New fishing regulations concerning crappie are now in effect at Clinton and Perry lakes.

The daily creel limit for crappie has been reduced to 20 per day at Clinton and Perry, as well as at Council Grove, Melvern and Hillsdale lakes.

In addition, there is now a 10-inch minimum length limit for crappie caught at Clinton.

Elsewhere, catfish anglers at El Dorado Reservoir will need to brush up on catfish identification skills because blue catfish have been stocked.

All blue catfish at El Dorado less than 35 inches long will have to be released immediately. A poster will be available to assist anglers in distinguishing blue catfish from channel catfish.

Also, the paddlefish daily creel limit has been reduced to one per day on the Neosho River downstream from Chetopa Dam, and a 34-inch minimum length limit has been established on both the Neosho River downstream from the Chetopa Dam and the Marais des Cygnes River downstream from the Osawatomie Dam.

Barbless hooks must be used where the length limit is in effect. Anglers will have to release any paddlefish less than 34 inches, measuring from the fish’s eye to the tail-fork.

The daily creel limit of one is reached when an angler catches a paddlefish 34 inches long or longer.

Finally, anglers who desire to use more than two rods can purchase a third rod stamp for $5.

The current law allows use of just two rods, in addition to eight setlines or a trotline. However, the third rod stamp will allow use of a third attended rod.

Third rod stamps will be available wherever licenses are sold after Feb. 1, 2005.