Cold Crappie Bite 4-6-2007

[rsimms]

Headed out on Chickamauga with Bill Wester from Toledo, Ohio this morning to check on the crappie. On the very first trolling pass at daylight we had 6 or 8 fish with three keepers in the boat in the first ten minutes. I thought we were golden and then "boom!" Nothing... just like you'd flipped a switch. Trolled another hour and caught 3 or 4 little dinks. We went and hit a couple of spots casting... nothing. Ended up at one of my bluegill honeyholes. Had to fight the wind but they were there, which is good because Bill loves bluegill. We caught about 30 small ones and had 15 or 20 keepers, plus another keeper crappie. Fun part was when Bill hooked a 5 lb. blue cat on his tiny little ultralight with 4 lb. test line. It was an interesting battle, but he won. Will have to add picture later. I don't know if slow crappie bite is due to cold, or due to the fact that they're about done anyway. But it is obviously time for me to transition to bluegill and catfish.

 

[drumking]

Down here where we are fishing, Richard, they are for the most part way past peak. I'm moving on to shellcracker, gills, and catfish myself when I get my boat back.

 

[Fishin Fool]

Way to go Richard. The crappie are pretty slow now and I've just about moved on. Last week prior to the front I did catch some in deep water out in Harrison Bay but not many. Like Drumking my next target is going to be spring bass, crackers, cats, and bull bluegill.

 

[rsimms]

As promised, here's the picture of Bill tangling with a 5 lb. bluecat on a little bitty ultralight.

 

[2jigs]

Cool pic Richard, looks like he had his hands full to say the least.

 

 

[Fat Albert]

<font color="#ff0066">great picture Richard and after looking long and hard it appears that his line is wrapped around his rod blank between the takeoff guide and the next guide....what do you think????   Fat Albert wants to know.</font>

 

[drumking]

Fat Albert - 4/6/2007 11:33 PM

<font color="#ff0066">great picture Richard and after looking long and hard it appears that his line is wrapped around his rod blank between the takeoff guide and the next guide....what do you think????   Fat Albert wants to know.</font>

Only a rod builder would notice that. You have sharp eyes, FA. emoWorthy emoGeezer

 

[rsimms]

Fat Albert - 4/6/2007 11:33 PM

<font color="#ff0066">great picture Richard and after looking long and hard it appears that his line is wrapped around his rod blank between the takeoff guide and the next guide....what do you think???? Fat Albert wants to know.</font>

At first I thought you were right, but I looked at hig-rez version. It's just a reflect in water that looks like line wrapped. Here's blown-up version.

 

[TennesseeTalker]

good grief ... looks like that rod is ready to SNAP! :=)


sounds like a fun fishing trip inspite of the uncooperative weather.


TT

 

[Liveliner]

Great going Richard. Way to survive and score even in hard times. You are the man when it comes to assuring that your guest take home fish for dinner.emoThumbsup

Just in case, do you carry discount coupons for Capt D’s with you so the folks can still have fish dinner? emoBigsmile

 

[Fat Albert]

<font color="#ff0033">thanks, Richard....  the new improve picture tells it all....I can assure you that the battle was well worth the effort....good job...FA</font>

 

[JerDog]

A big bluegill is always just as fun as catching some big ole crappie in my book. Good job!

 

[Fish Hunter]

rsimms,

A friend and I went to Weiss yesterday and it was terrible there also. We caught a few keepers, but it wasn't worth fighting the cold and wind.

 

[JerDog]

What do the Crappie do after they spawn? Do they head to deeper water? How much longer before the trolling action will stop?