Quote Originally Posted by JoeFish View Post
Everyone says they shut down in May... Why is that does it happen on many other lakes. I guess I just don't understand this lake will be my demise. The past 3 days I've went 2 of them in the mourning and caught one stinking catfish the first day and 4 bream the next day! No crappie at all!!!!
I have only fished it once, but the guy I was talking about linked the "May Shut-off" to the shallow depth of the lake causing the water temp to be too high to regularly catch fish after this time of year. I think for him, he just knows he can find more productive fishing in other lakes that have more typical variance of depth, bottom, and structure that provide better habitat for the fish in the hotter months. I don't think he would say you can't catch a few there after a certain time of year but for him the numbers don't justify the time on the water vs. what he knows he can do somewhere else.

I'm sure there is someone out there who will be able to catch em on Mallard on the hottest day of the year, but if my friend knows he can't, I know I can't for sure...he is a great crappie fisherman.