Morning trip

Looked at the radar when I got up at 5:30, looked at the forecast for the day and decided to hit the water ahead of the showers that they were calling for today. Calm water, no wind at all with fog overhead to start off when I launched, air temp at 64, water temp a balmy 72. Had the pond to myself. I had lines in the water at 8:35 and the first hit of the day was a double at 8:37 so a good start to the trip.







The crappie would measure 11" and would turn out to be the small one of the day and both would go on ice in the cooler. I'd alternate rowing and towing, as well single pole casting along the contour I had decided to follow. This osprey would sit on this branch the entire time, never flew off at all. Never got real close to get a good picture but you get the idea.


The strikes today were just awesome, no doubts as to whether that was a nibble or not. Today was "thump therapy" for sure! And every one was a fighter; had big 'gills pulling drag and even had a big crappie make a jump or 2. Great fun, each and every one. Here's a few of them:













These 2 got a pass.





I think that 15"er ties my PB from 10-12 years ago when I got back in to crappie fishing. Had some good fish on ice already and wanted those 2 to keep on passing on good genes. They gave me a good fight and earned a release.

None of them really showed any spawning colors but when I pulled them out of the cooler they had darkened up in a similar manner. Pretty sure all I cleaned were males but they showed no signs of being worn out from spawning, not skinny, no abraded tails or fins at all. In fact, quite the opposite. I can't help but wonder if these are late spawners and just getting going due to the cold spring we've had or spawned early and have already put the meat back on. They came from fairly deep water, 12-15' beyond a weed line.
Counter says 16 fish landed, the bass and the 2 big crappie got released so 13 came home with me, 6 of which were crappie.
My wife called me with a radar update and with the showers not too far off, I decided to stay dry and called it a day at 10:20, pulled in the gear and headed for the beach. Smart move and good timing as I drove through some light showers on the way home and it settled in for good about the time I got all my gear stowed away.