Caught this nice BCP off the end of my dock on Saturday. Just a really nice thick fish! Measured 17 inches and weight 2.1 lbs.

What is the secret to get crappie that big? In my pond they only get to about 12".

It sure is nice and ... BIG. Congratulations!

Wow! Nice fish!!

Congrats

Wow nice fish! Mine get eaten before they can grow!

Thanks guys! But all credit goes to this fish, for being a pro forager. Oddly enough, I was complaining to my dad earlier that day, that we hadn't been catching any big crappie since last fall. And then I hooked this one about an hour later.

Aa far as "growing them" big, I can't take any specific credit. Here is the info on the BOW this BCP grew up in: 2.5 acre pond, ave 8 feet deep, max 14 ft. Mud/silt bottom. Built in 1980, but we didn't purchase this property till 2015. Bottom diffused aeration since 2016. Repaired inlet silt ponds in 2015 & 2016, battled massive FA outbreaks each summer (raking, spraying, copper pellets, voodoo dolls, etc etc). Shock survey in 2016 revealed ONLY BG and BCP (no other species). Almost nuked and started over, but decided to move forward with corrective stocking (to my goals) fall of 2017. Stocked LMB, RES, BG and YP. Added 6 grass carp spring 2018. 25 HSB fall 2019. I feed Optimal BG (but only 1-2 second throw) twice a day from about mid April to mid October. Started mixing BG and LMB feed 50-50 this year.

Was she gravid Doc, or spawned out?

Doc,

What RW do you come up with on that fish?

Beautiful fish
When you see a nice BCP like that I realize I would rather have a pond where I can catch crappie close to that then one with big LMB, I love me some crappie, catching and eating, and the best part is the more you eat the better they do in your pond which leads to even better eating.

She seemed gravid to me. My pond thermometer hasn't been over 65° F yet, so probably not warm enough for spawning?

Ok if its going to be left to me ... I will clear the murky water. There is not one thing light about that magnificent crappie. Yes the standard weight of a 17" crappie is ~ 3 lbs but that fish ... is ... in no way, shape, or form at 75 RW. We have to keep in mind that length measurement was taken from the tip of the lower jaw while the fish was hanging under the influence of gravity and its own weight. I think if laid flat, the fish would measure about 15 3/4" which standard weight would be ~2.65 lbs. IMHO the fish is a female that has spawned some of her eggs and so I think the fish to have been very close to standard weight prior to that.

That's a great question. My honest answer is I havent been calculating WR on my BCP, because I cull almost all of them. I wouldn't have put them in a BOW this size, but they were already there when we arrived in 2015.

The answer surprised me. I used the free WR calculator charts from Texas Pro Lake Management, which I also use for my BG & LMB (specific table for each species for anyone not familiar, like I wasn't a few years ago).

Her length was 17 inches on the dot
Her weight was 2.1 lbs per my digital hand scale.

WR came up with 60.59%! Which shocks me given her body condition (chunky). But not as chunky as she should have been. So maybe she WAS spawned out?

After reading jpsdad's post, I think I may have to tweak my measuring & weighing routine. I wasn't trying to be deceitful with the length ( because I would only be fibbing to myself, and clouding my WR and management decisions). BUT, I think I'll move to a postal type scale, with a weight box and length tape in the box. I've seen this setup in pictures on the forum many times.

I don't think she'd compress under 16.5 inches even if laying flat, but I will find out when I have the WR station 2.0 in operation (on some new fish).

I almost decided to butcher this fish, on the thinking she may be near the end of her lifespan. But I just couldn't do it, and put her back. Maybe we'll meet again?

Of course not. I actually very much like the set up you have employed for measuring length. I think its probably less stressful on the fish and is faster and more convenient. You don't necessarily need to change everything to have good data for management. If you had your own standard weight charts for example that work with the length measurement technique that you are employing ... there is nothing wrong with that. It's up to you. For the most part, whether a fish is lean, fat, or just right can be judged by a glance.

It is convenient, but I am still thinking of trying a different setup. I used to use a small plastic bucket and a splash of water, hang it from the scale hook, then tare back to zero and weigh the fish. Bucket kept getting away. 😏

I try to hedge my opinions about fish culling against the fish in front of me. If they look plump and healthy, I will still keep some fish even if the WR is in the 90s. I have always wondered how accurate my data is, and small changes in numbers can really impact the results. Always believe your 'lyin eyes' eh? Maybe. At least don't discount your gestalt, IMO.

This is why PB forum rocks! I always learn something.

Plus it sure beats working..

It will be interesting to see how your RWs come out in the future.

I have Crappies on nests and my water temp. is 62 degrees. It has been a slow warming spring. BG don't seem close to being ready.