Jmax, Chick, Bass and Crappie, 12/15/16, alone

[Jmax]

My son asked me the other day if I would bring him some fish when we come over for Christmas. He and his GF love fresh filleted crappie. I told him I was out and had not been going since deer season started. emoRedface It was so cold this morning I could not bring myself to deer hunt. Hard to sit still in a stand when it is that cold. Had a couple to follow up on for work but right now with Christmas right on us work has been slow.

Looked outside this afternoon at 10:30. It was 28 degrees with a wind chill of about 20. That sounds like good crappie weather to me. emoBigsmile By the time I got the boat hooked up and ready it was a blistering 30 degrees. Headed for HBSP and to my amazement I had the lake all to myself. emoTongue Got on the water about 11:30. I never found any big schools but it seemed every place I tried I either caught a couple crappie or bass. In some cases both. Most were hitting on the fall and I was letting my crappie assassin go about 20 feet deep. Four pound test high viz with a 1/16 head. Using a little ultra light rod and reel made even a small fish feel big. emoThumbsup Boated about 20 crappie and 10 bass. The other seven bass were LM, I don't keep those. Lost several others, they were hitting so soft it was hard to tell when they were there. Bought home 12 nice crappie and three spots that jumped into my live well. emoZipped Left at 3:30. Short trip but fun and got to stretch my line.

Got four nice messes out of them for my son and his GF. emoHungry Jmax

 

[hookset]

Pretty pictures and good report! Thanks for sharing. Makes me hungry...

 

[canoe fisherman]

Great report sir, what was water temps?

 

[Allison2002]

thanks for the report nice fish I started to go today just couldn't leave the recliner and the heat.

 

[BassERT]

Now because of you they will have a crappie Christmas emoUpsmile

emoCool

 

[Jmax]

canoe fisherman - 12/15/2016 9:54 PM

Great report sir, what was water temps?

44 to 46

 

[Strato-G]

Re: Jmax, Chick, BSounds as if a mission has been accomplished....Haass and Crappie, 12/15/16, alone

emoApplause Seems as if mission is accomplished, now have a safe trip & enjoy the fish fry with family....PS if u see Santa along the way , take him fishing....Merry Christmas....... emoGeezer emoUSA

 

[Jmax]

Thanks gang, I sometimes get some, "Are you crazy!?" replies when I mention I am going fishing in this kind of weather. emoCrazy But actually to me it is the best time to go crappie fishing. It will be that way until the crappie go to spawn. Then they scatter. Dress warm in layers. Yesterday I had on long johns, long sleeve shirt, sweat shirt, jeans, snow mobile bibs and a very heavy coat with a hood. Then a helmet and gloves. I never once got cold. You consider all those times this summer how crowded the lake was, yesterday I saw one other boat and three guys fishing under the wolftever bridge. That was it! emoThumbsup Not one boat launched out of the wolftever ramp or the HBSP ramp that I saw. Both were empty of trailers except mine. emoTongue When else do you have the lake that much to yourself. emoDance

The only issues you really run into fishing this time of year that bothers me is the wind and freezing. If the wind is blowing too hard you cannot get that little bait to the strike zone well. I really like to use a 1/32nd head. I started with that yesterday. The wind kept blowing my line so hard it was lifting the bait up. I had to go to the 1/16th to get it down. Then the bite will also be hard to detect due to the bow in your line. That other issue about freezing is really what I refer to as "Icing". The water on your line freezes as it comes through your rod eyes. Also sometimes on your reel. Before you can recast the line has frozen to your rod. That was my worry yesterday most of all as I was heading for the lake. I am still not aware of how to avoid this in the winter. Fortunately yesterday the water itself was warm enough that I never had this to be an issue. Just like yesterday if you go prepared you can have a really nice cold winter fishing trip. emoGeezer Jmax

 

[polo-dog]

Yes, you are crazy, but not for fishing this time of the year! This time of the year can be great for crappie, that is for sure.

 

[xpress19]

Good job buddy you are the fishing king..

 

[Jmax]

polo-dog - 12/16/2016 11:12 AM

Yes, you are crazy, but not for fishing this time of the year!

emoUpsmile You should know! Between you and Drumking you two crazies taught me how to fish that way. emoBigsmile Jmax

 

[rusty50576]

Jmax i have heard wd40 on the guides slows down the icing but I have never tried it

 

[polo-dog]

Jmax - 12/16/2016 12:00 PM

polo-dog - 12/16/2016 11:12 AM

Yes, you are crazy, but not for fishing this time of the year!

emoUpsmile You should know! Between you and Drumking you two crazies taught me how to fish that way. emoBigsmile Jmax

DK taught me all I know!!!!

 

[stockcarm14]

Thanks for the report. Another good one as always

 

[backlasher]

Always like your reports and pictures.