Can We Talk Honestly about not Boating 7 Fish??

Hello,
I'm not here to ruffle any feathers as a matter of fact if you are human you don't have feathers.:biggrin There is an Elephant in the room that I want to talk about. That is Signing up to fish a Crappie Tournament & you don't even boat 7 Fish. Yeppers I said it. Why because I want to understand it & to do that we have to have dialogue & discuss it. If I'm not able to compete I sit on the porch. I think it's crazy to pay to enter a Crappie Tournament & you can't boat 7 Itty Bitty Fish... :yikes ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE 2 GROWN PEOPLE ON 1 BOAT..:dono Any thoughts? I find it comical & I say it was a great day for the fish. :Rofl You can weigh 7 & they not be big I'm cool with that. However, a WHOLE LAKE & YOU THINK YOU ARE TOUGH STUFF & CAN'T BOAT 7 CRAPPIE ESPECIALLY WITH 2 PEOPLE ON THE BOAT. I think you can only fish if you are told where to fish & got cocky on what you catch with that info & on that lake. Do you find it acceptable to not boat 7 Crappie after entering a Crappie Tournament? :scratchhead

There will be days like that !
sometimes the bite is just extremely tuff! Have seen many days that 8-10 bites is all you get ! If you don’t fish clean you miss a bite or two or loose one or two then you could come up short! Have been guilty of tossing a just a keeper before reaching your 7 to end up needing that fish. But that’s how we learn.
personally I’d be in it to win it ! Go big or go home ! 7 small fish going to get you the same results as 3-4 big fish ! :twocents

:hesaid

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slabprowler

There will be days like that !
sometimes the bite is just extremely tuff! Have seen many days that 8-10 bites is all you get ! If you don’t fish clean you miss a bite or two or loose one or two then you could come up short! Have been guilty of tossing a just a keeper before reaching your 7 to end up needing that fish. But that’s how we learn.
personally I’d be in it to win it ! Go big or go home ! 7 small fish going to get you the same results as 3-4 big fish ! :twocents

---

Ok. I appreciate your 1Cent or Whole Silver Dollar worth of comment.:ThumbsUp I have to wrap my head around it & nothing I can think makes me get it. Have I fished a lake and Skunked? Yeppers I have. Have I done something competitively & 100% flopped "NOPE" not on my resume. I may have not won. I may have not made the top 3 but Skunking in competition mode I don't have 1 time in my 53 years that I can say I can relate. Entering a competition is the frame of mind where a person is suppose to break down & commit to a strategy that will produce. If I knew a lake was not fit for my fishing type I wouldn't fish that tournament. My thought process is why would I want that negative experience to be something that comes to my fore front when times get rough again? NOPE. I sit that one out or if I had to fish it due to it being a part of a Group Lake Tournament I FIND SOMETHING THAT WORKS. I'm hitting a bridge, a dock, or something but I'm boating 7 fish!:ThumbsUp Most these tournaments allow Live Bait & with Forward Face Technology I am not claiming that non-sense in my Universe. 7 GETTING IN DA BOAT! Don't even get me started on 2 people in 1 boat that is a whole different topic. :Rofl

I appreciate your reply greatly because Albert Einstein said, "You cannot solve a problem with the same mind that created it." I need to hear other perspectives on this so I can see other views so I thank you. Recreational fishing, & saying you want to try a new lake that you are trying to break-down I totally get a skunk or low yield. When you have time to pre-fish a lake & think you are hot enough to compete but are all smoke & no gun I say I hope ya get skull drug so you up your game to realize why you are there, or sit on the porch & watch the Do'ers do it. I've seen some guys that will forget more about fishing than I will ever learn & I absolutely respect them. It's a hard living. However, I've also seen this new generation of imposter fisherman emerge that want's all the Bravado, has all the logo's on their clothes, all the stickers on their boats, best equipment, latest gadgets & the truth is they have been "SHOWN" where the fish are on that lake, what & how to catch them, & they don't understand anything about fish behavior when they are not spoon fed. These are the type of people my eyebrow is raised at. It's to each their own, as is my opinion that some people should possibly sit a few tournaments out. I don't wish a person any bad vibes but me saying a person stunk when they actually stunk is no different than me saying a cat or dog is a cat or dog without calling them something else.:biggrin

