WHEREAS, Louisiana’s current creel limit for crappie on Toledo Bend Lake is 50 per day, and
WHEREAS, crappie caught on Toledo Bend during the cooler months (December through February) are usually taken from deeper depths, resulting in stress and a high mortality rate for released fish, and
WHEREAS, small crappie that are thrown back are often eaten by the pelicans and other wildlife and fish, and
WHEREAS, many crappie anglers keep only the larger fish to count against the limit, and
WHEREAS, the Texas Toledo Bend Lake creel limit for crappie is a total of 50 per day with no culling allowed during the period of December I through the last day of February, and
WHEREAS the Texas Toledo Bend Lake crappie creel limit during the balance of the year, March I through November 30 when crappie fishing is usually done in shallower depths, is a total of 50 with a minimum size of 10 inches, and
WHEREAS, both Louisiana and Texas fishing licenses are recognized on Toledo Bend Lake, and
WHEREAS, Louisiana anglers traveling/fishing on Toledo Bend Lake waters under Texas jurisdiction are subject to complying with Texas regulations and therefore can be ticketed for acts which are violations of Texas rules but not illegal on waters under Louisiana jurisdiction, eg., possession of crappie under 10 inches in length during the months of March through November, or culling crappie during the months of December through February on the Texas side of the lake.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to adopt the same creel limit for crappie for Toledo Bend Lake that is currently in effect on Lake waters under the jurisdiction of Texas, i. e. , a 50-crappie creel with a 10-inch length limit for the months of March through November and a 50-crappie creel and no culling of crappie of any size allowed during the months of December through February.
Adopted by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation in convention assembled, March 12, 2000 in Alexandria, Louisiana.