tough lakes

I live near one and quite often some of the better crappie anglers avoid it . I think its one of those you better know the lake well and even then expect the worst . The fish there have what I consider to be a terribly high number of spots to hide in coupled with a heavy usage of water to supply the metroplex . Fluctuations of 9 to 10 feet in a year or even lots less time take place frequently and its flat full of timber that sometimes you never know is there at a glance .This all said it is known for some really nice fish and for a metroplex lake here in town its close to pretty much a lot of the population .
Now mind you when they get in a targetable pattern and word gets out the place will load up with crappie anglers and in many cases ketch some good numbers of some dandy fish . But most of the time its a work for them lake and even when you know where they like you might not do well . If you hit it and leave after a few hours with more than 10 good fish you have done well .
So my bud asks me if I want to go see the lake this year in his boat last Sunday and I said sure brother . I think I know where they are but to be sure I have not heard of anyone doing well there this year .
Well another bud happens to call and says he is going the same time as we are and we chat a bit . We discussed where they might be and he mentions a spot that was not on my radar. I tell him yeah we might give that a glance but we are headed to the other end of the lake . I then find out we are meeting a third party at the lake and tell my boat captain lets look in the cove by the boat ramp .
I tell him about a well known brushpile and he says yeah I know right where you are talking about . I say for sure there will be some in it this time of year and off we go . Well there they are about 12 foot down in 16 foot of water and not cooperating ! I ketch one maybe 10 incher and that is that :banghead
So I say you know what bro lets move closer to the bank and pitch it a bit , they love to spawn in here and maybe there are aggressive fish up tight to the shore . Sure enough I put on a float and set it about 4 foot deep and first cast whack one . My bud is being picky and says he only wants a few larger fish and even though its 11 inches I put it back . Next fish is a nice one and goes in the box and then we just start wearing them out !By the time the third party arrived in an hour we had 16 over 12 inches in the box and when he got there they just slowed down to nearly nothing .These fish could be ketched just hanging the jig over the side about 7 foot deep in 9 foot of water or casting to the bank without a float and reeling slowly and float pitching as well .
We tore them up right good and when our bud got there, We traveled the lake looking for another hot bite and never found another crappie in any of the areas they should have been.
Go figure :Rofl

Nice pics & story....the folks that show up to the party late gotta bring some new techniques cause them crappie fresh will change what they want in split second......
One cloud could make you think all the fresh boarded a plane.....

Looks like yall had a good run out there. Good job buddy

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This story reminds me to breakout the Pepops Ketchn Karrot to see if they like something different. Kind of like the man the jig is named after is kind of different (smile). Good report.


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