slab slinger

Went to my best hole today and after the long hike in and hunting for 2 hrs i left with empty hands and confusion. Hit my second best hole also and nothing as well. Don't know if there done for the year or just need rain. Anyone been finding any the past few days?

It's a multiple pole, super controlled, vertical presentation for suspended crappie. Just google or youtube it.

Nice mess of fish zarra. She looks happy and all thats married know thats important! Haha

I haven't fished since turkey season started. Im about to start having withdraws from not feeling a slab thump a jig. I can tell you right nows tough for crappie. Everyone has been saying it's slow but i know exactly why. The fish ARE NOT on the banks right now. They are in pre spawn transition areas waiting for water temps to warm. This means they are in spawning coves suspended over deep water. Most years they will be im the middle of the cove or on a deep secondary point waiting it out. These fish are tricky to catch without the proper technique. Most long line troll cranks or tandem crappie jigs. This works great at times (post spawn)but not now waters to cold. Trolling creates a reaction bite from agressive fish and high 50s to 60 deg water temp not going to find many reaction bites. 65 deg and holding there or a little higher i start to troll. The best technique right now when fish are suspended over open water is spider rigging. Yes i said it. I know alot of you prob hate it or dog it but it shines on suspended crappie in open water. Its a super controlled presentation of baits thats deadly on pre and post spawn crappie. Those are the only 2 times i rig for them. Rest of the year im casting or vertical jiggin.

Good reprot. You don't always have to get limits to have a good time on the water. It's all about enjoying yourself and having fun. Love the positive attitude.

Its a darn shame you can't trust anyone anymore. I hate hearing things like this makes me sick. Im glad to hear your ok.

Nice to see some black crappie being caught. Man those stockton blacks are chunks.

Great lookin slabs. They walleye makes the trip that much sweeter. Nice job. Great report zarra.

Great report. Nice fish. Bet you had your hands full on 4 lb. line. Nice job.

Congratulations Bream...Nice lookin fish 2.

Sorry guys im done complaining. Father in-law fish a small eatin turny today. He said water temp was 56.5 from Heartly to Birch. Said he didn't do that well but seen some nice eyes and bass brought in. Only 34 crappie between 10 boats. Said they all were caught in 20fow. Haven't been out in a week so can't add anything to this report. I'll give report next week on crappie bite.

Dont know during spawn i fish that area post spawn. I would make the run to upper ends of lake if able. Walleye are good in that area. Gool luck.

I always catch myself throwing a Flat Fish in black when it gets tough on the river. I have a bag full of high tech new baits but that old thing has landed me alot of fish since i was a kid. My dad got me started off with them as a kid. Don't Know why i always lean on it either the fact it catches fish or i have alot of faith conection to it. Haha.

DADAKOTA....Yes the Stockton spawn chase is CRAZY. I don't know what causes people to loose all respect (if they had any) but it happens EVERY spring. Don't know if people are just so excited to get in on the action they don't realize how they are effecting others or just plain Aholes? I can always tell by watching someone fish if they are just clueless spawn chasers and they don't really bother me cause they are always fishing way to fast and sporadic. I just set my rod down and hold my spot and enjoy a coke. The ones that really hack me off are the seasoned fishermen that know exactly what they are doing and could care less to run you off your spot. I always ask if i can jump ahead and be respecrful to others when fishing.

Spawning coves will always have gravel banks and be close to deep water. If you find a gravel bank cove at Stockton its a spawning cove. There i said it. Its that easy. The trick it to find one the fish are spawning in. Everyone that knows anything about the spawn knows the upper end starts first. The spawn works its way down the lake as the water temps increase. Its like following a map. Super easy to stay on them just follow them down the lake. The whole lake doesn't spawn at once. Im talking a solid month of spawning from lake boundary to the dam. Muddy water warms faster thats why the fish around upoer ends start first. Clearer water doesn't get in a hurry to warm so mid upper lake hasnt even really started yet. Clear water fish will spawn deeper because of more light penetration. This is good info to everyone that didn't know. You will learn more about our tasty friends if you fish them all year and not just the spawn. My favorite time to crappie fish is post spawn. Those who are true crappie fishermen know what i mean. I fish the spawn but i jump around alot avoiding crowds and still get my limit without having to fight with A-Holes. Lets all be respectful and just have a good time fishing. If they want my spot ill let them have it cause i got plenty more. Its not worth it to me any more to swap skin over a few fish.

You grub guys need to try the Strike King Rage Tail crappie grubs. They are awsome. Great colors and the tail actually thumps when retrieved. Not as good on 32nd heads as kalins and super slow retreaves. They do have a bigger profile and man they are great on big slabs. When the fish get aggressive i switch from kalins to these and do great. Not doggin kalins at all, i use them when the fish are not as aggressive. Just something else new to try if interested. Got some strollers that jim turned me onto haven't fished them yet but good looking bait. The only thing i have against Bobby Garland baits is there 2 solft. Ust like Zoom. But they are cheap enough doesn't really bother me 2 bad i guess. Guys who like tubes try the Mid South Super Jigs in Chart Glow. My go-to tube on Stockton. Thanks for reading. Good luck guys.

