CRACKERFEST 2008: I NEED YOUR HELP.....

[JSV]

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Time to take a look at CRACKERFEST 2008!! I would like some input from the Cracker experts before I determine a date. It appears we have a couple options.</p><p style="">The earliest (and I think it is to early) but we have a full moon on April 20th which is a Sunday. We could have it on the 19th or a week later on the 26th. From my experience I believe these two dates are a little early but I want to hear from the experts.</p>

Full moon in May is the 19th which is a Monday. We could have it on Saturday the 17th or Saturday the 24th. The water level should be up to full pool by the 17th (or close).</p>

Crackerfest 2006 was on May 27th and that year it was hot and we didn't catch a lot of Crackers.</p>

Crackerfest 2007 was on May 12th and we did catch several Crackers but still not what we should of caught.</p><p style="">Keep in mind: This event is focused more for The Family and a kids day out.</p>

ANY AND ALL SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED!! I would like to finalize the date early next week if not sooner.</p><p style="">Thanks in advance!!!</p></font>

 

[SpurHunter]

My vote is for May 24th, as turkey season will be over by then.

 

[Fishin Fool]

My vote is for the 17th right before the full moon. You never know for sure what is going to be going on with water levels but we should be pretty close to where we need to be on that date. Last year the spawn was just ending on the areas that I fished.

 

[JSV]

<p style="">I just checked the CBA Web Site to check on the dates of their May TX. however it doesn't appear they have set their schedule yet. Does anyone know when they plan on putting out the 2008 CBA schedule or if they have a projected date for May? We have used Chester Park and the CBA stand and bleachers the past two years and I would like to keep it that way if possible. </p><p style="">Thanks FF and Spur for input!</p>

 

[churly]

CBA should have the schedule out soon, they have their first event in Feb.

If people want to do the shirts I'd be happy to pitch. I think its a great idea to keep this an event geared toward getting the kids involved. If there is anything else you need out of me JSV, just shout!

 

[puddle jumper]

Man I really hate to ask this question , but im assuming you dont meen getting together and eating saltines???emoScratch emoScratch emoScratch

What is Crackerfest Ive heard you guys talk about it , but have no idea??emoDoh emoThanks emoDoh emoDoh

Puddle...emoUSA

 

[drumking]

Why not have it around May 3rd? Close to new moon phase which is almost as good as full moon. Full moon in May may be too late unless we have some winter. With the water temps being what they are now, the fish may spawn in April. Those shellcrackers don't watch the calendar, but when the water temp gets right, they are going to do their spring fling thing.

 

[zippie24]

puddle no it is Hi-Ho lol. Don't fell bad FM told me about it. emoPoke emoTskTsk Sorry had to poke fun I dIdn't know eather. is fishing for shellcrackers.

 

[Cat Head]

Are shellcrackers a kind of brim?

 

[Guest]

Hunter a shellcracker is a nickname for a redeared sunfish and yes it is a member of the bream family.

 

[RangerRob]

Have it whenever Jason ... the smiling kids don't care about dates!

I'm really looking forward to it ... and I know the family is. I'm glad we're still planning this and I appreciate everything Jason and the rest do to keep this thing going. emoThumbsup

I'm not much help with dates, but I'll be more than happy to help in any other way I can.

-RR

 

[DHaun]

Last year it was nice to have some bedding shellcracker to target thanks to JSV's strategic scheduling. I sure had fun with my son and will try to be there whatever date it is this year.

 

[JSV]

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puddle jumper - 12/13/2007 4:37 PM Man I really hate to ask this question , but im assuming you dont meen getting together and eating saltines???emoScratch emoScratch emoScratch What is Crackerfest Ive heard you guys talk about it , but have no idea??emoDoh emoThanks emoDoh emoDoh Puddle...emoUSA

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PJ and new members,</p><p style="">Crackerfest is an annual fishing event which is geared towards family, kids and fellowship. It is planned around the time the Shell Crackers and Bream are on bed. We concentrate more on the kids in this event. Fortunately in the past two years we have had donations from our local Sporting goods and been able to give each Child that participates a prize. I hope we are able to do that again this year. I will be testing the waters at the first of the year and see how many donations I will be able to get. The past two years I have been able to make Flyers and use CFF as a Sponsor and have been able to get the donations however with the new rules about not using CFF (which I fully understand) I don't know if the stores will be willing to donate to an individual. I and some of the ones which help make this event possible will come up with something.</p>

