There's a lake I fish on a regular basis,  I no longer keep any of the gills I catch in this lake. It's unreal the size of these fish in this small deep lake. My friends want me to take them but I will not take anyone. I take one person to this place it will be all over.my personal best was a 12 incher last summer, yes I kept it , its at the taxidermy shop. 

After reading many comments over the years I can see most of us have the same concerns, only different solutions. My main concern with more and more regulations is who is available to enforce them. Most of our wardens are kept quite busy with with other problems. I haven`t seen a warden on a lake or dock in years. At my age I`m very happy to just be able to be on the water, and try not to worry about what other people might or might not be doing.  Life is to short, try to make the most of it.

I agree with your post. I should have added that lake size does matter.    I consider any land bound lake under 500 acres small.     CARPIO 

I really think one of the biggest factors to consider when keeping panfish is the size of the lake.  

Look at Lake Emily for example.  If I remember correct, the winter of 2014-2015, that lake produced like I never seen before.  Limits of crappie/gills (25 a person at the time) within a few hours and the crappies would average 10+" and the gills around 8.5-9.5".

This was my go to lake for years and during the winter, seeing 15 other guys out on the ice was a busy day.  That winter of 2014-2015, word got out about the fishing and the lake looked like a city on the weekend.  It literally took one winter to wipe out a 268 acre lake.

I fished this lake a lot since then with not much to show for as far as panfish go. Haven't caught a crappie out there since that winter.  Haven't caught a gill out there worth keeping since that winter.

Last year they finally put a 10 fish limit for panfish and FINALLY put a slot on the pike which the lake needed really bad.  I still read posts from that thread and was disappointed to see some of the gills people were keeping this past winter but it is what it is.

The bottom line is that it is up to us, as fisherman, to be responsible with our harvest choices.  Just because something is legal, doesn't mean it's something you should do. I will never keep more than 10 panfish in a single outing, but that's just me and I know everyone is different.  I think if everyone would just become a little more considerate of our resources, we would start seeing better results.  Just my 2 cents.

I don’t know where you guys fish nor do I care.  I only know that I’ve lived on Tichigan for 37 years and fished an AVERAGE of around 140 days a year!   I know this is so because I chart EVERY DAY of fishing.   Sometimes I only fish for an hour but I do get out.    NOW.    As long as I’ve fished the gill population has Not changed!!!   In fact the size has increased since bass size limits increased and CPR is common.    8-  8 1/4” gills are common and there are enough 9” ers.around.     Crappies are declining somewhat as is the length but not enough to complain about.    Another example is DELEVAN.  look how hard it gets pounded!  This has been going on for 25? Years and  still produces quality size and numbers of pannies.        CARPIO 

LB I agree, 

15 statewide I'd be all in on.  The people that whine about "you don't know what i need for a fish fry" is just comical.  I've seen the size of your average panfish go down in the last 15 years and zero doubt in my mind that its way down from 30 years ago.  The days of the 9 inch bluegill is not as common as it once was.  fishing pressure,  newer technologies,  social media...there aren't many bites that go unnoticed like they did back in the GOOD OLE DAYS when people actually fished rather than jumped on the internet and checked a facebook group every 4 seconds of the day.  

That’s another way to look at it. I’m sure the hammered lakes could use a “Max per Boat” limit for a couple years or permanent, depending on spawning % of given lakes. The lakes I go to though don’t seem like a lot of people hammering. People will always debate how this situation is to be addressed.
Some like to pig out on fresh fish, and some want just a little.
Great topic ! 

I do like the change to 15 on the Mississippi. The lake we have our place on in northern Minnesota last year changed to 5 gills a day and total possession of 20 I'm all for it. It still allows plenty for a meal my family of 4 catches 5 each that's 20 for fry which is more than enough. And if it was 25 limit my family would be allowed 100 gills this is the problem. enjoy what you got and those slob females full of eggs always go back to spawn. I do catch my limit alot but rarely keep a limit. In the end if your keeping 5" gills what's the purpose.

25 panfish is not too much for a fish fry. I really enjoy people who think they can regulate everything including no more fish fry’s for entire family. They believe every family is 1 or 2 old people without an appetite. Lol