Hayden Jefferies earned a ton of respect from me when he weighed 1 fish at Grenada in a tournament because he just showed up & didn't prepare. He ate that crow. He admitted he didn't prepare, & said he would never be unprepared at a lake again when signing up to compete & that kid went to work winning & cashing checks. Just saying catching 7 Crappie isn't moving a mountain. There will "NOT" be a day like that for me Sir. Nope!rotfl I don't fish Bridges for Crappie.nonono I would that day.:biggrin I don't use Minnow's.nonono I would that day.:biggrin I don't fish boat docks.nonono I would that day.:biggrin or.... :confused: I'll be on the couch instead.:cheers2 Please don't take my opinion as disrespect. I'm here to talk about a hobby I love & that's Crappie Fishing..:cheers2 Always comment if you see something I post. I'm here for interacting doesn't bother me if we don't always agree. Thanks again.:ThumbsUp

One of the major unwritten rules of this site is : "to agree to disagree, with civility" (and I thank you for that mindset). :ThumbsUp

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

One of the major unwritten rules of this site is : "to agree to disagree, with civility" (and I thank you for that mindset). :ThumbsUp

---

"Mr. Crappie Pappy" I truly thank you for your comment & welcome anything you ever have to say. I'm new here & in some perspectives of Life I'm new there also.White Flag Icon It is my firm belief that it is through discussions & listening to opposing thoughts that one actually is blessed with the seed to grow new perspectives. As I post here & there please be sure to be patient with me & always know I am a man that if fairly treated "is not above reproach nor ever admitting he was wrong". :cheers2

Now in general, I really see this topic as being unprepared not boating 7 Crappie after signing up to say you want to compete. I excuse *Boat issues. As the only solid excuse & that depends on the issue. :biggrin *Motor issues gets a pass.:ThumbsUp *Forward Facing Technology Issues "No Pass".nonono *Livewell issues "No Pass".nonono *Weather issues "No Pass"nonono 2 People on the Boat fishing a Team ABSOLUTELY NO PASS nonono I am screaming that in my Gandolf Lord of the Rings Voice "YOU SHALL NOT PASS":biggrin Somebody hit me with an excuse for me to see if I can excuse not catching 7 Crappie after paying to enter a Crappie Tournament & Pre-Fishing it.:scratchhead Help me to open my forgiveness to being more understanding here please.:help Remember we are all Crappie Family here even if I'm the relative you don't like to visit we are linked together by this Passion. :Rofl You would 100% want me to save you if you were stra ded on the wouldn't cha?:angel::fingerdance

I've had it happen twice. Once after a harsh cold front, I weighed 4. I was new to tourny fishing and spent WAY too much time trying to make stubborn fish bite, rather than look for active fish. That said, only two teams weighed 7 fish.

The second time it happened it hurt the most. EASY fishing on MOST of the lake. I gambled and stayed in a small creek where the fish were skiddish, but much larger than anywhere else in the lake. I boated 6 all day, rather than gambling and running back down lake for smaller fish. I knew it couldn't be won anywhere else but where I was, and that's exactly where it was won, by the only other boat in there with me. Member here named Gobbler won it with some great fish. Won by over 2lb if I recall correctly. That said, even for an expert like him, it was still a tough bite. Could've went else where and likely had 7, but it was a haul from this spot to there. I wouldn't have changed anything about that day. I watched him catch good fish right beside me, I just couldn't get them to cooperate.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TreednNC

I've had it happen twice. Once after a harsh cold front, I weighed 4. I was new to tourny fishing and spent WAY too much time trying to make stubborn fish bite, rather than look for active fish. That said, only two teams weighed 7 fish.

The second time it happened it hurt the most. EASY fishing on MOST of the lake. I gambled and stayed in a small creek where the fish were skiddish, but much larger than anywhere else in the lake. I boated 6 all day, rather than gambling and running back down lake for smaller fish. I knew it couldn't be won anywhere else but where I was, and that's exactly where it was won, by the only other boat in there with me. Member here named Gobbler won it with some great fish. Won by over 2lb if I recall correctly. That said, even for an expert like him, it was still a tough bite. Could've went else where and likely had 7, but it was a haul from this spot to there. I wouldn't have changed anything about that day. I watched him catch good fish right beside me, I just couldn't get them to cooperate.

---

TreednNC this was a fabulous response sharing your experiences.:highfive Thanks for this.:cheers2 Seriously it sheds light on how tough Crappie Fishing can be. I still respectfully say to you, that "I will continue to scratch my head, smirk, grin, & be amazed at people that don't boat 7 Crappie in 6-8Hours hours after "Paying" to enter a Crappie Tournament." Telling me Nobody boated 7 except the winner or anything other than Boat Malfunction being stranded doesn't get a pass from me. Sorry, it sounds like a tough day but in the end my decision on my reason is lack of preparation, & lack of execution. Your heart felt experience though I'm warm & welcoming to you sharing falls in those same perimeters. :twocents Please don't hold that against what you feel about me.

