CritterGitter
04-13-2005, 03:48 PM
On most central Ohio resevoirs we have size limits for crappie. On the bigger ones such as Alum and Hoover I think a 9 inch length limit makes sense. These large bodies of water don't experience water exchange rates that are too high, they don't get too much pressure(for their size) and they are very large and deep. Thus the primary breeding stock doesn't get over-fished.
However, at Delaware Resevoir a 9 inch limit is not sufficient. This resevoir is small and relativley shallow, has a very high water exchange rate, gets hammered with fishing pressure and it's breeding stock of crappie are dwindling. This resevoir used to have a 10 inch limit and that allowed the breeding stock to continue to provide a strong population for the lake. However, with growth rates what they the fish that reach maturity for breeding get caught soon there-after. This resevoir had a 10 inch limit for 3 years which made it the best crappie lake in the state for several years. Since dropping it to 9 inches it was ok for a few years, but now it is really suffereing. I think the ODNR should consider raising it back to 10 for this resevoir or place a bag limit on them of say 30 fish per day. I know these suggestions have been brought up to ODNR biologists and officials before. Sometimes, I think my dog is more receptive when I tell him my thoughts for regulations than these ODNR folks. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to bash the ODNR as they do a great job over-all. I would just like to see some things done differently and I am sure others feel the same about different issues or regulations.
Also, I don't know Buckeye lake all that well, but it seems this could possibly be affective there as well.
CG
However, at Delaware Resevoir a 9 inch limit is not sufficient. This resevoir is small and relativley shallow, has a very high water exchange rate, gets hammered with fishing pressure and it's breeding stock of crappie are dwindling. This resevoir used to have a 10 inch limit and that allowed the breeding stock to continue to provide a strong population for the lake. However, with growth rates what they the fish that reach maturity for breeding get caught soon there-after. This resevoir had a 10 inch limit for 3 years which made it the best crappie lake in the state for several years. Since dropping it to 9 inches it was ok for a few years, but now it is really suffereing. I think the ODNR should consider raising it back to 10 for this resevoir or place a bag limit on them of say 30 fish per day. I know these suggestions have been brought up to ODNR biologists and officials before. Sometimes, I think my dog is more receptive when I tell him my thoughts for regulations than these ODNR folks. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to bash the ODNR as they do a great job over-all. I would just like to see some things done differently and I am sure others feel the same about different issues or regulations.
Also, I don't know Buckeye lake all that well, but it seems this could possibly be affective there as well.
CG