Thread: Quick Report

Saturday in a "Raleigh Parks" lake:

6:45am-6:45pm (best fishing...uhhh...well, there's a reason I fished 12 hours today)

49 crappie 10"-16.5" (16.5"= 2 lbs 14.75oz)

custom minnow rig
***bobber/minnow
1/16 oz chart(glow) tube jig w/ or w/out a minnow

#6 Vanish Transition Line
5-9' deep in 7-10'
Water Temp: 81F-85F

***big fish of the day caught on this bait

In one word...sunburnt.

In many words...
I figured today was as good a day as any to fish a 12 hour day like I did with my Dad back in Illinois. I caught fish all day. Two friends came aboard for a while and pulled a few in on bobbers (their contributions are included in the 49keepers). We caught several 12"-13" fish from 2pm-5pm; but not 5 minutes after I dropped them off and dropped my line back in, I caught today's giant. When I weighed her, my digital scale flashed 3 lbs 0 oz once but locked in at 2 lbs 14.75 oz. I remembered the camera today--I got a kid in a "nearby" boat to take my picture. Then I gave him the fish to let go (and I made sure he did as it was difficult for both of us). I've caught several 16"-16.5" crappie on the lake since May, but this fish was fat!

All three presentations were effective today.

As is becoming a trend, the minnowless chart/glow jig was catching fish when my minnow poles were at stasis. However, the fish would not hit a still or trolling jig nearly as much as a jigging jig (2' up; freefall to bottom--repeat). This is backwards from the way they have previously preferred my jig presentation.

The bobber/minnow worked better today than it has in a while (and caught the biggest fish.)

Although the homemade minnow rig didn't earn today's acclaimed triple asterisk, it still caught more and larger average than anything else I chucked over the side. The fish prior to the big momma put my last double minnow rig out of commission, but I'm sure she would have hit the homemade rig just the same.

I really don't know if I'm up for fishing tomorrow...I may actually be fished out for a few days. Maybe I'll build a few more feet onto the boardwalk tomorrow; or plant a few surplus flowers from work. I've got a bonfire stacked--I just need a match. Hmmm.

FishCrazy: the rig is quite similar to a store bought "Kentucky Lake" style rig--only I have fixed what I don't like about them. The biggest change is the line weight and internode length. The spacers are 4" long/50# Walmart special. The internode is 2-3' long/8# Vanish. The weight (currently 3/16 oz) is on 1' long/8# Vanish. The snells are 6"-1 1/2' long/6# Vanish. The network is held together with #18 snap swivels and modified 3-way swivels. The snap swivels allow me to tear down or change up the unit as needed. It's still a work in progress. My next challenge is to convert it to a double jig assembly. I'll try to remember to take a picture of it next time I'm floatin'.

I'll probably post my pot-bellied Pomoxis to "Big Fish Pics" on Monday.