JACKSON -Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) fisheries biologists are tagging crappie on Lake Washington to estimate what proportion of the population is caught and harvested by anglers. Biologists recently tagged 400 crappies, 10 inches or longer, with pink tags that look like small pieces of spaghetti. The tags were attached to the fish's back at the base of the dorsal fin. A telephone number and a unique identification number are printed on each tag.
Anglers who catch a tagged crappie are asked to call (662) 759-6444 and leave a voicemail with their name, phone number, and the tag identification number. After reporting their tag, anglers should drop the tag off at one of three bait shops located on Lake Washington: Roy's Store, Bait-n-Thang's, or The Gator Den.
Anglers who turn in a tag will receive a fishing towel for participating in the study. At the end of the study, three tags will be randomly drawn and special prize packages awarded to the anglers with the winning tag numbers. Anglers do not have to be present at the drawing to win a prize.
According the Fisheries Biologist Darrin Hardesty, "Lake Washington is one of the best crappie lakes in the state; information collected from this study will help us refine our crappie management plan."
For more information regarding fish or fishing in Mississippi, visit our website at http://www.mdwfp.com or call us at (601) 432-2212. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdwfp or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDWFPonline.