How are you catching your crappie??

[Heathd]

I know this sounds like a stupid question, but more often the not, when I go crappie fishing I find I have trouble keeping them alive. Previously, it was for the purpose of eating them, and not keeping. A good percentage of the ones I catch end up having their swim bladders damaged from coming out of deeper waters so quickly, and the rest just go into shock.

What are you guys doing in the way of keeping them alive once you get em on the hook?

 

[fhawk362]

hmm, never had a problem, maybe the temperature change from where your catching them to where your putting them in is throwing them in shock?

 

[Heathd]

Well they are coming from deep, cooler levels in the lakes, and they usually don't bite whenever they come up to the higher levels in the lake. Maybe a perch would be better to keep?

 

[sbuse]

i get alot of 3" crappies that i like to keep for a tank from time to time...i just use a bucket with an airstone...the problem i have is they don't like to eat when they are in the tank...alot of people i know do keep crappies...cool water and alot of o2 and you should be good...

 

[Heathd]

The regulations vary from lake to lake out here, but there is no way we can legally keep a 3 inch fish. I believe most lakes are requiring 11 inches or better

 

[Toxic Fish 9999]

well i use a bobber with minnow some times a pinkhead jid with white mister twister and when i hook them i do it lightly my dad calls them paper lips cause they can get tore easy thouse are my tips hope you get some

 

[MinnowMagnet]

I caught mine with a net in a shallow pond in the winter when they are inactive

 

[sbuse]

The regulations vary from lake to lake out here, but there is no way we can legally keep a 3 inch fish. I believe most lakes are requiring 11 inches or better

check your local regs and lakes...they have some at 11 in min. others don't...

 

[vaughneast@sbcgvaughneast]

not crappies there is no minimum size or for any pan fish for that matter ..at least in illinois