Dee made the commit about the big 4 getting restocked as needed in a closed forum. I contacted MDWFP with the question, What lakes of the the big 4 have been restocked, what kind of fish and dates.
I guess I'm old enough to remember there was no limit, 100, 50 limits long before the 10" 30 creel limit. 500 to 200 to 100 hooks per boat to this new rule we have now.
I remember my dad standing in chest deep water at the Sardis spillway catching crappie when the water was low. Now they throw yellow tape up if it gets 3/4 that depth.
Nader spillway use to have some big stones, big enough for a small family reunion. We picked our stone and fished all day. Left with a #4 wash tub full of crappie. Back then no one sold ice except the railroad ice house which was closed on weekends.
At Enid, Long branch bridge. We tested the waters to find that 12' was ideal. After working on the barn at mom's place my son and I would stop at the Long Branch store for minnows. Get to the bridge and slide the boat in. Paddle out to the 4th piling, a rope from front to rear of the boat was centered on the piling bolts. Bait the hook, place rod tip where you wanted it while holding minnow. Drop minnow and watch the float. Just at the point of the float standing it would go under. We would leave when the minnows ran out or the 5 gallon bucket was full.