071614- chunky crappie swallowed 4" tube jig

Comment

Comment by Leo Nguyen on July 23, 2014 at 4:25pm

What a chunk.

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on July 23, 2014 at 11:48am

Sounds like you have it dialed in, Ken.

Comment by Slip Sinker on July 23, 2014 at 11:43am

Thanks Adam .... what really impressed me about this fish was his appetite! That 4" tube was totally engulfed.

Comment by Slip Sinker on July 23, 2014 at 11:17am

David these reservoir crappies have embarrassed me on a number of occasions. I'd do some scouting to find crappie before taking family and friends outfishing... find and catch a few out of the school only to find they vacated the spot on the day of the outing. I'm pretty sure the summer pattern is they follow and suspend following schools of shad and shiners out in the vast open expanses in the main basins of these reservoirs. Not to make excuses but my 5hp can't cover these expanses like these 60 mph bass boats.
Side imaging sonar scanning out a couple hundred feet on either side of the boat would be a great tool. So I'm settling on these smaller fertile basin bowl lakes with deep weedlines and it's working out when I get the urge for a crappie bite.
I took an old friend out fishing for crappie recently and luckily I had my best outing yet at my favorite crappie hole.

Comment by Adam Rink on July 23, 2014 at 9:09am

Great fish. Conrats.

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on July 23, 2014 at 9:05am

- - - "Tough finding a pattern on the larger reservoirs with countless cover and options.
This year I've gone back to the deep natural lakes and have done a lot better"

I fish one of the more renowned crappie reservoirs in the country - Dick Tabbert says the biggest crappie he's ever caught emerged from there. You'd think Id run across one now and then.
But I have never caught one out of it. This could explain why.
I don't have the tools to chase them and pattern their movements, like a boat and nuclear sub-grade sonar.
So, maybe I dont catch them, because I'm never where they are.

(Personally, Ive always held that there's a crappie conspiracy against me. Maybe this is the real reason.)

Comment by Slip Sinker on July 23, 2014 at 7:57am

Thanks guys!
I've gone through a drought with crappies the past two years. Tough finding a pattern on the larger reservoirs with countless cover and options. This year I've gone back to the deep natural lakes and have done a lot better

Comment by carl hendrix on July 17, 2014 at 2:29pm

the  crappie master is having a good year!!  way to go Ken!!

Comment by Ben Seay on July 17, 2014 at 10:44am

You're knocking out those Crappies this year Ken