The Missouri Department of Conservation has announced some regulation changes for an area lake known for its crappie fishing.
A news release says anglers are reminded that the length and creel limit regulation has changed for crappie at Smithville Lake. Anglers can now harvest 30 crappie, but no more than 15 crappie can be longer than nine inches. Previously, anglers could only keep 15 crappie over nine inches.
The change is designed to allow more undersized fish to be harvested. Smithville Lake has two species of the popular panfish, black crappie and white crappie.
The limit of no more than 15 fish over nine inches in length is designed to protect the white crappie from over harvest. Biologists are hoping that as the black crappie population is reduced, that will provide more food for both species and help anglers catch more of the larger fish.
Regulation changes are based on scientific data and are designed to boost the entire fishery resource.
For more information about fishing in Missouri, visit MDC’s website at mdc.mo.gov.

Photo provided by the Missouri Department of Conservation.