Blackshear tomorrow?

I have snuck down to Blackshear 4 times in the past week...3 out of the 4 trips were very good trips and 1 so-so trip. We caught some really good quality fish around some tree tops and trash piles in 14-20 fow trolling @ .8-1.0 mph. We did have to go thru many small fish to find the slabs tho. Seems like most anything with Bubblegum and/or Chartreuse was our best jig, but Electric Chicken and Popsickle did well also. Our 2nd trip we caught 3 that went 1.75 lbs and several in the 1.5 lb range on the other trips. All fish were released to be caught again, mainly because I am still waiting on my livewell to be built.(Not to mention I was feeling lazy and didn't want to clean them) If you can find the structure, the fish should be there. Should be a good weigh in on saturday. Looks like it will be the 29th of this month before I'll get back down there. Thanks to Rusty, we found the fish right where he said they were at, between the dam and the 280 Bridge!!

Tim......That sounds really good. You should get your livewell fixed and come on down to the tourney. Great bunch of guys on the Slabmasters trail and we'd love to have you join us. Those kind of fish will be tough to beat in Sept. I was thinking it would take around 8lbs (high 7's to low 8's) to win it, but now you have me 2nd guessing.

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Originally Posted by crappiechappy

Tim......That sounds really good. You should get your livewell fixed and come on down to the tourney. Great bunch of guys on the Slabmasters trail and we'd love to have you join us. Those kind of fish will be tough to beat in Sept. I was thinking it would take around 8lbs (high 7's to low 8's) to win it, but now you have me 2nd guessing.

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I was very surprised to see the quality of those fish for this time of the year...Not much on the tournament thang. Got a bad taste from it a few years back with a real buttwipe that tried to make me out to be the bad guy, so I hung it up...Saved alot of money too:Rofl...I may fish in a Fruit Jar tournament from time to time, but I fish for the fun and enjoyment....No pressure that way....Maybe one day I'll try it again if gas ever comes down to where it is affordable....12 mpg pulling my boat hurts!!!...There are some good fish in Blackshear and I think I just got lucky and stumbled on those bigguns...Probably go back tomorrow and not catch anything at that spot...But we marked alot of fish in the 14-20 ft range that were holding to structure....This cooler weather should have them in some open water on the flats soon....Good Luck on Saturday...Save me some for the next Saturday!!!!

Tim, I had a bad experience when I fished my second tournament on the Slabmasters Tournament Trail at Lake Talquin. My partner and I were accused of cheating on the first day of the tournament by a very jealous and embarrased fisherman. He fished lake Talquin a bunch and assumed he could not be beat. My partner and I were leading on the first day of a two day tournament on a lake we had never fished before which did not sit well with this really nice guy. He has not spoken to me since even though I am nice to him. I almost decided to never fish another tournament until I came to my senses and decided no one controls what I do except the GOOD LORD and me. If you want to fish tournaments do not let anyone else manipulate what you do! SORRY for the rant!

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Originally Posted by EARL KITCHENS

Tim, I had a bad experience when I fished my second tournament on the Slabmasters Tournament Trail at Lake Talquin. My partner and I were accused of cheating on the first day of the tournament by a very jealous and embarrased fisherman. He fished lake Talquin a bunch and assumed he could not be beat. My partner and I were leading on the first day of a two day tournament on a lake we had never fished before which did not sit well with this really nice guy. He has not spoken to me since even though I am nice to him. I almost decided to never fish another tournament until I came to my senses and decided no one controls what I do except the GOOD LORD and me. If
you want to fish tournaments do not let anyone else manipulate what you do! SORRY for the rant!

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If it had been me, I would have let him see how big my fish were as I shoved each and very one down his throat.

I said my piece, decided not to associate with people of his type and still kept on fishing and enjoying myself...What is in the past can't be changed and I am not ashamed or sorry for anything...I just look at it as if today is a new day and I am going to make the best of it...Besides, my financial situation has changed somewhat and fishing tournaments, as we all know, isn't cheap...especially if the lake isn't local and the food, gas and hotel bills can get a little pricy. I probably spent that much money fishing at Talquin and more. But with having my camper down there I had something to show for the money I was spending. There isn't anything wrong or bad about tournamnet fishing, especially if the people running the tournament have some integrity about what they are doing and how they run things. It's just not for me right now....With all that being said and it is all in the past, I just enjoy fishing!!!...I get on the lake when I want to, fish till I want to, take plenty of food and snacks so I can just stop fishing and enjoy a bite to eat and then leave when I am ready to leave...No pressure or time constraints....But some of the nicest folks I have ever met was when I was fishing the tournaments with Crappie USA, Crappie Masters and Slab Masters....I am thinking my "Official Opening Day" for crappie season will be Sept. 29 and I am looking forward to some great Fall Fishing. I will still be spending my share of timr at Talquin as usual, but I am going to be fishing Blackshear a lot more this year. If things work out for this Saturday, I may ride to Blackshear and check out the weigh in....This cooler weather is getting me pumped up!!!

P.S....Speaking of some of the nicest people I have ever met, I can't forget the Crappie.com people that I have met over the years at the different Slabfests. I have made several friends thru this website and I wouldn't take anything for that friendship. Some of us only talk to each other during the fishing season and some of us talk year round....Fantastic bunch of folks on here!!!!:cheers2

Looking forward to meeting a whole new bunch of folks at The Super Slabfest at Talquin in November!!!