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Commission lowers Reelfoot Lake crappie creel limit to 20 fish, citing population data; LiveScope impact under review
Summary
The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission voted Feb. 21 to amend Sport Fish Proclamation 25‑02, reducing the Reelfoot Lake crappie daily creel limit from 30 to 20 fish while keeping a 10‑inch minimum length.
The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission on Feb. 21 amended Sport Fish Proclamation 25‑02 to reduce the daily crappie creel limit on Reelfoot Lake from 30 fish to 20 fish while retaining the 10‑inch minimum length.
Why it matters: Agency staff said recent creel surveys show many sub‑legal crappie in the population and that reducing the creel limit could help increase numbers of larger fish over time. Commissioners debated whether technology such as real‑time sonar (LiveScope) is materially increasing harvest; staff said their surveys currently show about 33% of anglers reporting LiveScope use and that, to date, they are not seeing LiveScope drive broad increases in limits taken.
How the change happened: Commissioners initially approved the broader sport fish proclamation as presented by the fisheries committee, then Commissioner Jimmy Childress moved to reconsider and proposed an amendment to change the Reelfoot Lake creel limit to 20 fish per day (10‑inch minimum). After staff explanation and commissioner discussion, the commission voted to adopt the amended proclamation.
Agency comments and data: Fisheries staff said reducing the Reelfoot limit from 30 to 20 is expected to affect approximately 4–6% of annual harvest on that lake based on creel data, and that a reduced limit may assist population recovery by allowing more fish to reach legal size. Staff also noted that while LiveScope use is a frequently raised concern, survey data so far do not show LiveScope substantially increasing numbers of limits caught on Reelfoot.
Commission remarks and public engagement: Commissioner Childress urged the change after consulting recreational anglers; Commissioner Greg Davenport asked staff to confirm LiveScope findings and was told by staff that current creel surveys do not show an increase in catch attributable to LiveScope on Reelfoot Lake. The motion to amend passed by voice vote and the amended proclamation was approved by the commission.
Next steps: The agency will implement the amended proclamation 25‑02 and continue creel and technology‑use monitoring to evaluate effects on the crappie population and angler harvest.
