Easter Wading JPP

[MNfisher]

My wife was singing at all 3 services today at church and when she woke up at 5:45 to get ready, i also woke up and was not that tired, so I grabbed my waders and rods and headed to the lake to fish before I met her for the 3rd service.

It was an amazing day! I enjoyed the company of many woodducks, bluewinged teal buzzing my head, several mallards, and some shovelers. Also in the perfectly calm morning without even a ripple on the lake and a beautiful fog creeping in with slight mist in the air, I watched 2 loons doing their mating ritual dances across the bay for a good hour! Along with all the nature, i never saw a boat or another person. It was the perfect morning!

The first spot I walked in the water and made a cast i barely had my bail closed on the reel and the 2 lb test was screaming. A nice close to 13" crappie was in hand shortly. 45 minutes later and no more bites there. I noticed the water was VERY clear there. I walked a good half mile or better to the other side of the cove. There the water was very cloudy and the shad were flipping everywhere. Here is where the fun began! Over the next few hours I caught exactly 28 crappie, in which 26 of them were between 10 1/2" and 12 1/2". I missed lots and had just as many get off half way to me. All were VERY thick across the back and about 80% were females that looked like they all swallowed tennis balls! the other 2 were 7-8 inchers, the only 2 shorts i caught. I also had several yellow bass. Since there was so much shad flipping on the surface, I tossed several flukes/jerkbaits/swimbaits amongst them, but no takers. I never did see anything bust up the shad, but only a matter of time with all the bait there.

Since all the shad were in there, i knew it would happen sooner or later and sure enough, about 20 minutes before I left I set the hook and the Sahara 1000 was screaming at full speed! 5 minutes later I landed a nice 3lb hybrid. I also managed to get in about a 4-5 lb drum. It was an amazing morning that I will not forget anytime soon!

The peace and serenity was incredible! The fish were a bonus!

I am guessing the big fish will be showing themselves shallow very soon as it warms this week!

Still looking for that 15"+ crappie!

Happy Easter to all!

[agelesssone]

Sounds like you had a fun morning! Lower end of the lake?

[MNfisher]

Originally Posted by agelesssone

Sounds like you had a fun morning! Lower end of the lake?

Yes Sir.....all in about 2-4" of water.

[TroutFiend]

Great fish and pics Mike. Are you floating or swimming/twitching the TM? I believe that purple color needs to be in my tackle box!

[fisher01]

Great report, you had an amazing morning! I've noticed this year the crappie are thick and have been aggressive. Those females are busy gorging themselves on shad right now.

[Alphahawk]

Your anniversary....and a great day of fishing! Those are nice crappie. I noticed the pic of the black nose.....about how many of the 28 were black nose?



Regards

[Alphahawk]

Originally Posted by TroutFiend

Great fish and pics Mike. Are you floating or swimming/twitching the TM? I believe that purple color needs to be in my tackle box!

The Purple Redemption is an awesome color....Smallies go crazy over it.


Regards

[MNfisher]

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

Your anniversary....and a great day of fishing! Those are nice crappie. I noticed the pic of the black nose.....about how many of the 28 were black nose?



Regards

Thanks! Probably around 8-10 were black nose.

[MNfisher]

Originally Posted by TroutFiend

Great fish and pics Mike. Are you floating or swimming/twitching the TM? I believe that purple color needs to be in my tackle box!

Thank you! I am a twitcher! HAHA, i have yet to put a TM under a float.

[Alphahawk]

"Still looking for that 15"+ crappie!"

My son and I are going to Nickajack tomorrow. We can go down there with kayaks in the next month and get you that 15 inch crappie....of course I have to swear you to secrecy there...LOL. Or...after agelessone and I do Blue Cat we may want to try it out. Every year for the past 3 years I have caught 16 inch black nose from there...but only one a year. This year I think there will be several 16 inch caught from there.


Regards

[wormdunker]

WOW. Very nice. Thanks for sharing that. Congrats on a special day and happy Easter to you also. You should do some outdoor writing if you don't already.

I came close to heading that way this morning myself....I should have...the river did not cooperate at all with me today.....

Is the water level coming up?

[MNfisher]

Originally Posted by Aquaholic6801

I came close to heading that way this morning myself....I should have...the river did not cooperate at all with me today.....

Is the water level coming up?

Yes, the water has came up about a foot or more.

[Travis C.]

Awesome man. Sounds like a blast.

[creeksmallie]

Awesome day you had!!!!