News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2011

Butler County Fishermen Pay High Price for Undersize Crappie

EATON, OH – Two Butler County residents were ordered to pay a total of $450 in fines and $3400 in restitution after being convicted of possessing undersize fish according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The arrest came while Preble County Wildlife Officer Brad Turner was performing routine fishing license and fish bag and length limit checks at Acton Lake on Memorial Day weekend. When Officer Turner checked the men’s boat he found that they had 177crappie in their possession.  After inspecting the fish Officer Turner determined that 170 of the fish were less than nine inches in length. Acton Lake, located at Hueston Woods State Park, has a nine inch length limit on crappie. Both men were charged with possessing undersize fish.

Steven A Copper, 39, of Somersville, pled guilty to one charge of possessing crappies less than nine inches, Copper was ordered to pay $250 in fines and cost and also ordered to pay $1700 in restitution on the crappie. Mr. Cooper will serve one year probation as well.

Kevin L Reeves, 33, of Somersville, pled guilty to one charge of possessing crappies less than nine inches, Reeves was ordered to pay $250 in fines and cost and also ordered to pay $1700 in restitution on the crappie. Mr. Reeves will serve one year probation as well.

A daily bag limit of 30 crappies is in effect on a total of 44 Ohio lakes with a nine inch size limit.  The goal of these regulations is to improve the quality of crappie fishing by increasing the numbers of larger fish available for crappie anglers to catch.  For more information on the lake selection process for crappie bag and length limits go to  http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Home/tabid/22562/Default.aspx .

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