| Crappie Fishing Survey | |
|
Ever wonder how fisheries biologists are able to predict what the population of a certain type fish is in a lake? How do they get an idea of how many crappie, bass, stripers or walleye live in a lake and how do they determine the way the population is changing?
While working on an article about crappie fishing for Georgia Sportsman Magazine, I interviewed several Georgia Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Biologists. I found out how they measure crappie population in Georgia reservoirs. And I got some specific info on the outlook for several lakes here.
Each year gill nets are put out to survey open water species of fish like crappie, hybrids, stripers and others. To be consistent, the same size and number of nets are put out in the same places each year at the same time. And they are left out for the same length of time each year. A record of all the fish caught it kept to determine that year's population and then compared to other years to get trends.
Here, DNR biologists put out 12 gill nets on each lake in the late fall, varying from early November in the north Georgia lakes to early December in the south. Those nets are checked each day and all fish caught in them collected.
Since I fish the lakes I was asking about, the crappie population and trend was very interesting to me. Crappie populations are very cyclical and great fishing on a lake one year does not mean it will continue being good. These cycles tend to run in a five to seven year pattern.
I was pleased when I was told several Georgia lakes have stable populations of crappie. I was surprised at one of our lakes. Lake Oconee is possibly the best lake in the state. Many fishermen consider an 8 inch crappie the minimum size to keep, and 95 % of the crappie there are that big or bigger. Even better if you like big fish was the news that 30 % of the crappie are between 12 and 14 inches long and 11 % are bigger than that! You have a good chance of catching a lot of keeper size crappie and some trophy fish are also likely to come over the side of your boat.
Fish like bream, bass and cats that do not stay in open water are surveyed by shocking them. That is also an interesting process and following the shocking boat around can really be an eye-opener! It is amazing how many fish can come out of hole you just fished and did not get a bite!
State biologists have a lot of info that can help you determine which lakes are most likely to produce for you, and also which lakes to avoid. Check with your state agency for more detailed information that can help you.
ONE YEAR AGO THIS WEEK - 11/08/99
- Fishing Books
Books can help you learn and catch more fish.
TWO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK - 11/09/98
- Fish Recipes
Cooking your catch, from fried fish to chowders
THREE YEARS AGO THIS WEEK! - 11 /10/97 -
Thanksgiving Memories
Fishing, not eating turkey, is what I remember about this holiday.
Check out Coming Next Week - Next week's column topic, contest prize and new additions to the resources lists.
