Launched at 10:00am on Sunday.
Pulled out of the parking lot at 2:30pm to see if the Packers could squander another one.
Didn’t take long to find the crappie yesterday. Note to Ted – not quite were I told you I found the “thigh-thick backs” fattening up last fall but pretty darn close! They’ll be there early ice:)
By all accounts, the crappie are in the beginning stage of schooling up for the fall feeding frenzy. After picking up one or two in several different snags over two hours I finally hit the mother-lode (in morel terms) – more than doubling the numbers caught in 1/2 the time. Brought home 22 papermouths & 3 gills for an extended family buffet style dinner. Tossed back at least a dozen nine inchers or less – probable more but who counts after 25? Largest fish brought home was 12 & 3/4 quarters. Average was roughly 10 & 1/2.
Fish pictured were taken on the basic jig-head/minnow combination. Note – larger profile minnows (walleye) attracted larger fish while traditional (crappie) minnows attracted smaller fish.
Fish were caught at varying depths from 2′ to 8′. Best or most consistent bite was 5′ down. Much like last weekend – active fish were hanging tight to cover immediately adjacent to some moving water. Back sloughs with dead water – even with sufficient cover & depth didn’t produce nearly as well. Surface water temp was up a bit from last weekend at 66F.
Did talk to another local on the water who was having similar success snag hopping using crappie jigs – no live bait. Yet another local who cashed in on a pretty good gill bite.
The bluffs are at peak or very near peak for the annual color check.
By all accounts I’ll most likely make it out on the open water one or possible two more times this fall. Have to start logging some hours in preparation for the November 9-day buck hunting season in a feable attempt to repeat 05’s performance.
