Winter crappie fishing has been great at Jordan

Looks like it is winding down for this winter, but since mid December we made 7 trips and caught over 1,000 crappie at Jordan Lake. We never kept our limit, but caught it every time. This is the first year I've ever bought 20 dozen minnows for a day of fishing, but we did it twice this year. Both trips I had five of us fishing, but that is still a lot of minnows to go through. Got to take four different families with kids that don't get to fish all that much, so it was fun watching the kids wear them out. Lots of smiles on the boat so far for 2015 and looking forward to what the rest of the year holds. The one picture of all the crappie in the cooler was for a "critter cooking" we had at our church. 36 guys showed up and every one of them got to enjoy some great crappie fillets. Of course, my freezer is empty now too. LOL Biggest fish brought up was 14 1/4" with several around 13". I've heard a lot of people complaining about the number of fish being kept out of the lake and I had a thought as I was down there fishing. The lake is about 17,000 acres and probably 95% of the people fishing are only fishing in about 5 acres of water. I'm not expressing an opinion, nor am a biologist, but just a thought I had.
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most of the people whining about the #s are unable to put fish in the boat like that! Nice Job!!

Not to mention the smiles on those kids faces!!!

Good job Mike. Since Sept., Charles and I have fished about 3 out of every 4 weeks in each month and seen good numbers of fish. What is important is that we purposely fished somewhere different just about every time. The population has rebounded well. I'm glad you could do what I think was what Frank White used to say and "take a kid fishing". It's something they will remember for a long time.

Good job getting folks out and keeping what you could use. in regards to your thought on acreage don't forget not all those acres are utilized by crappies. But yes there is lots of habitat and hopefully regs are adequate such that folks following rules will not neg impact population

Keep your limits! The fish that are left will be bigger with a better growth rate.

Monk

I've taken several kids fishing this year. The youngest was Jeremy and his mother, the oldest was 67. But they all enjoyed the Jordan bounty. My freezer is prepared for a couple of fish fries and that means about 100 people will enjoy a great meal.
The last "kid", the 67 year old took home more fish than he's ever caught and giggled with every one. One guy created a blackened crappie recipe that was really good.
In my opinion, this is the first of a very good cycle that will last at least two more years. I agree with Monk. Keep your legal limit. There are plenty of young, healthy fish- small heads and big bodies.
Very nice report, Mike. Now , about those minnows.....

Keep and eat! Crappie get smaller- not bigger. Jmo.

that's great for those kids. Make sure they know how lucky they are. Looking forward to a great spring.

Dang Mike zaks bigger than you/ I really missed Jordan this year but I will make a trip or 2 yet. How much is minnows now? Down here they are $3.00to 3.50 dozen.

Chief . . . I at least fish those jigs in the spring longlining, but just can't break myself away from those minnows in the winter. I love seeing that tip of the rod in the rod holder do a little dance and then trying to cross his eyes. It helps that the people I take usually will pitch in by buying part or all of the bait the day.

Enoman . . . Yeah, he's getting all growed up. LOL He will be 18 this year and graduates high school in May. You know we homeschool and I think he wants to miss his graduation ceremony at church due to being out fishing. LOL I think I am paying about $1.50 or less per dozen. The guy I use always gives me a couple free dozen so that helps bring the price down.

We are hoping to get out one day next week, but not sure with the weather.
Mike

Take a kid outdoors!

Buy my minnows by the pound. Between $12.00 to $16.00 per pound. They always give me a few extra, (1/4 pound or so). Hooks by the thousand at a time, weights by the five pounds at a time on ebay, and corks by the hundred on ebay. There are somewhere near 25 dozen minnows per pound, according to size. Makes the about 65 cents a dozen. Give me the pleasure of seeing that cork go down any day and I do not have to fool with a trolling motor all day, and keep up with a half dozen or so rods to get untangle, when a big fish gets them all tangled up. I enjoy the pleasure of just taking my time and not making work out of fishing. But to each his own. Probably have enough hooks, weights and corks, to last the rest of my fishing days.