Crappie report, 4/24-7/20.

I turned 82 years old in June, but I am still going strong as long as the Lord lets me. Unbelievable numbers for post spawn crappie. I did very little fishing for crappie during the spawn and focused on tailwater fishing for Stripers, Walleyes, White Bass, Smallmouth, and of course my occasional pet Drum. Grin. I know you guys were not interested in tailwater fishing and I got out of the habit of making posts.

Breakdown of the numbers. 548 keepers total from April. 87 in April, 12 trips. 235 keepers in May, 13 trips, 1 TARP, 175 keepers in June, 13 trips, 5 TARPS, 51 so far in July, 5 trips, 1 TARP.

We fish from 6 am until 9 am and stop because I don’t want to fish any longer and I want to beat the heat and most everyone else. If the weather is cool enough and the bite hot enough, I will fish 4 hours. That is it. My fishing partners know this and are satisfied with our catches mostly. We have an occasional bad day. But I pick the best times to go usually, but we have had exceptional catches on days when the solunar tables say is bad. The fish don’t read those tables. Grin.

Post spawn crappie for me means deep water structure and that is where I shine as far as success is concerned. I fish deep bluffs when the crappie show up there, and community holes with deep water and lots of crappie. Most everyone knows where this spot is, so take a number when you want this spot. But a word about this spot. The fishing isn’t very good there right now. It was hot in May and has tapered off.

Offshore structure is where we are currently fishing and the fish finally showed up on this spot last week and again this morning. Before that, the fish were not there. My advice for Joe is to fish early, find several different spots and spend just a little fishing time scouting each trip if you can. That way you will know when the fish show up on your favorite spot.

My biggest crappie this year is a 15.0” beautiful crappie. I think that Candi post a pic of that one. Phil has two and Gary, aka Biofisher has one.

Jig sizes for us this year depends on current flow and depth of water. One day we routinely caught them in over 30 feet of water. I have developed a technique that works very well on bluffs. 3/32, 1/8, 3/16 are the size jigs we use.

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By the way, to answer the question before it gets asked, no I do not use Livescope, nor do I own one and never will own one. You can catch fish using Livescope, but in my opinion, it will never make you a better fisherman. You can just learn how to play video games better on the water and I think that is a travesty.

Awesome post sir! Sure have missed you taking us fishing with you

See, I told you. Not boring at all. Thank you sir.

Great job. Some awesome catches. Happy belated Birthday. Thanks for sharing

Thank you for the ride-a-long. Some awesome fish pic's and one very good lookin' pup. Great read.

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Originally Posted by Jamesdean

Thank you for the ride-a-long. Some awesome fish pic's and one very good lookin' pup. Great read.

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Thank you for your service. I served in the Navy at the beginning of the Vietnam war and was stationed in Kamasaya, Japan for 26 months and 17 days. During my time there, the Pueblo was captured by North Korea, and there was the Walker incident which we learned about. I really enjoyed my time in the service and was able to see a different culture that made me appreciate our country even more despite all the political junk that goes on. I had an opportunity to be employed by NSA after my tour, but declined.

Thank you for your service as well. I served on active duty from June '77 to April '92, till Clinton and the Democrats decided the Military was too big...Too many bases, too many personnel, and too much equipment. In two years they let 180,000 soldiers go. Got me in the second year. But I enjoyed my time in as well. Germany twice, Greece once, and Korea once as well as three tours state side, Ft Lewis, Ft Eustice, and Ft Hood. Never new the army had boats, let alone that many, till I hit Ft Eustice, and became assigned to an LCU (Landing Craft Utility) as the cook, Which isn't liked very well, no matter how good the food is. But no matter, I enjoyed it. I would do it all over again given the chance...

Thank you for your service!
great fishing report ! I love the tail water fishing reports and pictures so don’t hold out on us next time !

Hey drumking, as far as I'm concerned, feel free to include those tail water stories. I'm still awaiting the knee surgery and not getting out to fish, so pretty much getting mine in from all you all. I have appointment Tues. to get the ball rolling again, but can't do it till sometime First of Sept. due to Ms. Joyces two Cataract surgeries in Aug. Then hoping to be bank/dock fishing by Dec./Jan.

Yes! By all means keep posting the tail water reports. I like to see your technique for catching walleye and compare it to the way we catch them in the spring on the Detroit River. Lots of similarities, I think you would do very good up here.