Cresent= thebomb.com

All these years that I've been a member on this forum, I've read countless threads about people putting their 2 cents on wether Talquin or Cresent was the "supreme" waters of Florida. Well after fishing Talquin for several years, I've finally gotten in on a little Cresent action now that I'm living in Gainesville.

Got to the lake at 6am and the lake was white-capping (seriously). Launched at 3 bananas and headed to the north end of the lake hopping to get out of the wind. Carolina Skiff j16's just aren't built for this kind of weather. Long and wet ride all the way to the north end.

Trolled about 8-13ft of water all day with the wind pushing us too fast most of the day. Just couldn't keep our baits in the strike zone for any long periods of time.

Even with such a horrible wind all day we managed to catch 41. Only kept 21 but we had 10, yes 10 fish, at or over the 2lb mark. I haven't even caught a total of 2lbers in my life before today. Definitely a trip for the memorie books. It was dads and I first of many trips to Cresent. Big fish went 2.4lbs. All fish were caught on litewirehooks and grubs.

Much thanks to Mr. SouthernYoungGuns, TC, on giving me a detailed briefing on how to fish this lake. We would have been lost aimlessly without his info.

Btw, I wouldn't normally keep 10- 2lb crappie. We had already made up in our minds we would keep fish from today that were of size and throw EVERYTHING back tomorrow. 4 quart bags of fillets will last me awhile.

Talquin will always seem like home but I'm on to something good down here at Cresent.

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Great day on the water. Why would you use light wire hooks in such a clean lake?

Dang, nice batch of crappies there.

Congrats to you and dad, but what is 3 bananas? and you may won't to try some drift socks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by EARL KITCHENS

Great day on the water. Why would you use light wire hooks in such a clean lake?

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I just don't like other hooks. Even though litewirehooks are lighter, the hook shank is longer so it fits baits better than most others. When I go crappie fishing I plan on catching crappie. If I wanted to catch a red or maybe a bass or something I might would change. Guess it's just a personal preference.

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Originally Posted by brucec

Congrats to you and dad, but what is 3 bananas? and you may won't to try some drift socks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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3 Bananas is a restaurant just west of bear island. There is a public ramp right beside it.

Yeah we talked about a drift sock all day lol. The wind forecast was horribly wrong. Caught us off guard but that's usually how a "forecast" goes. Will be investing in one!!!!

Yea,I call them weather guessers!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Crescent is a Dream Lake...Glad you got on a few good fish!!!

Nice catch, we will be there on Dec. 1st for 2 months.

Good post Bro.

Talquin was the best Crappie lake in the Southeast at one time but it has declined over the last 10 years. Crescent and the St Johns River are number one now.

Nice

skiff89_jr you said "Even with such a horrible wind all day we managed to catch 41. Only kept 21 but we had 10, yes 10 fish, at or over the 2lb mark. I haven't even caught a total of 2lbers in my life before today. Definitely a trip for the memorie books. It was dads and I first of many trips to Cresent. Big fish went 2.4lbs."

Yes I made a statement something like that back in February caught quite a few 2lb plus in one day won't give the exact number but it was way up there something I never saw done before but it happens around the St.johns and Crescent,great job skiff89_jr:ThumbsUp:ThumbsUp

We will be there in January. We have to figure out where to stay? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Lakeview Motel is about the only place on Crescent that is decent. I have never heard anything good about Leonards Landing but that is another place unless you stay in a hotel/motel in Palatka. I think there is a bed and breakfast downtown Crescent City but dont jnow how "Fisherman" friendly it is.

Thanks Tim. Call me tomorrow if you have time.

I use them myself no matter where I fish......course I got bunch of them. I have been to Cresent one time and loved it. We (1Cove) caught and released three that day over two pounds. Jason Little/Chuck/Brodie had the most weight of all fishermen last winter.......they were using double 3/32........you guessed it.......Litewirehooks.

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Originally Posted by EARL KITCHENS

Great day on the water. Why would you use light wire hooks in such a clean lake?

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Looks like a great day

Nice post skiff89jr , Crescent is a great lake but with the pressure over the years it will prolly decline like Talquin & Monroe have.

