Spring Crappies...Finally! Couple of outings...

[tip-uptwo]

I could not have asked for better morning. Awoke at 10a.m. to the smell of french toast and bright sunny conditions that made my eyes squint as I rolled over to the window side of my bed. Usually at this point I throw the blankets over head and flake right back into doh-doh land, but today was different...today I put a hurtin' on the crappie for the first time this year. After breakfast and watching the Senators highlights(Again  :lol: ) from the game last night, I put my gear by the door, patiently waiting for my ride down to river.

Noon came and and so did the car  :razz: Gunned it down to the spot hoping the sun would be hitting my first spot I had planned for attack. I find it sucks fishing solo but it's also nice sometimes..Kind of helps you concentrate more on catching and besides when we get the boats in the next weekend, there will not be that much alone time.

Arrived at 12:30 and was greeted by the many wildlfe that surround the local watersheds in my area..You name it, I saw it this morning. If I had my new camera then I would have been able to take some really nice quick snap-shots of the animals. Unfortunatly, I am stuck with the old Kodak for the rest of the week. Couple of the sights included raccoons, deer, a fox, and numerous species of bird and turtles.

Temp- 17' C
Winds- SW7 Km/h
Conditions- Pure sunshine

Looking good so far :!: First pond..Noticed mass number of bluegill and sunfish through-out because of how shallow it it in most spots. You can clearly tell these fish are in their beds, and will bite anything you tossed at 'em. Seen many schools of them but they were all small or very small. I continued on walking until I found structure and relitlivly deeper water knowing if that my best chances of getting a few would be in these key areas. Within a few minutes of my casting and twitching, the first crappie hit. I missed it initially but watched him dart out from unter a tree and swoop at it again. This time I made sure to impale T.H.E. jig right into the roof of the mouth and with seconds I had my first crappie of the day gripped tight between my fingers. After a quick measurment and pic, back it goes until next time. One under the belt! How many more to go? Who knows, who cares, I only started :lol:




This 4lbs+ largie was kind enough to pose for the camera..Another couple of weeks and we can finally start fishing for 'em :!:



Monuvering my bobber and jig in and out of the branches of fallen trees was important. The crappie were hugging the structure which it made it a bit difficult to get them..from shore at that. Every once in a while you could see them dart out from the cover and cruise slowly into the sun. Could not get those guys to bite. Caught a bunch in a time frame of 20 minutes...The fish would move..I follow. That was pretty much the game plan today. Biggest of the day was 12''. The fish were really dark in color and for the most part really aggressive. It was hard to tell who put the real show on today, the crappie or myslef  :lol:




You can see the crappie dart out from submerged structure.



Tried to tease this guy into taking my white micro tube..it fell for it :razz:




Later on in the afternoon as the bite turned off again, I walked to a nearby nearby creek to see if the action was picking up over there. Sun was hitting my side of the shore so I grabbed my rod with T.H.E. Jig tied on and fired it out to the middle. Not a minute later my bobber immediatly vanished. Set the hook and was into another 12'' slab. Waited it out a while and caught another small one. Bluegill were everywhere and constantly playing with my bait. Decided to move on to the next bay where I finished off my day.




The final bay I reared a few, carbon copies of the 30 or so I caught. Made a small clip to fill up the rest of the space on my camera. Do these fish ever inhale a jig  :smile: man I love it.



Before taking off I snapped a quick photo of the main river in all of it's beauty. The might Ottawa's backbays proved to be a good spot of choice for today's outing.

Now that I have finaly broke the ice I can get out and test all these new great products I have coming to me. A new order of the T.H.E Jig will be a must along with tensor bandage from a sore arm :lol:  :wink: Still have alot of fishing ahead of me this year :razz: Can't wait for the real gamefish to open up..All the best catchers and good luck and be safe out on the water :!: Thanks for taking the time to read :razz:

P.S., I will have the good camera for next weekend :!:




A few more photo's from the week..

Only was able to dish out about an 1 hour worth of fishing today. Found a few small fish in the back bays and ponds of the Ottawa River.  I had to be at a family supper at 5 so Anthony and I could only stay the few minutes we were walking the dog. Sunfish and bluegill bite was pretty consistent the whole time while the crappie were not hugging the shore and foraging for prey a bit deeper. They were a bit harder to get. Caught 2 around the 9'' range so far. Anthony reared a beauty first spring slab at 12''. T.H.E. Jig worked awesome  :!: The slow drop of it drives them nuts. My good camera was at my dads place so I had to opt with the ol' Kodak. Snapped a few quick ones for you guys and gals. Shots were surprisingly not too bad with the 8 year old camera 

I have a good plan set for tomorrow :twisted:



Anthony with a nice one..




