Cherokee Lake - Trap Netting 2011
The TWRA netted for Cherokee crappie in late October of 2011. The 76 net-night sample collected 536 black, 18 black-nose, and four white crappie. This sample indicates that the population is on the increase. Although only 11 percent of the crappie collected were available for harvest this year, the future is looking bright.
Enough young-of-the-year were collected to indicate a relatively good spawn in 2011. And the numerous 7 to 8-inch fish indicate a significant spawn occurred in 2010.
It will take several more 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 hope environmental conditions continue to cooperate in the future. You can view summaries of TWRA's crappie and other fish stockings via this webpage.
Trap Netting Demonstration Video
Black crappie length frequency
Black Crappie catch rates
Catch rate of young-of-the-year crappie
White crappie young-of-the-year
A hybrid Douglas crappie (7 dorsal spines, vertical bars, and odd body shape)
