The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission sampled the Lake Norman crappie fishery in 2012. The results translate into good news for fishermen.
“All in all, the Lake Norman crappie fishery is in the best shape that we’ve seen in a few years,” said Lawrence Dorsey, a fisheries biologist with the Commission.
Staff members collected eight fish per net-night, which is the highest yield since earlier surveys going back to 2003. Almost 90 percent of the fish were eight inches or greater.
Although the relative weight values of the fish were slightly lower than in past years, they were still very good.
The 2012 survey revealed that the fishery was dominated by crappie spawned in 2010.
“In order for the fishery to maintain the level it’s at now, we’ll have to see similar performance in terms of spawning and recruitment to the fishery for upcoming year-classes,” Dorsey said.
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