armyman's Grenada Spillway Report 1/2/16

[armyman]

It all started with an ice-covered truck at 0530 and a cold 25 deg temperature. After removing the ice, I got in my Nissan truck at 0600 and headed to Grenada, driving like I stole it! I had great anticipation and visions of a cooler full of crappie along with boatbottom and Rees Guide based on a previous conversation on the Forum the night before. This was not to be.
I arrived at the spillway a little before 0800. People were lined up 4 ft apart along the bank. This is what I expected to find, but it was 1 1/2 hours later before I could get a spot to fish. I finally got a spot at 0930 next to nice black man who gave me some tips on the snagging technique. This being my maiden adventure on this type of "fishing", I carefully started to navigate the rocks to the water's edge and began casting a double-rigged jig. After about 45 minutes, my bad knees and my not-so-happy back began to nag, so I sat down on my upside down bucket for a rest.
Behind me a guy was talking rather loud on his cell phone, telling someone on the other end numerous times, "I'll see what I can do". He finally ended his call.....and walked up behind me and asked "How old are you?" I replied "67". He then said "Well, you don't need a fishing license, and I see you don't have any fish, 'cause you're sitting on your upside down bucket". I replied "No, I don't". He was dressed in full camo with a skull cap, looking like he just walked out of the deer woods, which he probably had. I then realized I had just had an encounter with one of Mississippi's finest Game Wardens. He was displaying no badge, nor did he identify himself as a Game Enforcement Officer. I could have told him to "Blow off", but I'm not made that way. In retrospect, I'm glad I didn't. I know these officers have cold weather uniforms, and in my opinion, this officer was unprofessional. He went on down the bank checking, and I heard he cited a guy for fishing with a treble hook. Maybe this officer was dressed that way as a disguise in order to enforce the laws. I have been checked on the water many times, but never on the spillway. Maybe this is the norm for them down there.
To continue, I finally caught a nice 12' slab in the back about 30 minutes later. I caught 2 more crappie, but lost them right at the bank because I forgot my net.(My bad). I finally caught a Stripe in the mouth, to my surprise, but gave him to the man next to me. I saw a man lose his balance and fall on the rocks(Ouch!). I saw a man try to put water in his bucket of fish, lost his balance and released all his fish back into the murky depths of the Yalobusha River(Sad!)
In conclusion, I have several observations about my spillway "trip". There is something about catching a crappie anywhere but in the mouth just doesn't seem right to me. In my opinion it defies the logic of fair chase. We spend hundreds, and some us thousands of dollars to find crappie with boats, electronics, rods and tackle to trick him into biting. We keep the tackle manufacturers and stores in business by doing this. As for this type of "fishing", this is a young man's game or anyone who is trying to put food on the table. I don't fault them for that. This is just not may bag, and I get no enjoyment out of it. Besides, at 67 and pushing 68, I'm too dang old to risk trying to walk on "moving balls" trying to snag a fish. As a side note, I had about 2 dozen "slab rigs" tied up, double and single for Spring and lost about half of them. That's also the norm down there.
So, to all you spillway snaggers, I wish you all coolers full of crappie and a happy trip back to the tackle store! The only jigs I will lose hereafter will be on a submerged stump or a sunken brushpile while in my boat!!

Just call me the "Spillway Snubber"
Calvin

[Rees Guide]

Good report Calvin, sorry I didn't make it but had heater issues that needed addressing per Ms Tammy.
As far as the Game Warden attire, they pretty much dress how they want and if you go back to the spillway his attitude will most likely be the same, spillways seem to bring out the bad in folks and he has to deal with all that.

["G"]

Good report......I will be 71 in three weeks and I can tell....I feel the same way you do....me and those rocks don't get along.

[armyman]

Good report Calvin, sorry I didn't make it but had heater issues that needed addressing per Ms Tammy.
As far as the Game Warden attire, they pretty much dress how they want and if you go back to the spillway his attitude will most likely be the same, spillways seem to bring out the bad in folks and he has to deal with all that.

No need to apologize, John. I understand and don't blame you. As far as the wardens, they prolly do run into some rough customers down there. However, it seems to me that if they were in uniform, they would command more respect and be more of a deterrent to law violations.....unless they are on a quota. Just my thoughts.

[scrat]

Wow! That was a very good report. Thanks for the heads up you give me on this type of fishing just in case I ever wanted to try it. With a bad back that I have had disc surgery on and double hip replacement it is not going to happen. I was told that all State Law Officials are on duty 24/7 and that they don't have to be in uniform to do their jobs. I was give a ticket years ago by a Game Warden while he was also fish the same river and that is what the Judge told me when I paid that $27.50 ticket( a lot of money back in 70's). I didn't have cotton on the end of my trot line and he give me the ticket. I still think he was just running everyone's lines and when he saw me he gave me the ticket. He was in plain cloths and fishing with his son. Said he just saw my line. Yea Right.

[armyman]

Wow! That was a very good report. Thanks for the heads up you give me on this type of fishing just in case I ever wanted to try it. With a bad back that I have had disc surgery on and double hip replacement it is not going to happen. I was told that all State Law Officials are on duty 24/7 and that they don't have to be in uniform to do their jobs. I was give a ticket years ago by a Game Warden while he was also fish the same river and that is what the Judge told me when I paid that $27.50 ticket( a lot of money back in 70's). I didn't have cotton on the end of my trot line and he give me the ticket. I still think he was just running everyone's lines and when he saw me he gave me the ticket. He was in plain cloths and fishing with his son. Said he just saw my line. Yea Right.

Thanks, Scrat. That is definitely a young man's gig! Something about that Game Warden episode you had just don't sound right to me!

[LowePro]

Im not sure if this is legal in arkansas. I would know nothing of snagging crappie. I snag for catfish some but have never even accidentaly caught a crappie. Must be alot below grenada spillway!

[KnightShadow10]

One thing about wardens....they have a tough job to do...in most cases, everyone they deal with is armed...I have never heard of a warden writing a ticket without a law being broken....If you don't. Break any laws...you should have no problems...I was checked duck hunting by 3 federal wardens..none were showing any identification...When I asked them to show me...They complied....I don't have any problem with that...They are stretched pretty thin...Personally I appreciate their efforts, and will help them any chance I get.

[Rees Guide]

LowePro, it's a technique like any other way of fishing, thinking serious about taking the boat next time and go down river and spider rig some cuts and eddies, they in there and got to eat!

[downsouth]

Thanks for the report. I too was curious about this type of "fishing". Pushing 56 and on the heavy side of the scales I will stick to the boat. I do enjoy going to the various spillways fishing for catfish. I have what I think is a unique system using chain for a weight. The links are like a kite tail and surf the current not letting it quite get to bottom.