gene0122, Sardis Lake and Grenada Lake in Mississippi, Crappie " Nicest Ones I Have Ever Caught", 11

[xroadsbasser]

RE: gene0122, Sardis Lake and Grenada Lake in Mississippi, Crappie " Nicest Ones I Have Ever Caught"

If Yellburt sees this post we may never see him again!!

 

[Catfish 1]

Re: gene0122, Sardis Lake and Grenada Lake in Mississippi, Crappie " Nicest Ones I Have Ever Caught"

What a bucket list excursion!!! Sorry for the late piggy back post...some how work interferes with fun...
Gene really did his home work initially for the trip to Sardis and associated lakes, we decided to fish Grenada as an after thought...
As usual, Gene has superbly covered the trip with a comprehensive overview in his original post...the details that came later sums it up in a nutshell...
I'll add a few bits and pieces from my perspective...
Carl Painter, Sardis guide, did an outstanding job...couldn't asked for more...he's sho nuff 5 star!!!
Be prepared for a learning curve with the "noodle rods" used in the spider riggin', no reeling, HARD hook set and lift the fish in the boat...my curve was considerable steeper than Gene's...Carl's comment to me " there's a difference in bein' in a hurry and bein' quick", I had wrapped the line around a couple of rods...
Vic Finkley was our guide on Grenada, his Cell Number: 662-417-8690, he is a very accomplished guide. Another 5 star!!!
Gene has previously describe the differences in the two lakes...
Vic used a stiffer poles than Carl...which was more to my liking...easier to lift the big ol' slabs into the boat...
This truly was a trip of life time...never seen the consistent size of such quality "hawgs"...it was beyond doubt a bucket list trip...
Oh, one last thing...roll ALL your windows up before leaving the parking lot to board your guide's boat...secure your vehicle and belongings...thanks to a very gracious guide friend of Carl's, we were spared what could have been a disaster...
Do your self a favor...go west young man...the HAWGS are a waitin'...

 

[rsimms]

RE: gene0122, Sardis Lake and Grenada Lake in Mississippi, Crappie " Nicest Ones I Have Ever Caught"

Thanks for all the info! emoThumbsup

 

[drumking]

RE: gene0122, Sardis Lake and Grenada Lake in Mississippi, Crappie " Nicest Ones I Have Ever Caught"

I really don't know how to respond to this report without sounding critical, which I'm not being critical, but, trolling with spider rigs and just lifting the fish out of the water after they have hooked themselves seems as exciting to me as watching paint dry. I'm just not gonna do it. I don't care if every fish was 3.5 lbs down there. If I lived down there and had to do that to catch fish, then that would be different, but to live on Chickamauga and within 1.5 hours of Tims Ford that has monster black nose crappie to catch with the techniques that I use and just love probably means that I'll never experience those Mississippi slabs.

We live in an area where 3 lb fish are possible, though rare, and 2 to 2.5 lb fish are pretty common. Sure we are on a down cycle this year compared to other years, but just think how good the Chick has been the past 3 to 5 years for big fish. And we are in for several great years of fishing very soon as long as guys don't get out there and take all the 10" fish out of the lake next spring. Exercise a little patience and don't take anything less than 11" and watch our lakes explode again. I promise.

To Gene and Jim: Congratulations on a fine trip and great catching. If I couldn't catch fish down there by casting and retrieving....? What if you used side scan to find the big schools of crappie and then cast to them. Don't you think that you could find and catch the fish that way?

emoBigsmile emoGeezer

 

[Carl Painter]

Re: gene0122, Sardis Lake and Grenada Lake in Mississippi, Crappie " Nicest Ones I Have Ever Caught"

Drumking.... That is a common misconception about spider rigging. Peple who have never tried it think it is just harvesting and no skill involved. The fish do not hook themselves. You must pay attention and hook the fish the majority of the time. We move very, very slow. You are basically vertical jigging with multiple poles. Handling multiple poles and bites is half the fun and challenge. You can catch fish casting for them here but I will catch ten to your one every time out. Enter a Crappiemasters or Crappie USA event and see what the pros are doing 95% of the time. Don't knock it til ya try it!

 

[drumking]

Re: gene0122, Sardis Lake and Grenada Lake in Mississippi, Crappie " Nicest Ones I Have Ever Caught"

Carl Painter - 11/21/2012 3:51 PM

Drumking.... That is a common misconception about spider rigging. Peple who have never tried it think it is just harvesting and no skill involved. The fish do not hook themselves. You must pay attention and hook the fish the majority of the time. We move very, very slow. You are basically vertical jigging with multiple poles. Handling multiple poles and bites is half the fun and challenge. You can catch fish casting for them here but I will catch ten to your one every time out. Enter a Crappiemasters or Crappie USA event and see what the pros are doing 95% of the time. Don't knock it til ya try it!

I'm not knocking it, Carl, but just don't want to try it. I'll stick to fishing the way that I like to. It is pretty productive. It does stand to reason that the more rods, lures that you have in the water, the more likely that you are to catch fish when you hit a school, but I have caught 24 on consecutive casts and 15 to 20 consecutive many times. Hard to imagine catching fish any faster than that. And I get to see/feel the bite. I have watched spider rigging on TV, but having the rod in hand just means so much more to me. I don't do tournaments anymore. Grin.

emoBigsmile emoGeezer

 

[gene0122]

RE: gene0122, Sardis Lake and Grenada Lake in Mississippi, Crappie " Nicest Ones I Have Ever Caught"

emoSorry
I fail to see what this "FISHING REPORT" has to do with personal preference or Chickamauga fish populations.

 

[shsimons]

Re: gene0122, Sardis Lake and Grenada Lake in Mississippi, Crappie " Nicest Ones I Have Ever Caught"

I told my dad about this, as he leaves crappie. We might check it out, thanks!

 

[kingcab]

RE: gene0122, Sardis Lake and Grenada Lake in Mississippi, Crappie " Nicest Ones I Have Ever Caught"

emoToast Great report,I would drive 12 hrs.to use a spider rig if catches were like thoes.You guys are the best.

emoWorthy emoWorthy emoWorthy