In recent years, the state of Alabama has managed intensively for crappie in all its reservoirs. Also, today more than ever before in our state's history, we know the condition, the sizes and the numbers of crappie in each reservoir.

Fisheries biologists test these reservoirs each spring and fall to determine the size of the crappie spawn and the number of recruited fish (those that survive). Using these tests, biologists for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Fisheries Section can predict more accurately how good the fishing is likely to be in spring and fall for years to come. Biologists are anticipating that Alabama's 2006 spring will bring plenty of pole-bending action. Let's look at some of Alabama's more popular papermouth lakes and see what the biologists responsible for testing and recording the crappie in these lakes are predicting.

LAKE EUFAULA
Some crappie in Lake Eufaula in southeast Alabama may die of old age, rather than on anglers' stringers!

"During the third week in October 2005, we sampled the population in the lake and found that crappie were really abundant in Lake Eufaula. We had one of the highest catch rates we've had in Eufaula in a good while," explained Mike Newman, supervisor for District VI of Alabama's Fisheries Section. "We learned that the average crappie weighed from 1/2- to 3/4-pound. Although there are some larger crappie in the 1 1/2- to 2-pound range, we were really surprised at both the age and the number we found."

Lake Eufaula has experienced a boom in its shad population.

"The shad had some really good spawns last summer, so the crappie have plenty to eat," Newman assured.

An age-and-growth study done by Auburn University and followed up by the DCNR Fisheries Section indicated that some of the oldest crappie in the state might live in Lake Eufaula.

"The crappie population in the lake is under-harvested," Newman pointed out. "We've seen crappie at 8 to 10 years of age there, which is unheard of in most populations."

On most lakes, biologists consider a crappie old at 5 or 6 years.

That fact is rather surprising since Lake Eufaula, unlike most other large Alabama reservoirs, has no minimum size limit on the crappie you can keep.

Anglers at Lake Eufaula seem to fish hard for crappie in the spring, but stop targeting the species later in the year.

"We really need some fishermen to come to Eufaula and catch these leftover crappie," Newman added.

Another cause for the abundance of slabs in Eufaula is the habitat the impoundment provides. Plenty of fairly shallow water is available off the old Chattahoochee River channel. And the water offers good fertility and plenty of cover, and adequate spawning areas.

"We have quite a bit of downed timber, fallen trees and stumps in Eufaula," Newman agreed. "When you combine really good habitat with a large forage base, this lake will produce large numbers of crappie."

MILLERS FERRY
"Millers Ferry is the best crappie-fishing reservoir in our district," explained Dave Armstrong, the Fisheries Supervisor for District V in the central section of Alabama. "The lake has very high fertility, stable water levels and numbers of flats on which the crappie can spawn."

Millers Ferry Lake also has plenty of vegetation and cover to go with the spawning flats. Between that habitat and the forage base the fertility provides, this impoundment offers everything a crappie needs to get fat and grow fast.

"We've had some pretty good spawns the past couple of years at Millers Ferry, including last spring's," Armstrong reported. "I think this spring's catches will be above average."