Cherokee Trap Netting 2007
The TWRA trap netted Cherokee in late October and early November of 2007. The 106 net-night sample collected 694 black, 14 blacknose, and no white crappie. The black crappie population appears to be on the increase as shown by the catch rate chart below. thirty-five percent of those collected were greater than the 10-inch minimum length limit.
A low number of young-of-the-year crappie were observed in 2005 through 2007 indicating weak spawns. The good spawns of 2003 and 2004 have supplied the fishery with harvestable-size, 10-inch fish over the last few years. One can only hope for a good spawn in 2008.
It will take several years of successful spawning to boost crappie numbers back to where we would like them to be. Stocking can never achieve the results that a good natural spawn can and we only hope environmental conditions cooperate in the future like they did in 2003 and 2004.
Trap Netting Demonstration Video
Black crappie length frequency - 2007
Black Crappie condition (relative weights) - 2007
Black Crappie catch rates 1998-2007
Catch rate of young-of-the-year crappie 1998-2007
White crappie young-of-the-year
A hybrid Douglas crappie (7 dorsal spines, vertical bars, and odd body shape)