You yourself said it yourself you chased Stubborn fish. 7 Keeper, Caught 1/2lb Fish, at 3 1/2 lbs beats a 3lb Crappie in weight if the main prize is total weight (excluding the Big Fish part of a Tournament):biggrin It's You against the Lake & Fish what others do is irrelevant to me. If I paid to be competitive "I'M CATCHING 7 CRAPPIE" :biggrin:deadhorse Now just going out exploring a new lake, experimenting, or not competing/tournament mode? :confused: That gets a Pass. Competition/Tournament Mode I'm not claiming that in my Universe. nonono Thanks again. Please always chat it up with me. I love the interaction & really appreciate you.:cheers2:highfive

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by UnLikeU

Hello,
I'm not here to ruffle any feathers as a matter of fact if you are human you don't have feathers.:biggrin There is an Elephant in the room that I want to talk about. That is Signing up to fish a Crappie Tournament & you don't even boat 7 Fish. Yeppers I said it. Why because I want to understand it & to do that we have to have dialogue & discuss it. If I'm not able to compete I sit on the porch. I think it's crazy to pay to enter a Crappie Tournament & you can't boat 7 Itty Bitty Fish... :yikes ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE 2 GROWN PEOPLE ON 1 BOAT..:dono Any thoughts? I find it comical & I say it was a great day for the fish. :Rofl You can weigh 7 & they not be big I'm cool with that. However, a WHOLE LAKE & YOU THINK YOU ARE TOUGH STUFF & CAN'T BOAT 7 CRAPPIE ESPECIALLY WITH 2 PEOPLE ON THE BOAT. I think you can only fish if you are told where to fish & got cocky on what you catch with that info & on that lake. Do you find it acceptable to not boat 7 Crappie after entering a Crappie Tournament? :scratchhead

---

there has been a time or 2 when 7 fish were hard to come by , it ain't often but to be sure on a lake you don't know and in some type of super weather conditions it could happen . we used to roam all over and try to hammer em on lakes we never visited before way back when and in some cases we really struggled to ketch a few ....
we were not tournament crowd guys , we was just out to see if we could find them anywhere and anytime in any conditions ...:cheers2
not saying my skill set has not gotten way better than it was back then , but to be sure 7 fish can be tough in some conditions ...
sides all that , just tween us , I been out with a few tournament folks that were not exactly all that ....
some was all that ,but some wasn't for sure , just saying .....:yikes

The ability to boat 7 keepers on lakes that have a over 12 inch slot can be tough on days where it is 30 mph. wind . Fished a tournament on Grenada where more people than not had less than required 7 fish . Pulled cranks for 7 hours (pre livescope ) and had one keeper . not as hard to do as you might think .

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eagle 1

The ability to boat 7 keepers on lakes that have a over 12 inch slot can be tough on days where it is 30 mph. wind . Fished a tournament on Grenada where more people than not had less than required 7 fish . Pulled cranks for 7 hours (pre livescope ) and had one keeper . not as hard to do as you might think .

---

this is how it can go for sure , some days it just ain't meant to be .....
a front comes thru , the fish scatter , you are not familiar with the lake ....
even LS don't cure it sometimes .....just saying

Some days are tuff. I catch my share but I’ve been some days and got skunked. Not many but some. Lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by UnLikeU

Hello,
I'm not here to ruffle any feathers as a matter of fact if you are human you don't have feathers.:biggrin There is an Elephant in the room that I want to talk about. That is Signing up to fish a Crappie Tournament & you don't even boat 7 Fish. Yeppers I said it. Why because I want to understand it & to do that we have to have dialogue & discuss it. If I'm not able to compete I sit on the porch. I think it's crazy to pay to enter a Crappie Tournament & you can't boat 7 Itty Bitty Fish... :yikes ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE 2 GROWN PEOPLE ON 1 BOAT..:dono Any thoughts? I find it comical & I say it was a great day for the fish. :Rofl You can weigh 7 & they not be big I'm cool with that. However, a WHOLE LAKE & YOU THINK YOU ARE TOUGH STUFF & CAN'T BOAT 7 CRAPPIE ESPECIALLY WITH 2 PEOPLE ON THE BOAT. I think you can only fish if you are told where to fish & got cocky on what you catch with that info & on that lake. Do you find it acceptable to not boat 7 Crappie after entering a Crappie Tournament? :scratchhead