-Andrew

[anthonyebola]

I love when the reports are written so masterfully, congrats on an excellent day of fishing..

-Espo

[pondpro]

nice fish and pics looks like a fun time

[fishfry]

Nice slabs.

[PGKris]

Sweet job dude.

Go Sens Go (It hurts a little to say that, but we are all Canadian )

[tip-uptwo]

Funny Kris, you werent saying that a few months ago

Go Sens Go

[PGKris]

It hurts a little bit. Game's starting in a few Go Sens Go

[hookemandcookem]

Looks like you have a pretty nice spot there. Pefect water color and great structure

[pikemaster789]

awsome job, glad to see you  out fishing again. Found a decent crappie spot this weekend as well. Man those things are fun to catch. and good eating too

[crappiekeith]

Just learning on how this site works.
Look at what I found.Crappies!

Here's a few reports from the past month.
Mallard ,his wife Mallard's Hen & I went to 2 different lakes today 1 for bulls and 1 for slabs.
The bigger crapps were hard to find ,but we managed a few to go home with a few.
We started at my gill hole & since there are tons of springs she takes a bit to warm up,but she was warm enough for those bulls to move in.
We fought off the specs for these bulls today.Boy the slime rag got soaked quick.



I've got long fingers so these babies are true bulls in my book,but they get bigger in this spot.
Everyone of those bulls were sent back to fight for another day.


These were some nice gills for sure.



then we pulled the pin to go catch some eating fish.After a quick sammy we hit my crappie hole.


The water in this lake is a lot warmer & you can tell with the male slabs turning so black.

I know this is not a crappie or gill ,but it is such a pretty pic as a parting shots.





Where to start.My head is still spinning.
<img src="http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/crappies009.jpg">
OK I got it,bagged work at 3 bells .My son and Dad & I hit my hole for what I thought would be good ,but so so.


I was soooooo wrong! :lol:
We caught 100's of fish.

The bass were coming..Do I love those fighters,my son does too!




The water was 50 on the nuts and we were work 2-4 feet of water.
You can tell that the water is warming,look at how black the males are getting.

T.H.E. jig was working really well.
Too well ,I caught another bass after I do not know how many I reared on & snapped off.I know I should have retied ,but I had more.
Well anyway I switched to loby's Drag-n Mags & never skipped a beat.

They inhaled that plastic like no tommorow.Like it was there last meal.
I strapped on the Drag-n Mag onto a 32nd oz jig that was white with orange eyes and a collar.

I know the 1st one caught 30 fish and was in the mood for more ,but like earlier I had more & a pike snipped it off.
Well I retied in about 45 seconds and went back to drilling them again.
To be honest I'm glad I sent them home with the 20 we kept &as my arms hurt & this post is draing what I have left.Sure is nice to not have to clean fish.
had to leave a few for seed anyway.



I had Sunday open yet & I asked if those two giggling girls wanted some more abuse.I think you know the answer to that.
I also got a firm handshake and a wink from pops,so cool.

As we drove back across the lake I looked back to say goodnight , this is what she said back.

See ya soon!

We did get some smaller crappies today ,but the Bulls stole the show.

to set the stage Mallard & Marc drove up at we got to the water by 8:30.
It was 45 degrees and the water was cold.
The wind was nasty.especially tossing light weighted baits.
the weighted corks saved us.
We hit my go to spot,nothing.
We worked some deeper water ,nothing.
I'm thinking too cold & too early.
I was about to pull the pin and hit another lake for crappies which have gotten small aroung here lately when we made 1 last stop.

Bingo!
Here was my 1st,I was so glad to have found them that ,well the pic tells the story.


There were a few that were tossed back because they were too big.

Mallard strikes next,right on my heels.


Then Marc scores.The spirits began to lighten.


I have to admit I was getting giddy too.

Mallard is one heck of a fisherman.



Marc can hold his own & I'll tell you we all had a good time ribbing each other.

Hit this link to see some great action.
http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/?action=view&current=MallardMarcfishinpics.flv
Here's a sunset from the night before.

[crappiekeith]

havin some fun with this remix.

[PGKris]

Umm Crappiekeith, since you're new you probably don't know that if you want to post your own pictures, you shouldn't post them on someone else's thread. Soooo for next time, don't hijack someone's thread with a bunch of your own pics. Nice shots however.

[crappiekeith]

oooops!
sorry Tipup.Thanks for using my jig Andrew.I'm so happy it's working for you.

[PGKris]

I was only sayin...

[crappiekeith]

I was only sayin...

I get you RGKris & I think it's admirable that you'd stand up for someone.
I know Tipup too & I thought he'd be ok with what I did.
I revel in his success as a young fisherman.
I love his drive & enthusiasim for this sport I love so dearly.

If I did not know him I'd not have done that.
We are all good I belive,eh?