Jpp 05-17

[TNBronzeback]

Despite the timely cold front and rain, I hit JPP Saturday in search for anything I could catch, but with emphasis on crappie. I launched out of long hunter with a popper on and worked the bank for some early bass. I couldn't fish the thing cause I had several Cranes try to attack it anytime I popped it, those 3 Cranes followed me for about 150 yards before I put it up and not risk hooking 1. Went with a shallow diving crank and got 5 largemouth's, biggest was about 3lbs so I was happy with that.
I went to my crappie area and marked a lot of fish, got some taps, but no takers. Found a ton of bluegills in 6-8ft range and shallower, with the bigger ones out around the 8ft depth.
I then figured I would shoot to an area of the lake ive never fished before. a big shallow flat between to drop-offs with scattered rock. I threw my new favorite bait, the lipless red-eye knock off from academy. Picked up 3 small largemouths before heading to the bank to work some wood with a jig and picked up 4 more small largemouths. It was fun, but I was hoping for some bigger bites.
Met the fiancé at the ramp about noon with lunch and her first boat trip of year and we were piddling around the Hobson Pike bridge. I had on my monkey milk bobby garland hoping for some crappie or gills and we got into the smallies pretty good. They were right on the bank in all the rip-rap. It was strange, we found smallies of all sizes on the long hunter end of the bridge, but the other end of the bridge there was a school of bigger largemouths, 2-3lbers. I didn't land any but had 5 hooked and lost them all first jump, but she got a kick out of it.
ended the day back at the crappie spot and finally managed 6, all shorts though, so hopefully with the warmer water temps, they will start taking up residence there again this year.
Only pic I got is of one of the nicer smallies.
great colors though!
I will be heading east for the next 3 weekend to go after some mixed bags of stripers and whatever else I can manage to snag in the mouth.
Overall a good day on the water, had the fiancé drive the boat for the first time, LOL, THATS a story for another time!

[Reel Tune]

Sounds like a great time, nice coloration on the smallmouth.

[Alphahawk]

Pretty fish...congrats on a good day.



Regards

[creekcrappie]

Great day! I battled little fish all day in my tournament. I only had one keeper.

[culprit7.5]

Sounds like a great day. Thanks for the good report.

[TNBronzeback]

Thanks guys!
She enjoys fishing as long as she is being kept busy casting or jigging or something, loves catching skipjacks too! fast action!
I don't target bass a lot, but I know enough to get me in the right areas and the right bait selection. Ive not caught any hogs outta JPP from the largemouth side, I would say an honest 5lbs, which is still a nice fish though. Ive gotten more, on average bigger smallies when I target bass. the ratio though of LM-SM is totally lop sided, but my average SM is bigger. Biggest I got outta JPP was about 6 years ago or so at the boat ramp at the end of Old Hickory blvd, before they closed it. Hit a rooster tail right at dark, that fish was over 5 easily....Im gonna see if I can find that picture....lol.

[nomad60]

I really like reading your reports. Sounds like a great day!