Page 4 - Crappie NOW - April 2017

By Tim Huffman

tournaments for year and has been a part
Recreational and tournament of national crappie fishing for six or seven
fishermen both benefit from having healthy years. He and partner Garrett Steele are
crappie in the livewell. The following are Team Bobby Garland on the Crappie
a few observations, tips and ideas about Master tournament trail and they will fish
keeping fish in good shape for release or other national tournaments during 2017.
eating. Dannenmueller has personal experience
and has the good and bad experiences of
The 4 Main Players fellow tournament anglers. The following are
Player #1 is the crappie. In general, the his thoughts on fish care and conservation.
crappie should be treated properly making “Preserving our sport is the
sure that a livewell has oxygen, fresh water, responsibility of everyone involved,” says
cooling or whatever else is needed. Even Dannenmueller. “It’s important to care for
when headed for the table, as sportsmen, and preserve our waters for fishermen today
ethically we have the responsibility to take and for future generations.
care of these fish in the well. If not, fish held “For all fishermen, the big picture and
to eat should be put directly into a cooler first general step is for all fishermen to abide
with ice. by the creel and length limit laws. Biologists
Player #2 is the recreational fisherman. in each state determine these limits based
He or she should immediately release fish upon maintaining a proper balance of
not headed to the table. Otherwise, to get today’s needs and the future. Grenada and
the best taste possible he should keep the Washington in Mississippi are examples
fish alive and healthy or put them on ice. of heavily pressured waters that maintain
Player #3 is the tournament fisherman. due to strict creel and length limits. Good
Ethics and money are on the line, That
requires keeping crappie alive. Dead fish
can’t be weighed. The best livewell practices “The future of crappie fishing
must be followed, not only to for weighing depends upon all fishermen
but for a healthy release afterwards. caring for the resource for today
Player #4 is the tournament director. and generations to come.”
He is responsible for keeping thousands
of fish healthy during weigh-in. He is also
the number one person responsible for management is critical for these and similar
maintaining a good image of tournament waters. Another step includes enforcement
fishing. Fish should be cared for and of these limits. Without enforcement and
released back into the lake or river to be fishermen knowing there is a good chance
caught another day. of getting caught if they don’t follow the
laws, regulations won’t be followed as they
Fish-Alive Strategies should.
Dan Dannenmueller fished bass “Tournaments create a more difficult

4 Crappie NOW April 2017