Look for spawning coves with gravel banks. Chunk rock banks will hold fish in certain spots. Rock banks adjacent to channel swings and old road beds are great. If you find a location with deep water close with brushpile close and gravel bank you've found a sweet spot. There will be fish in the pile, fish in between pile and bank staging, and spawners on the bank. Mainly as Aggressor mentioned be respectful and find a bank or cove thats not crowded. I'll give up a bank or spot if some Ahole crowds me out. I usually tell him he needs to sell his boat if he cant find any of his own fish on the whole lake. It's easy to find fish if there spawning just go to another area with same features and start fishing. I hate crowds and am always respectful to bank fishermen. They are confined to certain locations and i have the whole lake to find other fish. I also don't like spawn chasers. People who only crappie fish when they are easy to catch. They dont know enough about crappie to know the next cove over has fish in it to. They see 2 or 3 boats in a area and think man they gotta be loaded in there and wont think twice about fishing on top of you. Enough of my complaining. Was trying to help a guy out and got side tracked. Just search for gravel, rock, and good looking banks close to channel swing and you'll find fish bud. If You are slick enough to find the old roads that crossed the creeks before lake was built then they're hot spots 2. Spend sone thime on google earth and you'll see what I'm talking about. Walleye hang on the old road beds 2. Good luck bud. PM me if you need anymore advice.

I hunt up around stockton and one thing i can tell you about hunting on the lake is DONT PARK CLOSE TO WHERE YOUR FINDING THEM. I have one spot up there on corps land right off the HY i use to park off road and walk 20 yrds and get a sack full. Well guess some caught on cause the last few times I've been in that area all that was there was stumps where someone got some easy shrooms. One thing i can tell ya is around the lake i look for black oaks. There not really a mother load tree but i usually get 1-3 off them in spots. Cedar, dade, and polk counties i can tell you this works. My last trip to hunt the lake i got 25 on youth Turkey all off balck oaks. I havent found any huge ash flats around the lake but if you do keep it to yourself and keep checking it and you'll get them. Walnut trees around the lake on field edges have also payed off for me. Just keep scouting and get to know your trees. Look up and out in front of you more then down. When you find the right tree then look down and all around. You'll get what i mean after finding known trees and areas. I take poeple who have never found any and tell them see that tree way up ahead? Yes that one up there the ash and they walk up and get a few. They always say well what about all these other trees. Well not all trees will have shrooms around them but when you know what to look for you can scan an area and rule out alot of trees without walking and walk to the best trees. Hope this helps you bud. Good luck around the lake they're there if you get to them first. Haha

Thanks guys...Never know exactly when they star popping up or stop at that matter. I just go when i think it should be time and stop when Im tired of the hiking trips with empty hands. Haha. They are so unpredictable and picky about when and where to grow i just stay after them in known locations and get some nice hauls. Thanks for looking. Good luck to all on the shroom huntin.

Rsp...thanks for the recipe! Those are my kinda directions.haha. I'll diffinently give it a try on my next haul of morels.

Al Agnew...Thanks for correcting me. Never knew it was a water dog. I have about 20 or so Hellbenders NIB i got at from my dad and 15 or so used ones. I always thought this was just a smaller hellbender. Started out collecting old plugs when my grandpa gave me a South Bend Bass-Oreno thet was NIB and ment. I have around 250 plugs now some NIB and some wore pretty good. I dont know what they are worth and dont care just think its neat to look at them and wonder all the stories they have with them. Thanks for teaching me something on a plug.

Tonight the family and i enjoyed grilled elk steaks sauteed morels and onions and roasted potatoes. Traded the neighbor a good mess of morels for the elk steaks from his hunt in Colorado last November. Great trade. Elk is amazing wish i could afford to join him on his trip this year. Maybe next year.

Rsp...would like to have your recipe on your stuffed shrooms. Think you can PM it to me. Thanks

Wrench...I'll be glad to take any unwanted turkey breast off your hands anytime. I debone breast meat off bird. Take your time cleaning it up all feathers, shot if any, and membrane ect. Then chunk it up in size u want to fry. Then i brine it in salt sugar and water in bowl in fridge for 24 hrs. It'll get alot of the blood out and tinderize the meat. Frying wild turk is easy. I mix flour salt, pepper, and Cajun seasoning for coating. Beat up an egg wash With same sseasonings. Dredge chunks in flour and then wash then back in flour. After a batter all chunks i let them sit till the flour looks wet around 10 min. Then drop in hot grease and fry till done. Mushrooms. Fry in butter with just salt pepper no flour is my fav. My wife and kids like them deep fried just flour salt pepper no egg wash. Im wanting to try a stuffed morel recipe i got off internet for stuffed morels. Cream cheese and crab meat filler. Just scared to ruin a good thing. Haha

I thought you gave nice report. Good to hear some females still carrying eggs. Good info in your post if you know how to build a puzzle on crappie. I haven't been on the lake since opening day of Turkey season. Been busy taking family and friends hunting put the fishing on back burner till its over. I have enjoyed everyones posts keeping me in the loop on what the fishings been like. Sounds like i ain't missing out on a hot bite or anything but still would like to make it to the lake soon and try my luck on the crappie and eyes. After turk and mushroom season I'll be back out there with y'all chasing them. Keep reprots comming in and good luck to all ya.