SNaylor, you are going to have to share your technique. I've fished T'bird for just under 30 years and I've never seen a 17" Crappie caught there. The largest that went into my boat was right at 15" and weighed 2.2 lbs caught in the Winter. When I fish anywhere and think they are 2 lbs or better they always get measured, weighed and a photo taken. I have caught a couple that approached 17" but not at T'bird. Maybe I should spend more time there but it's a dink lake for me.