Page 3 - Crappie NOW - April 2017

Opening Cast

Spring has sprung and the crappie have either already
spawned or will be very, very soon depending
EDITOR/ SR. WRITER upon the part of the country you are from.
Crappie-catching fever is in the air. Big
female Crappie can be caught during these
IN MEMORIAM times. Conservation efforts are necessary to
help keep big Crappie populations for future
generations so do everything possible for its
WRITERS continuance.
Darl Black Based on crappie biological research,
Vic Attardo the data shows that crappie normally only
Terry Madewell live to be 7-8 years of age. A two-plus pound crappie must survive
Brad Wiegmann environmental conditions, food supply timing, predators and the
Ron Presley human angler in order to reach what we call “slab” status.
Vernon Summerlin Several years ago, TJ Stallings and I requested a study
John Neporadny, Jr be performed on one of our outstanding rivers in Alabama, the

Alabama River. We wanted to know if our fishery was overly
impacted by the tournament trails, increased attention by
anglers due to published materials or by over angler harvest.
What the state found during the two-year study was surprising.
Fishermen were only harvesting 10% of the crappie. Most fell
prey to predators such as large Catfish, migratory birds, and a
few alligators. Yet, populations were down. It was determined
that we had experienced years during our 7-8 year cycle
whereby the spawns and the resulting crappie year-class were
low. Research was accomplished to determine if potential floods,
radical water changes or weather related swings were the culprit.
It was confirmed that each played a role.
Obviously, this impacts the end of the pipeline during the
7-8th years needed to produce big fish. The larger spawning fish
would not be available to create that year’s future population.

© Copyright 2017 Harvesting those big fish can stress the system to the point that
the three plus pound fish become rare, which they did.
As I travel and fish our beautiful country, I ask that each of
you release the larger fish to keep the future of our sport alive and
well. Release the larger fish after you take some pictures for the
bragging walls. Harvest fish in the legal limit up to 14 inches as
a good practice. Follow the length limit and creel limits reverently
as they are based on sound research to maintain that fishery.
Be sure to check out in this edition of Crappie Now. The

Crappie Clubs....39 Cover Photo: article on conservation, the ways to help keep and preserve
Gerald Overstreet with an “slab” crappie during tournaments and casual fishing trips,
Alabama River crappie. provides important tips for releasing crappie.
photo by Tim Huffman
God Bless you all!
Dan Dannenmueller, Publisher

3 Crappie NOW April 2017