Root Admin Phil Lilley Posted April 24, 2014 Root Admin Posted April 24, 2014 Me and my buddy Paul Crews put in at Bridgeport about 4:30 this afternoon. Water temp 66 most places. Wind I think was out of the east or SE so Bear Den was tough. We went further south and tried a cut in the bluff bank on the left- has a green MDC brush sign. We caught 40 crappie- all way off the bank close to the planted brush pile - all but one short. Just swam a swimming minnow, 1/16th oz head, over the top of it. Got tired of throwing them back to went looking for another spot. Tried some more cuts like that one. Caught a few in each including a couple more keepers. Found a big brush pile in 30 feet of water close to some docks and caught a bunch more crappie- almost all short. Went up in a small cove, first one on the right after the cut, and caught a bunch more crappie, this time some keepers. All were still 30 feet off the bank, 6-8 feet deep. Some were fairly close to the bank but not many. All nice keepers were in deeper water. Paul caught several keeper LM's. All on purple swimming minnows. Headed back towards the ramp. Tried the first place where we caught the 40- nothing. Strange- thought they might have moved in to the bank. Went to Bear Den and the MDC green sign close to the point. Wind really never calmed down so we tied to some brush along the bank and threw out. Fished till 10 pm and caught fish the whole time. Paul caught a 14 inch crappie. Ended the afternoon with 16 keepers, a big male white bass and a nice goggleye. He also caught a big largemouth- probably 4-5 pounds. Crappie never made any move to the bank, even after dark. All of them caught 15-25 feet off the bank probably 6-7 feet deep. We did catch a lot of fish- it was fun. Pics tomorrow. Shot a little video- probably not enough to post.
dtrs5kprs Posted April 24, 2014 Posted April 24, 2014 We are getting lots of the crappie taps fishing plastics in pole timber and light wood on the " smallmouth " places around 13. Hard to get and keep a hook in them with a big rod.
Rolan Duffield Posted April 25, 2014 Posted April 25, 2014 Wow Phil-- I actually saw you using a Fly Rod. Good for you, finally.
Members gatorbitu Posted April 25, 2014 Members Posted April 25, 2014 Very nice, congrats on the catch!
Bitethis Posted April 25, 2014 Posted April 25, 2014 i have looked all over town for these "Puprle Swimming minnows" and not even an empty hook peg...where can I find these at?
REDSOXWSCHAMP Posted April 25, 2014 Posted April 25, 2014 i have seen the purple swimming minnows at FIN N FEATHER in springfield
Root Admin Phil Lilley Posted April 25, 2014 Author Root Admin Posted April 25, 2014 I carry them at our shop too.
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