Trip Report

[straw hat]

I fished about 1 mile from CC today. Water was slightly stained with 2 ft. of clarity. I caught around 25 crappie from 8' to 23' deep on brush. Most of the crappie were over 18' deep. Only 1 keeper (14"!). Also caught 2 cats. Saw a lot of boats pounding the gravel bank near me. Did not see anyone catch a keeper. A lot of boats, I mean a LOT of boats.

[Predator1]

Thanks Strawhat. Guess this cold front pushed the fish deeper. Do you thank the will go back shallow with these next warmer days?

[straw hat]

That is the classic question we all ask ourselves every time we go to the lake. "Where are they now?" I still think that most of the crappie have spawned in the major creek arms BUT I have heard of people still catching a few on the bank. That will probably improve some with the warmer weather. If I was to try to find a significant number of spawners I believe I would head to mid-lake or near the dam. Those areas should still be spawning pretty well. They were not hitting aggressively yesterday so with the warmer weather I think that will improve.

[Rick Baker]

i fished at cc last night also(wednesday evening). i went about a mile and a half from cc i think. maybe two miles darn near to roark anyway. pulled into a big cove with lots of timber that i had never fished before. alot of fish but very very few keepers. i think the rest of the summer i will put in at roark instead of cc.

[Predator1]

I really do appreciate yalls help over the last week. I am sure I will make it this weekend. Leaving the MRS JACKSON at home this weekend. My old Boss is in town. He works for the Pipeline Union now. So when he is off work, He still gets paid. WISH I DID. But he dont get to do not as much fishing as I do or spend much time with family in that industry. Got to drive to Bolivar to pick him up. I was thinking of where to take him. Looks like it might be a coin toss...who knows?

If you guys see me..I am in the Blue Colorado Truck with the old green 15'FlatBottom with the old Blue 15HP Motor with white cap.

Say High. Hopefully we will catch lots of fish.

[denjac]

alot of fish but very very few keepers. i think the rest of the summer i will put in at roark instead of cc.

I have been so disappointed in the keeper ratio for crappie this year on Stockton. Seems to be about 20 -1 for me. I dont know if its the fishing pressure on them or if the 8-9 inch fish last year were taken. I personally would like to see it raised to 12 inches. Its not the same fishery for crappie as it has been in the past.

[Predator1]

I wouldn't have a problem with it. I dont know about the locals or the rest of the fisherman think. Anytime I have tried for them, I did not have much success. Last Summer, I got lucky and met a fellow fisherman at Taylor Bridge while I was looking for places to deer hunt. He was catching a crappie every time he rebated his minnow while he talked to me. My stepson and I went the next day further down the little sac and caught our limit on 15" crappie and 2-4lb White Bass and Some pretty good LM's. We had a heck of a fish fry. We had family from both sides at that fish fry.

I am pretty sure it was last August or July. I will have to look back at my history postings.

No problem here with the length limit change.

I quit shooting 8-10 point bucks too.

Yall got too many 12-14 and 16 points in this state. Its awesome living here.

[panfisher]

Like to see limit at 10 fish.

[Predator1]

Ten fish would be cool. Then you could load up on other types of fish. But not too many that your back hurts from cleaning fish and cleaning up everything else when your done.

But 10,,,that would be good. But if the length was increased. we would definately have bigger crappie.

Last year I saw some people fishing off the band at Aldrich Bridge. They were on the opposite side of the water from the Boat Ramp. All the crappie they were keeping were well under the 10" mark.

Is the limit different on the south side of Aldrich Bridge?

[straw hat]

There is no length limit on crappie in rivers. The problem is deciding if you are fishing a river or lake. You can't just go by current. After heavy rains I have seen significant current at places like CC and Aldrich. Are you fishing in an area where the water is backed up from the lake? Just how far up in a tributary do you have to go in order to be in a river? My answer is, if in doubt just keep 10"ers.