Mike C and myself for the most part keep an empty freezer of fish, but hungry for a fish fry, we decided it was time to check out one of are favorite submerged brush piles hoping to put some nice specks on ice. Knowing crappies are early risers we were on the water shortly after 6am willing to serve up crappie minnows for breakfast. By 6:15 the underwater brush pile was found and marked, we then pulled off it a good 25-30yards up wind and parked the boat. It wasn’t long and bobbers were down with light action rods doubled over 
Two essential tools today were a marker buoy and good anchor. Mike’s water spike held us dead in a gusty South wind while the buoy made a great target for bait placement Casting down wind is the only way to go with light tackle and when fishing in an open area it dose not take much to cast baits just outside of the strike zone without a reference point.
The marker was sitting on the top of a wood pile in 25fow. The brush jets up to just 6 feet below the surface making for some of the best crappie structure in any waters. After making a few different depth settings with the bobber it didn’t take long to figure out 7 foot below is where the baits needed to be early morning 
Another piece to the puzzle, these fish were more willing too take anything with white on it.
A small white head from a ratso or mini mite tipped with a minnow was by far the most productive for me, Mike tried a variety and found white to be the best color also. With that said, there were specks taken on a plain hook and minnow along with a Slender Spoon over the side of the boat. A pinky tipped with a minnow made for good action, again white but with hair. Later into the morning staying on the active fish had us again changing are depth to a foot or two deeper and cast made tighter to the wood. With consistent action we were able to score on 15 specks a piece, Perfect for a fish fry each 
The majority size of what was kept were just short of 11 inches to 113/4. We did throw a few of the 10 inch fish (which seemed to be plentiful) in the mix.
2 bonus fish making for fun on the light tackle were a Channel cat and a 34 inch Northern. Mike had a good time with his channel cat and 3lb line, it sure had him doubled over and just did not want to come up to the top for a picture. The lip hooked Northern gave my light tackle a test for the money too, the President Micro Spinning reel sang pretty with some long runs of 4lb spooling off You never know what the river is going to give up on any given day 
With the right equipment we were able to turn what could have been a frustrating boat control day into a great outing. Enjoy your fish fry buddy Mike 
Good luck fishing people 
More pics from today’s outing.
Looks like a great day Brett…
I had to work
Great report Bret. That looks like mega-fun.
Nice Crappies Boys!!!!
The Custom jig line up rocks out when it comes to slabs!!!!
I personally love the Shrimpos!
Great job!
i just joined today checking out website.Been trolling wingdams just north of dresback.I live on lake Onalaska so its easy access to get on river.Fishing on pool 7 not bad lots of bass ,stripers,sheephead.But we like to focus on walleyes.waiting for weather and river to cool a little its my favorite time to fish because it gets easier to find the walleys&sauger later larrry
Nice job guys, great lookin crappies along with that beautie pike
Welcome Larry(river rat 00).
Great report Buddy Bret
and another great adventure on Pool 8. 
I do think that our success was directly related to the coffee though 
nice slabs
Glad to have you aboard and welcome to IDO Larry
Mike,
It was the perfect way to start the last morning of a 3 day weekend 
That was coffee
It had just a hint of Jack
Nice job guys
Welcome to Idofishing.com
welcome to IDO!
Great report Bret!
Nice looking slabs Bret & Mike.
Looks like you two had a fun morning on the river.
I just recently found this great site…I’ve loved the Mississippi River my entire life, and all this river fishing talk is fantastic…I hope to add my adventures in the future…Bret, I especially love your reports, as I fish pool 8 as well. You give very good fishing information and it makes me want to get out…thanks, great reports…love those crappies.
Bobby
Thank you for the positive words
All of us making reports love to know people like what they see…..IDO and the people here ROCK 
If you ever see me out, make sure to say hello
If you are looking to get out give me a shout. Some know it might take a year to make things work (you all know who you are 
) but, I like too make a plan come together and meet people from the site 
Pool 8 has a lot to offer and I look forward to your post, welcome to IDO Bobby
Welcome to IDO Bobbyw5.
Wow, nice Pies
I gotta get after those gruppies!
Great report!
thanks for responce i will learn web site better and with fall fishing and duck/goose hunting and this site will be ausum thanks larrry