---

It happens to the pros every tournment. Google Crappie Master Tournament Results and scroll to the bottom of any. Here's a Grenada Spring Tournament with over 40 guys without a limit, 28 without a fish to show. Learning new waters and seasonal locations of fish will result in no fish to show until you get it figured out. I've had my share of that. Really was a struggle until I stopped fishing memories (I caught fish here before)



Attachment 481514

it for sure can be a beat down on new waters at times , I rarely get a goose egg when I go , but to be sure I don't always walk off with a big number in hand either when I am in unfamiliar terrain .....
there are times it is a struggle to ketch 7 on waters I frequently visit as well ....
some days they just do not want to cooperate ....nonono

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bamahound

It happens to the pros every tournment. Google Crappie Master Tournament Results and scroll to the bottom of any. Here's a Grenada Spring Tournament with over 40 guys without a limit, 28 without a fish to show. Learning new waters and seasonal locations of fish will result in no fish to show until you get it figured out. I've had my share of that. Really was a struggle until I stopped fishing memories (I caught fish here before)



Attachment 481514

---

I don't see the OP's name on that list, maybe he should give it a shot...:dono
I will say there have been very very few tournaments that I didn't have 7 fish to weigh. May not have been the 7 I wanted to weigh though...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bamahound

It happens to the pros every tournment. Google Crappie Master Tournament Results and scroll to the bottom of any. Here's a Grenada Spring Tournament with over 40 guys without a limit, 28 without a fish to show. Learning new waters and seasonal locations of fish will result in no fish to show until you get it figured out. I've had my share of that. Really was a struggle until I stopped fishing memories (I caught fish here before)



Attachment 481514

---

Bama I fell off the Online Map for a moment & maybe I need to give my 2nd Tournament a shot this time picking a lake I don't know or haven't fished. If I boat 7 Fish Keepers the Crappie World will NEVER HER THE END OF IT.:Rofl CNN may bump the State of the Union Telecast to interview me & people may quit fishing tournaments. Stay tuned this may be another Hold My Beer Moment in the Future.:popcorn

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hitek

I don't see the OP's name on that list, maybe he should give it a shot...:dono
I will say there have been very very few tournaments that I didn't have 7 fish to weigh. May not have been the 7 I wanted to weigh though...

---

Scott Maybe I need to het out my system again to re-evaluate it. But with the right prep if I enter a competition I better catch 7 darn fish or I need to be home looking st YouTube Dreaming.:crazy: Weather & high winds along with boat issues are the only excuse I say are acceptable. Again, maybe just may it's another Hold My Beer Moment for me.:popcorn

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by UnLikeU

Scott Maybe I need to het out my system again to re-evaluate it. But with the right prep if I enter a competition I better catch 7 darn fish or I need to be home looking st YouTube Dreaming.:crazy: Weather & high winds along with boat issues are the only excuse I say are acceptable. Again, maybe just may it's another Hold My Beer Moment for me.:popcorn

---

depending on length of time at whatever spot and the need to possibly duplicate the exact just got a bite scenario , it could be a situation where 7 fish are tough , but to be very sure of this , some folks understand them fish better than others and some go way past the sidelines to ketch them , I have WAY more excuses than most folks do when I have a bad outing....
heck more than half the time I ain't even in a boat and the weather and wind are just a small part of the why I din't ketch them excuses anyway .....:Rofl

It happens! I can think of three tournaments in 9 years of competitive fishing we didn't come in with 7 fish. First was Cooper lake in 2016. Prefished the lake twice and had 10-11 pounds. Didn't get to fish the week of the tourney and showed up to a clear lake that was 2' lower than when I prefished. I didn't catch many fish but they were all keepers pre fishing. Went through my best area and caught 2 barely legal fish and 7-8 undersize fish! Scrambled all over the lake catching nothing and went right back to the same area and caught 2 more better fish. Looking back we never would have left that area! One was Crappie Masters at Fork in 2018. Had 12 pounds in 2 hours the day before. Weather called for strong NE winds. East in there we would have been ok. It was hard N to NW and blew us off the lake. Caught 5 and tore the trolling motor up and called it a day! Temps dropped about 35 degrees and we both got soaked! The other was Wally's tourney on Lake Hamilton in 2019. We found fish in 2 areas prefishing. Caught plenty of good fish! First day of the tourney we caught 5 of laydowns where we caught 1-1.25 fish all over but today they were dinks. I bet we threw back 150 undersized fish! Caught one nearly 2 pounds off a dock and went to weight in in the pouring rain. I was tying the boat down and about to put the cover on for the ride home disgusted and Clay walked back over and said dude leave the cover off we got to fish again tomorrow we're in 16th place! Half the field didn't catch a fish the whole week! You never know!

Slew:ThumbsUp