silverroach,

A four-pound Crappie is a hog! I've promised myself if I ever get an 18-inch Crappie I'll get it mounted. I seem to catch at least one that's a half inch short of that mark every year but still no 18-inch fish, LOL. You can probably drag 20-pound test around without any issues in muddy water, but North Alabama get very clear between rains and downsizing bait, and line is the difference between catching fish and not. Most folks seem fearful of losing too many fish, but you've got to get them on the hook first to catch them.

The area where I caught all the short Crappie a couple days ago had a single old log laying on the bottom. One side was about a foot deeper (downstream) and rock with sand on the upstream side and a foot shallower. I keep bring the jig across the log with the Crappie laying in the current break created by the log. I didn't know any of that until I went to leave and paddled over on top of the spot. I could clearly see the bottom in three to four feet of water. Long cast on 4-pound line was the only way to get the fish to bite. Even in a kayak if I'd gotten any closer than 40 or 50 feet away, I would have spooked the fish. The beautiful thing is I now know where that log is for the next trip and expect it to hold fish for the next decade unless a flood changes the bottom contours.

Taking care of your equipment and slowing down are some of the most important lessons my father taught me about fishing. He always said if you think you're fishing slow enough, then SLOW down, LOL!

One other about Crappie, you don't have to net all your Crappie, just the ones you want to get in the boat!