch. Moreover, they force anglers to release more fish, a regulation they find far less objectionable than they’d imagined.

In Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Kansas, Texas, Missouri, Ohio, and other states where crappie rank high in popularity, length limits (usually 10 or 12 inches) have been imposed on popular spots. In Kansas, Coffey County Lake, a prime fishery, is managed with a limit of two 14-inchers per day. Though few definitive evaluations have been done, increased fishing success has generally been reported.

Panfish anglers everywhere should adopt the philosophy of selective harvest, which encourages anglers to voluntarily release the biggest crappies, while keeping a modest number of smaller fish for immediate consumption. Voluntary release has proven effective and acceptable among trout fishermen for 50 years and with bass and muskies for most of the last 25. When will crappies get their turn?