Cape Fair 12-3

[Hammer time]

Put in at 10:30 and went up river a ways and hit swings and pockets. Caught a few real quick on pumpkin seed wart and slow rolling 1/2oz blade. Water temp 50.03 and good color. Got up to Virgin Bluff and water turned stained, so turned around and worked back toward ramp.

Changed to fb jig on bluffs caught several and a nice spot. Back to wart and caught a what dad and I call "line head" crappie, you know the ones with the racing stripe from their nose up their head.

Went down past Wooley and water clear and almost 55 caught several more spots on fb jig in 30-35 fow but all shorts except a couple.

Loaded up at 4:30 with 15 total and 5 keeps, fun short day.

Tight lines and CPR 

[cheesemaster]

Nice!!!

[96 CHAMP]

Nice fish and nice pictures to boot!!

[Sore Thumbs]

Yep. I love the pictures. Nice job

[Sam]

1 hour ago, Hammer time said:

Back to wart and caught a what dad and I call "line head" crappie, you know the ones with the racing stripe from their nose up their head.

 

Thanks for the report, Hammer time.

That's an Arkansas Blacknosed Crappie, and I love 'em.  To me, it always seems like something extra is going on when we catch those - good fishing, and good luck.  They're native to the White River, and that includes Tablerock Lake, of course.  Here's the scoop on them from crappie101.com:

"The Black Nosed Black Crappie as we call them were first described in the White River Basin of Arkansas. They have been found in 13 other states. The black stripe is the result of a recessive gene, which breeds true when using black stripe brooders. There are all kinds of claims about them being sterile, or hard fighters and such. No conclusive evidence has ever been found to support any such theories. They breed just like regular black crappie. I believe the black stripe adds to the excitement when reeling one in and anglers get an adrenaline rush when they see one, resulting in all kinds of euphoric claims. Do not be confused, some people are using black nosed black crappie in hybridization research which results in hybrid crappie with black stripes (to indicate a successful cross, gene expression of a recessive gene from one parent). Therefore some hybrid crappie have been stocked with the black stripe and some people confuse the black stripe thinking it is the result of hybridization. Bottom line, in order for any crappie to have a black stripe it must have a black nosed black crappie parent."

[Hammer time]

2 minutes ago, Sam said:

Thanks for the report, Hammer time.

That's an Arkansas Blacknosed Crappie, and I love 'em.  To me, it always seems like something extra is going on when we catch those - good fishing, and good luck.  They're native to the White River, and that includes Tablerock Lake, of course.  Here's the scoop on them from crappie101.com:

"The Black Nosed Black Crappie as we call them were first described in the White River Basin of Arkansas. They have been found in 13 other states. The black stripe is the result of a recessive gene, which breeds true when using black stripe brooders. There are all kinds of claims about them being sterile, or hard fighters and such. No conclusive evidence has ever been found to support any such theories. They breed just like regular black crappie. I believe the black stripe adds to the excitement when reeling one in and anglers get an adrenaline rush when they see one, resulting in all kinds of euphoric claims. Do not be confused, some people are using black nosed black crappie in hybridization research which results in hybrid crappie with black stripes (to indicate a successful cross, gene expression of a recessive gene from one parent). Therefore some hybrid crappie have been stocked with the black stripe and some people confuse the black stripe thinking it is the result of hybridization. Bottom line, in order for any crappie to have a black stripe it must have a black nosed black crappie parent."

Thanks Sam, that's great info, I'll tell my dad the real explanation, we have always loved catching Arkansas Black Nosed Crappie aka "line heads"

[cheesemaster]

Ya, that was an interesting article.  Good info.

[merc1997 Bo]

that is darn nice day.  still amazing that there are not many up shallower.  water temps are perfect to mop up slow rolling a spinner bait.

bo

[Champ188]

Love those crappie with that pigment line. Like bo says, it's time for the shallow bite to turn on. You had a pretty darn good day given the brutal conditions (high skies and no wind).

[m&m]

Health looking fish!! Nice pictures and thanks for the report. 

Mike