On March 1, the Missouri Department of Conservation will implement a

regulation change for crappie fishing at Smithville Lake in Clay County. The Missouri Conservation Commission approved the change at its February meeting.
According to a news release, the new regulation will allow anglers to keep a daily limit of 30 crappie, but no more than 15 crappie harvested can be greater than nine inches in total length.
The new regulation will allow anglers to keep more fish but also boost the average size of black crappie to more desirable lengths. While there is no length limit for white crappie, biologists encourage anglers to make most of their catch kept under nine inches to be black crappie. That will help the fishery for both species.
For more information about fishing in Missouri, visit huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/fishing.

Picture provided by the Missouri Department of Conservation.