Last year the Kentucky crew and I came to Crankest 2017. We had a blast but I especially enjoyed meeting and cooking with Don. There are few times at events that you meet another cast iron cooker and even rarer when meeting one at a crappie event. As we left we agreed to keep in touch. As the year unfolded we did and discovered we had many similar interests and made plans to fish together at this years event.
Soon this years event date arrived and the pre trip preparations began. Don had his boat reserved for me on Friday and I was looking forward to it. A time was set for meeting at the ramp near the park at 0600 am. As the dawn broke, Don arrived pulling his Triton boat. A lot can be learned by the way a guy keeps his boat and Don's boat was squared away and it was soon apparent that he had a system for everything. As I launched him, Don started scanning the area at the ramp which showed excellent amount of bait with feeding activity by fish. The decision was made to drop the trolling motor and putting out the rods. This was done with minimal effort due to me having b&m pst's and okuma line counter reels and familiar with this tackle.
Soon we were boating fish with several keepers. We maintained an average of 3-1 ratio and I enjoyed the mornings action. As the day progressed we followed the bait out to the main lake and we kept picking up a keeper here and there. By noon we had an even dozen keepers and the vote was cast to head in. The day was very enjoyable and we even discovered more similarities we had in common. I think the smoked pork loin tenderloin added to the extension offer for another planned trip before the event ended. Also, the granola bars I shared with Bit didn't hurt any. lol.
The next outing was set for Monday. While my fellow Kentuckians headed out Sunday, Don offered lodging at Bit's and his camper with a days fishing planned for the next morning. Soon dawn was breaking with our Creator giving us displays of rainbows in the clouds over the dam followed by a full rainbow stretching from one side of the lake to the other. Pretty soon thereafter the poles began to bending with quality fish. Just about every strike produced solid keepers with very few shorts.
Rod distances were adjusted to the crappies preference and a steady changing of the crank baits kept adding to the live well. The timer in Don's boat was behind in the bait changing all day in its reminder chimes. For those unaware, Don sets a timer and if a bait isn't producing by the timer chimes, the bait is changed out. A color preference was soon discovered and we both dug into the boxes to find combinations that kept us busy catching, measuring, and dropping crappie into the cooler. We even picked up a few catfish with one giving Don a lot of fun bringing it in.
As the days weather started changing, darks clouds gathered sending thundering echoes of warnings coupled with occasional flashes of lighting sending others and us to the ramp. A box count produced 23 crappie with it easily giving me a best weight day ever in a boat with or without a buddy angler. It was discussed and decided to weigh the day's catch. After several hours on ice the individual weights were logged at Don's camper and tallied with a total produced weight of 30.95 pounds. That didn't include five additional crappie that were 1/4 inch over 12 inches but were returned due to concerns of length shortening due to being on ice. Finally, it didn't include the 16 1/2 inch bloated from eating bait stud that flopped violently off the cooler top after being weighed and landing back the safety of the watery depths. Hopefully some local buddy will get her later. :pray
All good things must come to an end. With the weather warnings turning into raining facts, I headed the packed GMC north toward home where my loving wife and our dog, Harlie awaited. While I enjoyed my trip, I lounged for my family which I am blessed with and love deeply.
Thanks Don for the memorable fishing but more for the friendship developed over the last year. I have stated before and state here again my appreciation to Slab and this site for the fellowship and friendships developed. I have been blessed and hope that in some way I have blessed others. Look forward to seeing each of you next year. Prayers for blessing for all my crappie.com family.
Jere, crp4570
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sorry for the rotation. even rotating phone camera correctly they still don't play nice. Maybe G can sweep up after me:bash
