About two weeks ago, while getting a haircut, I invited my barber Jay for a Crappie trip. He informed me that the ONLY Crappie he ever caught was while fly-fishing for bluegill. We scheduled the trip for his day-off, yesterday, and were planning for a sunrise ramp-arrival.:highfive Everything was on-schedule and arrived pleased to see that only 4 rigs had already launched.:check
Many years ago, I had enjoyed bow-hunting, and the importance of camo to "BLEND" into your surroundings to help improve success.:ThumbsUp Now I'm certain that my Barber-bud JAY, new to Crappie fishing, didn't realize:dono that his newly-colored "do" was a camo-type factor to increase our chances of success. He had unknowingly "colored-up" to disquise/enhance himself as a Strawberry-Perch!:RoflAttachment 451535Attachment 451536
At this point, I'm STOKED w/enthusiasm but with the hotter than normal Florida weather, the water-temp was 82*(up about 7 degrees from just 3 days prior!:yikes:pray Mid-day it had risen toAttachment 451537:yikes We still managed to slowly build our bag w/12 l/l'g rods(8 for him in back, 4 longest rods up front w/me). He managed the ice-breaking honors:Rofl with his 1st l/l'g crappie-Attachment 451538. The fish were very scattered along with the 8 hard-fighting 2-4# Speckled Channel-cats that gave him a run for his money on the 5' u/l skinny poles in back. As I had hoped, JAY, had managed the largest Crappie-Attachment 451539Attachment 451540:highfive
But there's more...about 1 hour later, he soon realized that he hadn't seen ANYTHING yet(Strong Catfish, couple Gar-encounters, beautiful Crappie) on this 5' SKINNY tackle! His wake-up alarm sounded and during this tug-o-war he announces Probly another Catfish! As I watched the Incredible fight unfold, I was secretly thinking/hoping for the PRIZE!!
Attachment 451541Attachment 451542:highfive:highfive It was 1" BIGGER than my Striper on Friday!:Gift You go boy!
The extreme heat and basically wind-free conditions we decided to head for the barn...with only one more item on my wish-list for my newbie, JAY= u/l mini-stickin'!:pray
We were now more comfortable, up in the bridge-shade, doing what I LOVE...instructing newbies on new things/techniques. I managed 2 before informing JAY that we're NOT going in until you catch one...a Keeper!:deadhorse Well, he's a good student and things(pressure) went well=
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Some nice Bluegills/Bream were added to the diversity as well.Attachment 451544Attachment 451545Attachment 451548
So, needless to say, the Barber 'Definitely makes the cut'! Great day/Great company and new "hobby" for the Jay Man!Attachment 451550