What we have done in the past is pay $5 per person or $20 a family and go Cracker fishing (in a boat or on a bank) with no restrictions on how many people may participate per boat (as long as you abide by all laws and regulations). Each person / child brings their 10 biggest Crackers and we weigh them. We give cash prizes to the top weights then in years past we were able to put all the participating Childrens name in a hat and have a drawing with each child being able to come up and pick a prize. It has been a blessing seeing the faces of our children SMILE as they get to pick something out. You do not have to have a child to participate in this event and live bait is allowed.</p>

At the conclusion of the event some of us lucky folks get together and have a fish cleaning party with the majority of the fish going to the CFF Picnic. We cleaned over 500 fish last year!</p><p style="">More details will follow after we get a date set. </p></font>

 

[popper 690]

Im not good at picking dates either,but i would like to help. is this for everyone or special invite? I told my 7 year old about it he said fun fun

 

[Nickajack Angler]

You guys can contact me on my email anytime. I'm happy to help out the kids in any way. Our church in MN always had a few fishing events each year for the kids and what a great way to get them hooked on fishing and not something that can HURT THEM! I have a 12 & 10 yr old boys. You can count us in. I'd also be willing to solicit some prizes for the kids. Walmart is a good source, but attaching it to something like CFF is a good thing. Maybe we could attach some kind of "Bring a non perishable food item" and help the local food shelves and get more response in the form of charitable donations of prizes more attractive?!?!?! Just throwin' out ideas. Anyway, my 12 yr old asked the same thing about the cracker's. Now THAT was hilarious!!!

 

[popper 690]

I like ur thinking nickajack, i have a 7 and 13 yr.old. that is a good plan let me know if i can help.emoBigsmile

 

[flip1up]

My 2 sons and me have fished the same slough at both the Crackerfests that CFF had. Both years there were hundreds of both Shellcrackers and bull Bluegills on the same beds. With a good pair of polarized glasses you will see the beds, usually in about 3 foot of water. In that slough there were about 25 beds. The Shellcrackers seem to bed in shallower water, like about 1 foot deep. They also seem to spook alot easier. My boys have already started talking about the next event. Wax worms work great, and this year I'm taking some Crickets too. </p>

Jason let me know how I can help. The fish cleaning party was alot of fun and I would like to be part of that again too. As far as the date, I think Rob is right, it doesnt matter. As long as its in that 2-3 week period. Its hard to know what the conditions and water temp. is going to be. </p>

 

[Fat Albert]

<font color="#ff0066" size="5">Jason, you will probably need another rod for the cracker thingie....huh????</font>

 

[JSV]

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Fat Albert - 12/18/2007 7:22 PM <font color="#ff0066" size="5">Jason, you will probably need another rod for the cracker thingie....huh????</font>

</p>

Mr. FA,</p><p style="">We would most graciously appreciate another rod to give away at Crackerfest. You do such fine work!!

</p><p style="">I had my daughter trained last year which item to pick should her name get drawn early and your rod still available. Her name was drawn and the rod was available yet she picked the Cinderella combo

but she was happy and that's what counts

. The bad thing is every time I go fishing with Kathy (her niece picked the rod last year) I get to see that rod in Kathy's hand

and it does catch fish

!! </p><p style="">Her is a pic of my training lessons ( your rod in my daughters hand) prior to Crackerfest last year!!!</p><p style="" />

 

[tndoe270]

That's alright right there, what a cute pic however you know little girls can't resist "cinderella". The rod FA made is incredible and JSV is right, that thing catches fish when no other rod will........ Jason, I think towards the first part or middle of May will be good, we need to look at the date for the Big Bass Splash so we don't conflict with it as well cause they moved it to may as well............
I will start after the first of the year trying to get some donations on my side of the river......Let me know what else I can do besides make my garbage man sick after the cleaning partyemoApplause