What size range is "keeper" for crappie?

[Vitreus]

I generally fish for walleye wherever I go, but this weekend I will be targeting some crappies. The DNR survey shows that 5% of the population is between 0 and 5 inches, 89% of the population is between 6 and 8 inches, and the remaining 6% are between 9 and 11 inches. What should be kept for eating and what should be thrown back?

[Bigslugger]

Depends on if you like eating crackers then the 6"-8" otherwise if you like fish 10"-11". Anything bigger should go back for the sake of breeding stock and keeping genetics.

[rkpolaris]

I like 9" and up

[Brad B]

anything between 8 to 10 inches is my keeper range when I feel like eating some.

[Stick in Mud]

It all depends on your preference....Lots of guys seem to use 8'' as their minimum size, but I guess it depends on the lake, too. I live around St Cloud, and if you didn't keep any crappies until they were 9'' or bigger, you wouldn't keep very many.

[KrabbyPatties]

Keeping smaller fish and returning larger ones is better for the fishery. Keeping little ones isn't so bad if you don't care what other people think of you and you don't have anywhere to brag.

I've noticed one other thing--not to generalize too much here, but for the most part, non-anglers, women, and kids seem to prefer the smaller, crispier "potato chips" you get from smaller fish over big slab fillets. Lower in contaminants too. My dinner tonight was fresh-caught perch probably not even as long as my hand but they were good!

[herefish101]

9-12 above 12 and their to big, below 9 and they cook in 10 seconds.

[Stick in Mud]

That's funny, Krabby...I completely agree. I'm more apt to keep smaller panfish than I am larger ones, but I do always worry what someone will think if he sees my bucket.

[live4chrome]

10-11 for me, anything bigger than 12 goes back down. then again I fish waters where a 9" is a baby:)

[BigDogRob]

I hope you are referring to the crappies,

Sorry I couldn't resist...

I usually don't fish for them, but would say the one's I have kept were usually around 11"

[Rippinlip]

Try to shoot for that 9-11" mark.

[KrabbyPatties]

That's funny, Krabby...I completely agree. I'm more apt to keep smaller panfish than I am larger ones, but I do always worry what someone will think if he sees my bucket.

Don't! I love having a few little panfish, perch, or even a redeye in my bucket--especially on these warm days where you don't need to hide in a shelter! Even if I'm CPRing nice fish as well, if someone rides up and asks how the fishing is, I can show him my bucket of 6.5" sunnies with a fat rock bass on top and say, "Well, you can see I'm getting pretty desperate!" I used that line again TODAY as I pulled a 6" perch out of my bucket.

It's a good way to discourage competition.

And I've never been very good at worrying about what other people think.

[fishuhalik]

sometimes i prefer to eat those little 7-8"ers. it's like fish crackers! sure does take alot of em for a meal though! usually it's around 9" though.

[Vitreus]

Keeping smaller fish and returning larger ones is better for the fishery. Keeping little ones isn't so bad if you don't care what other people think of you and you don't have anywhere to brag.

I've noticed one other thing--not to generalize too much here, but for the most part, non-anglers, women, and kids seem to prefer the smaller, crispier "potato chips" you get from smaller fish over big slab fillets. Lower in contaminants too. My dinner tonight was fresh-caught perch probably not even as long as my hand but they were good!

It does make sense, for the health of the fishery, to keep the small ones and spare fish that have the genetics to produce large offspring.

[marshmallow]

It's just Me in The House.. I Like The "14 - 17" Inch Speckled Fish .. Nah.. Just Jokin' .. "9 - 12" Inch For Me ..Got A "15" On The Wall ..

[fishersofmen]

8"-12"

[blackdog1101]

I keep about 8" - 10". My outstretched hand is about 8.25" from thumb to pinky, so thats how I measure a keeper.

[Stick in Mud]

That's pretty wise, Krabby...I'll have to use your trick.

At the very least, keeping them in the bucket prevents anyone who's walking near the fishhouse from seeing all the fish I've thrown on the ice!

[dan z]

like to keep the 9"-11" sometimes smaller, sometmes larger depends on the fishery

[tsande00]

I keep about 8" - 10". My outstretched hand is about 8.25" from thumb to pinky, so thats how I measure a keeper.

+1 same here. My outstretched hand is 9" and in the past if the tail to head didn't reach pinky to thumb tip back down the hole it went.

[ENMIFDAD]

I wonder how many guys like me just took out the tape measure and measured their hand???

I don't mind keeping the 7" crappies. My son will put them in the bucket when I'm not looking anyway. He like to feel like he is providing for the rest of the family!

[OnAFly]

I have marks on my scoop at 6, 9, 12 inches. I would keep 9-11 when I would keep them.

[EBass]

9-11" If I keep them that is.

[Hartley]

Good luck finding 9-11 inch crappies in the metro area!

[Jim Uran]

10 to 13" depending on the lake, but for me, I definitely throw them back if they are under 10".