The crappie tracking project aimed at learning more about crappie spawning areas began at Sardis Reservoir where biologists, who knew tons about the fish but not as much about fishing, ran into a problem with collecting enough fish for the study.
They didn\’t have to look far to find some friends willing to help.
“I maintain a fishing-report message board that covers Sardis Lake,” said crappie guide John Woods. “I saw some posts from a biologist, Glenn Parsons, asking for some guidance on where to find crappie for a study, so I responded.”
Rather than tell him where to fish, Woods offered to go catch the fish with him, and the cooperative then included a couple of local guides.
Woods and fellow angler Tony Willis participated in the capture of crappie that would be outfitted with tags and used in the study. Woods said he looked forward to the early spring each year when he could spend a couple of days on the water, doing what he loves to do best, knowing that it was for a project that would benefit the fishery.
“It\’s a privilege to be a part of this kind of research,” said Woods. “The information that will come from this study will help all of us be better crappie anglers.
“It will also help us conserve the resource, and assist the biologists and law enforcement with setting the rules so we can continue to have the great fishing on our area lakes that we\’ve had in the past.”
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