Finally, I get to fish!

[ET Fish]

Between flooding and life in general, my fishing time has been nonexistent. Thursday evening the stars aligned, and we were able to squeeze in an evening trip. Fortunately, y’all have been diligent in posting reports, which gave me a good starting point to start hunting em! Water temps were 65-67, so I started at an underwater tree in a cove. As a bonus, this cove was fairly shielded from the 10+ mph winds. Very quickly, I saw my line go slack, and I set the hook like that Ott Defoe feller. A nice 13.5” white crappie was welcomed aboard!

Unfortunately, she was the only one that wanted to play, so off I go. The cove that was up next has a really thick brushpile that my records revealed had yielded a few crappie this time of year. Right on cue I hooked a feisty crappie that proceeded to wind around and around a limb! I held tight hoping for an “unwind”, but he had other ideas and won the fight. The wind was wicked, so off to cove #3. This cove had so many leaves, sticks, logs, pine needles, pollen, dead cats, and leprechauns floating, you couldn’t fish without using a vacuum cleaner on your jig after every cast. Off again, this time to the main river channel. The wind was vicious! I deployed my Redneck version of Spot Lock. For those who ain’t Rednecks, this involves letting the wind blow me over the brush I wanted to fish until the trolling motor hangs on a limb! The wind keeps the boat straight and the Spot Lock in action! We caught several off this pile, the problem was getting the 1/16 down with the wind blowing the 4 lb test across the lake!
After this quickly got old, we opted forcalmer seas! My wife casted to her most favorite spawning area, and was rewarded with a couple of decked out males!
As the sun began to set (probably, it was cloudy!), I decided to make a “10 minute stop” at spot #1. Once again, I felt that thump that I love, and was rewarded with another 13.5 incher! This time it was a Black Crappie!

Here’s my analysis. We kept seven (the perfect number) for supper, and to allow me to do an autopsy. The two biggest ones were females, and had eggs that were prime for dropping. Remember, one was Black and the other White. I say that, because I have always heard that the Blacks usually spawn first. The two blacked up males, plus the eggs tells me it’s still going on!
It was great to be out in nature again. Besides fish, we saw deer, a coon, squirrels, ospreys, and of course, Blue Herons. I’m looking forward to the Saturday fish fry!



Sent from my iPad using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[Slabprowler]

Good report! Nice fish! Glad yaw got to get out and feel the thump!

[CrappiePappy]

ET .... I may have been born in the city, but I've used (& still do sometimes) the Redneck Spotlock

Glad you & the Mrs. got out and on some goodurns !! Congrats

[StantheMan2567]

Finally, you got out there!! Good report, sounds like what most of the fish are doing right now in ETN. No doubt some have already finished, but as long as these water temps stay stable they will continue to come in waves to spawn. Our lakes are trashy as well, lots of debris out there. The wind today will help clear the main lakes channel but it clogs up the coves and bays to where it is hard to fish the shorelines and small pockets. Enjoy the fish on Saturday, and hopefully next week you can get back out there again to stock some for the freezer.

[tenncrappie]

Good job Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your reports.

[Alphahawk]

Nice catch. They finally turned the sluice off today at Center Hill.....the bad news is they have closed the boat ramp...LOL.


Regards

[M GO BLUE]

SWEET!

[ET Fish]

Nice catch. They finally turned the sluice off today at Center Hill.....the bad news is they have closed the boat ramp...LOL.


Regards

Perfect timing! We have camping reservations at Edgar Evins for a few days in mid May!

[drumking]

Great report. Fishing in a brutal wind isn’t fun at all. But you caught some really nice fish.

[Kingfish1]

Enjoyed the report. Glad you got an opportunity to go fishing.