Thanks a bunch for all the input. I know what you mean about taking your dad fishing. Although we don't always see eye to eye and we butt heads a lot I want to take him on as many of these types of trips as I can. You only live once and time ticks away faster every year. Seems like yesterday I was in my 20s.. Now I am 3 years from 40!!! We have really good crappie fishing here in on Lake Shelbyville but the chance of catching a big one is limited; I have only caught 1 fish in the 2lb class but lots of 11's and 12's. 14 inches is kinda the standard BEAST here and those are hard to get. Again thank you all for your input.