Looking for some advice

It’s funny how time gets away from you. My dad and I spent each fall and spring going on a fishing trip. Most of our trips were to Kentucky lake and Rend lake. Then I got married and started a family. I got busy with the daily grind of life. And I wasn’t able to take the time and spend on the lake with my dad. We always said we would get back to our yearly trips when things slowed down for me and my dad retired. This past fall my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. So I’m planning a fishing trip this spring March April timeframe. My dad would like to try somewhere new this trip. I’ve looked at a lot of lakes and am I’m nowhere closer to a decision. We love to fish structure single pole jigging. We’ve done a little spider rigging but we just love to feel that thump. So what I’m looking for is advice on where to go. Willing to travel up to around 300 or 400 miles from the Rend lake area. Thanks in advance for any advice

Sorry about the bad news. Now each minute will be a treasure.
I'm thinking Reelfoot maybe.

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When my dad got older and his health began failing I started hiring a guide and taking him every year for his birthday, which was 4/16. While I know how to crappie fish, the guides always had the advantage of more hrs on the lake and I wanted to maximize his success. I did that for 4-5 years in a row. Sadly I can no longer take him, but I still make a point to fish on his birthday. We always fished Ky Lake and caught lots of fish, but if I could take him one more time, we would go to Grenada, MS and hire a guide for the weekend. They have some monster crappie and the temps will be warmer than the Rend Lake area. I pray for comfort for your dad and good memories for you and the time you can spend with him wherever you decide to go.

Reelfoot Lake and hire a guide so its not a wasted trip. Sorry for the bad news.

I am very sorry to hear this about your dad, Pokey. God be with you and him in this time of need. I will ask my Father in Heaven to hold the weather back so you can get a chance to go fishing with him. If you guys do go, take many many pictures of the times spent together. We never are promised tomorrow. I pray God gives those Doctors the ability to heal him. Do not be afraid to try a pier and bank fish. The Crappie are hitting shallow in a lot of places right now.

I have only been to Truman Lake in the summer months but for single poling it's the place to go!


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I'd go to Reelfoot. You've got a national treasure there, excellent restaurants and guides. You could take him to the museum and Grizzly Jig Co, which is close. Plus you might see an eagle or two.

I'd take him to Sardis or Grenada and hire one of the guides that specialize in those lakes, 2 lb crappie are pretty common there.

Sardis or Granada. No brainer

Hospice RN here, previously oncology, etc. Those few months are a very long ways away for your dad, and his condition could change dramatically by then. If you're going to plan something that far out, I would do it as close to home as possible, as travel will be hard on him.

What I would honestly recommend is getting your FMLA paperwork in, and using it as soon as the weather breaks to go out with him and each time it breaks. I'd get a guide now too, as a boat ride a few month down the road maybe intolerable.

Godspeed.

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Originally Posted by tenncrappie

Sardis or Granada. No brainer

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There are crappie in Granada? ;-)

Contact Mrdux (Doug). He guides on Kentucky lake and Barkley. He also does taxidermy and might be able to preserve a memory for you.

Go now. Wherever it is. Still plan for the future but don't let that time pass. You can't get it back.

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Originally Posted by EWS

Hospice RN here, previously oncology, etc. Those few months are a very long ways away for your dad, and his condition could change dramatically by then. If you're going to plan something that far out, I would do it as close to home as possible, as travel will be hard on him.

What I would honestly recommend is getting your FMLA paperwork in, and using it as soon as the weather breaks to go out with him and each time it breaks. I'd get a guide now too, as a boat ride a few month down the road maybe intolerable.

Godspeed.

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Excellent point, and another reason Reelfoot just makes sense. There's more to do there, more to see. It would be a total trip, whereas if the wind picks up from the SW, Sardis can be a nightmare. Spend more time enjoying the place and the company, and less time traveling.

Whatever you do....catching fish is a low priority....the main thing is just get out together and enjoy your Dad.

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I'm a weak man when it comes to losing a loved one, so I will reserve comment. Reelfoot, grenada, or the several lakes near southern Middle Tennessee would all get the job done. Guntersville also has some large fish worth the trip. I lived in Manchester, TN for 10 yrs and never wanted for fish. Lower key and guides available, and I'll do whatever I can to put you in touch with them if you decide to go that route. God bless you and Dad in these days ahead, I'm sure he would enjoy fishing in a puddle if you were alongside of him.

Where ever you go trust me and do it now I lost my dad this past year and I would give anything if I could go back and spend more time with him. If he is still feeling good a little later on then you can go again and maybe a different place where never promised a tomorrow and like has been said take plenty of pictures.

What ever you do, do not wait around. My wife's mother had pancreatic cancer and she only lasted a few months. God willing your dad will do better and hopefully cured. I wanted my dad and I to go to France and start at Omaha Beach and follow the path he took through France and Germany during WWII. We kept putting it off and never made it before he passed away. That still, among other things we didn't get done, haunts me to this day. Spend as much time as you can with him, you will never regret it.

My father-in-law lived another 20 years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer thanks to the grace of God. Prayer is a powerful medicine.

Truman looks like our type of fishing waters. What part of Truman would you recommend?