https://realtree.com/fishing/mississippi-reduces-crappie-limit-on-popular-lakes-due-to-live-sonar?fbclid=IwY2xjawEVBh5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdFE1Rk05kqaL4CUilo2V9Pk7uqM_r1ZXKCBzdPFHJ9T9Lqdoq-uUnu3pA_aem_pikRQ15MDhMCz7IDD_A39A#

 

Good move, IMO.

There will be more of this coming in the future.

 

Panfish like sunfish and crappies are heavily pressured here during the winter and live sonar has made it exponentially easier and less time consuming to find a school of them.  Very few are released.

 

Last year the MN DNR lowered the daily sunfish limit on over 100 lakes here from 20 to 5.  I could see a statewide regulation coming soon.

41 minutes ago, gimruis said:

There will be more of this coming in the future.

I hope so.

 

...I'm left wondering how we'll deal with it on species like bass and muskies where most of the mortality comes from handling.

I wonder how tournaments would be without electronics lol.

16 minutes ago, WackyWormNedRig said:

I wonder how tournaments would be without electronics lol.

We need to discuss this topic sometime on this forum. 

 

Here's a quote on how we are approaching this issue in Tennessee

 

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency regional fisheries biologist Mike Jolley said they have not thoroughly examined the impact of FFS on fish populations yet, however, “We haven’t seen any reductions (in crappie populations) that we could attribute directly to FFS. We did start (in our region) including a few questions on our creel surveys regarding FFS in two reservoirs last year. We are still looking at that data … it will take some time to acquire a good data base since creel is not conducted on every reservoir every year in our region.

“It is probably safe to say that FFS usage and harvest has increased by crappie fishermen,” said Jolley. “However, some populations (here) may be able to withstand added pressure. Again, this will vary among reservoirs.”

Jolley went on to say, “I think the change in Mississippi will certainly lead to more related discussions by wildlife agencies and anglers.” He added, however, “I can think of other situations where new technologies have provoked much thought regarding the impact on fish populations (in our state). For example, spider rigging for crappie was argued by many to be the end of crappie populations years ago in reservoirs like Kentucky Lake. And the ‘Alabama Rig’ was going to be detrimental to bass populations and (our Agency) did have to define a legal array for fishing under the ‘statewide hook restriction.’  However, to my knowledge, neither of these technologies had significant impacts to those populations or at least no data to prove it. That doesn’t mean FFS may not be different.”

- Quote from crappienow.com

2 hours ago, WackyWormNedRig said:

I wonder how tournaments would be without electronics lol.

Not without electronics.

 

Without FFS.

 

 

...but to answer your question,  we'd find out who the real anglers were in a hurry.

On 7/29/2024 at 8:50 PM, Tennessee Boy said:

We need to discuss this topic sometime on this forum. 

 

Here's a quote on how we are approaching this issue in Tennessee

 

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency regional fisheries biologist Mike Jolley said they have not thoroughly examined the impact of FFS on fish populations yet, however, “We haven’t seen any reductions (in crappie populations) that we could attribute directly to FFS. We did start (in our region) including a few questions on our creel surveys regarding FFS in two reservoirs last year. We are still looking at that data … it will take some time to acquire a good data base since creel is not conducted on every reservoir every year in our region.

“It is probably safe to say that FFS usage and harvest has increased by crappie fishermen,” said Jolley. “However, some populations (here) may be able to withstand added pressure. Again, this will vary among reservoirs.”

Jolley went on to say, “I think the change in Mississippi will certainly lead to more related discussions by wildlife agencies and anglers.” He added, however, “I can think of other situations where new technologies have provoked much thought regarding the impact on fish populations (in our state). For example, spider rigging for crappie was argued by many to be the end of crappie populations years ago in reservoirs like Kentucky Lake. And the ‘Alabama Rig’ was going to be detrimental to bass populations and (our Agency) did have to define a legal array for fishing under the ‘statewide hook restriction.’  However, to my knowledge, neither of these technologies had significant impacts to those populations or at least no data to prove it. That doesn’t mean FFS may not be different.”

- Quote from crappienow.com

I’ve voiced a few grievances over the years with TWRA but one thing I like about them is the fact that they want people to eat fish and don’t give a rats hind end about tournaments.

 

i agree with Jolley that listening to the vocal locals is not a great idea, like his spider rigging example 

The conservation dept. needs to do that here in Missouri.

Honestly other than walleye and trout in PA I do not hear of tons of people catching to eat. A lot of the people fishing for bluegills and sunfish do it for life bait for flathead fishing. From what I see and hear at the ramps is no one keeps most fish. 

10 minutes ago, Susky River Rat said:

I do not hear of tons of people catching to eat.

Sunnies and Crappie here ARE caught to eat - it's illegal in MN to use them as bait. The shore spots here are lined up with people targeting panfish to take home for a fish fry.

2 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Sunnies and Crappie here ARE caught to eat - it's illegal in MN to use them as bait. The shore spots here are lined up with people targeting panfish to take home for a fish fry.

And it’s 10 times worse in the winter because the whole lake is accessible, not just the public shoreline. That’s assuming there’s safe ice, of course.

@MN Fisher I was strictly talking about PA waters. I can’t see them putting restrictions here. 
 

@gimruis even the guys ice fishing here do it for trout and walleye to take home. 

Why would any sane person not eat bluegill and crappier ??  Some of the best eating there is !!  Take a plate of pan fish fillets over a steak anyway !!   d**n, now I am drooling......

Ew

16 hours ago, airshot said:

Why would any sane person not eat bluegill and crappier ??

Allergies.

1 hour ago, Further North said:

Allergies.

Didn't think of that....glad that isn't me, but very sorry for those of you with that issue.

9 minutes ago, airshot said:

Didn't think of that....glad that isn't me, but very sorry for those of you with that issue.

No reason to feel sorry, but I appreciate the sentiment.

Life is good, and I still fish as often as I want, and more than most.