I like tournament fishin but now that crappieusa is havin a 2 day in JAN & comin back in NOV, it won't take long to see a change:twocents

FL needs a size limit on crappie, state wide

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Originally Posted by specktacklure

Nice post skiff89jr , Crescent is a great lake but with the pressure over the years it will prolly decline like Talquin & Monroe have.

I like tournament fishin but now that crappieusa is havin a 2 day in JAN & comin back in NOV, it won't take long to see a change:twocents

FL needs a size limit on crappie, state wide

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I agree. I would be for a state-wide minimum length of 10 inches. Haven't fished monroe, but I think a 12 inch minimum would be awesome for Talquin and Cresent.

Yeah Curtis, I have caught one or two on lite wire hooks. Just asking a simple question and I got two simple answers.

Skiff, that's as good a tailgate full of fish as I've ever seen. Great day!
Mr Kitchens, you might look into the Deland area. It's a ways south but also is closer to Monroe near Sanford, another good destination. Highland Park fish camp is on the St. Johns and has some provisions and info. Just a thought

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Originally Posted by EARL KITCHENS

We will be there in January. We have to figure out where to stay? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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Earl, we have stayed many times at Georgia Boys on Dunn's Creek and it is very good. Dunn's Creek runs from the St John River over to Crescent on the North end. It is a 8+ mile run from Ga Boys to Crescent. We stayed at Lakeview a few times and the stay was good but you will need to launch downtown every day. They have two sets of ramps and both are jam up.

This January there will be 10 of us and we are going to try Leonard's Landing. We all like the idea of a boat slip and walking from room to boat every day. I will review Leonard after the visit.

Do you feel comfortable leaving your tackle in your boat at night at Leonard's? Just curious about the safety standpoint at Leonard's if I was to bring my daughter with me. PM me if response can't be posted. Thanks.

I stayed at Leonard's last year in Jan & it was fine, I felt ok as far as safety goes for stayin there. But I don't & wouldn't leave my tackle or anything in the boat that someone else might like more than me no matter where I am stayin.

Enjoyed fishing Crescent a couple of years ago. Caught our fair share of big fish that we released. Would really like to return one day and do it again while the fishing is still good. Love to see good reports just hate to see all them big fish get taken out. Think the smaller fish taste better anyway. I'm afraid that I agree with some of the comments on here that the size and numbers of these big fish will decline quickly if everyone keeps on keeping these big fish. Just my 2 cents worth.

My sister and I fished Crescent last Sunday. We kept 17 in the livewell, longest was 15", smallest was 12.5". There were about 4 or 5 2lbers in there, but we decided to release them. My sister said she felt much better about the trip once they were back In the lake. :)
Can't say I always release them, but sometimes its nice to let em swim away.

HOLY CRAPPIE,

Just moved to Central Florida a few month ago, those fish get my heart a beat'n!!

Thanks for sharing the photo's, can't wait to go.

pescador

Were you long lining?

If you are asking me...then yes we were long-lining.

Have been crappie fishing only a couple of years, but after seeing what appears to be going on at the Choctawhatchee River in the panhandle I'm inclined to agree there should be a 10 inch minimum state-wide. So far this year the majority of crappie I've caught are about 9 to 10 inches and less although I've got enough larger to bring to the house. Have been hearing reports of "gave them a whuppin" and "tore them up", which is probably true to a degree....but based on my own experience I have to wonder about the size that is going in the box. Yesterday I caught 9 in Lake Jackson, Leon County, and they were all about 6 to 9 inches. First time I have crappie fished this lake so don't know anything about what is normal for numbers or size. Saw a good number on the sonar in a 20 ft hole that showed up as small fish....and they were just that.....small.

If you are close to Leon County, give Talquin a try....You'll like it!!!

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Originally Posted by TnT

If you are close to Leon County, give Talquin a try....You'll like it!!!

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Was on Talquin Friday morning. Wind darn new blew me into the woods, but will be back over there soon.

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Originally Posted by fishwalton

Was on Talquin Friday morning. Wind darn new blew me into the woods, but will be back over there soon.

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Yes sir...I was out there with you on Friday morning. The "Light and Variable" winds that were forecasted had white caps bt 10:00. Friday afternoon thru Sunday was very pleasant, tho...Hope to get the chance to meet you down there sometime.