Photo By Michael Skinner

If recent surveys by Alabama's Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries are any indication, the Cotton State should once again provide some above-average crappie action this year. From large lakes such as Guntersville and Eufaula to some of the small state fishing lakes, the news is good regarding crappie.

At Eufaula, for instance, the numbers are expected to be down a bit from recent years, but the size of the crappie should be rather stout, according to DWFF fisheries biologist Ken Weathers. He said the crappie caught in 2005 should average 10 to 12 inches and weigh roughly 3/4 pound.

"It looks as though there should be a lot of good-sized crappie on Eufaula in 2005," Weathers assured.

Anglers visiting 100-acre Dallas County Fishing Lake this year should expect about the same thing as well: great size but smaller numbers. Despite the lake's diminutive size, biologist Jay Haffner said slabs of a pound or so should be common, which to many anglers will be a welcome change from the myriad 7- and 8-inch fish the lake was popular for over the last two years.

"If you are looking for big fish, Dallas County Lake is the place for you," Haffner emphasized. "But if you want numbers, it is not the place to go."

Whether you're hunting size or quantity this year, several lakes in the state should provide more than ample opportunity to find one or both.

ON THE REBOUND
Crappie numbers are notoriously fickle, often changing dramatically from one year to the next. One year a lake can be brimming with small crappie, and then the next year yields large numbers of fat, healthy fish. The key in this equation is recruitment -- getting a class of fish to last through late fall and winter, increasing the likelihood that they can contribute to the overall fishery the following spring. It is still unclear just what factors most impact recruitment, but issues such as food availability are currently being studied, according to Nick Nichols, assistant chief of fisheries for the Alabama DWFF.

"Nobody really has a good answer on why the population goes up and down," he said. "But it's something that goes on at the fingerling level."

Though the culprit is still unknown, Nichols said his office is currently looking at several ways to offset fluctuating recruitment. One way being considered is closely monitoring reservoirs in hopes of gaining better predictive data, and they are also considering a stocking program, which, he admits, could be a daunting task. Both the size and number of Alabama lakes make stocking a very difficult proposition.

"We are looking at it, but it's not a full-blown effort yet," said Nichols, adding that fisheries managers have worked with a private group to track released crappie on Weiss Lake to examine recruitment.

With the yeoman efforts undertaken by the state to improve the crappie population, it is little wonder that lakes across the state should provide excellent fishing this year. Among those lakes are Guntersville, Weiss and Neely Henry in the northwest portion of the state and Eufaula and Dale County Public Fishing Lake in the southwest corner.

NORTHWEST ALABAMA
A consistent strong performer for crappie, Weiss Lake should not disappoint anglers this year. Several good spawns means the lake will once again be good for crappie in 2005. A fertile lake with plenty of shallow cover, such as lay-downs, Weiss is by and large a crappie angler's dream.

Excellent recruitment in 2001 and 2003 should lead to at least a measure of stability at the lake. In spring, crappie on Weiss are in water 2 to 3 feet in depth, where they are easy targets for a well-placed live minnow. Later in the year, look for the fish along bridge pilings and riprap.