Saturday 9-30

[Hunter91]

Fished from daylight til 3pm. Did a little of everything. Bass fished early with cranks and spinnerbaits shallow. Caught 12 short bass, some were close to keepers but did not measure. Then switched to bottom bouncing in 15-19 ft with spinners and crawlers. Caught three keeper eyes to 20 inches. Also had 14 big bluegill ( I am not complaining). Then we trolled for about an hour and caught 2 large whites, 3 keeper crappie to 12.5in and a couple more bluegills. Not a terrible day. Lots of action.

[Kramr]

Good going! Personally prefer not to catch blue gill (even big ones) only because they tear up my worms so I have to keep re-baiting. Gonna try using Gulp crawlers next week along with the real deal. Maybe they will hold up better than live worms. Got a great deal on them at Gander Mt. during their going-out-of-business sale. Something like 60 - 70% off. Also got a sweet deal on the Trokar slow death hooks. Was there the last weekend they were opened and there was a ton of them hanging there. They normally sell for $6 for 9 hooks. I got them for 90% off so they were 60 cents a box. I took all that they had. Guy standing next to me said he saw them and didn't know what they were for. I guess that was everyone's reaction.

What were you using when you caught the crappie?

[MrGiggles]

The slabs have been loving a #7 flicker shad in racy shad color for me lately. Trolled at 2mph in 15-22 fow around structure.

[Kramr]

6 hours ago, MrGiggles said:

The slabs have been loving a #7 flicker shad in racy shad color for me lately. Trolled at 2mph in 15-22 fow around structure.

Thanks. Got a nice collection of #7's in various colors. Also have a nice collection of Bandits 300's.

[Hunter91]

I caught my crappie trolling the #5 flicker on leadcore around 16-20ft

[Kramr]

9 hours ago, Hunter91 said:

I caught my crappie trolling the #5 flicker on leadcore around 16-20ft

Never used leadcore but went with a guide on Stockton that did. Remember losing a few flicker shad but not that many. Seems like he used a leader. With all of brush piles, don't you snag a lot?

[MrGiggles]

Another great day of Slabs on that Racy Shad. Had 4 keepers total, with the biggest nearing 14". In only an hour or so of trolling.

Also had a 17" walleye on a Pearl White #6, and I hooked something BIG around dark.. Stud white bass or a bucket mouth I think, never saw it though, headed for my other line, got tangled up, reared it's head and came loose. 

I have a minimalist approach to trolling, let out line till there is only a couple dozen wraps left on the spool. One has 20lb braid with leader, the other just 12lb mono. They will start to tick bottom in 12-14fow. 

I seldom get hung up now. I don't know why but it took me getting snagged on brush piles two or three times before I realized I can just drive around them. 

[Hunter91]

I don't hang anymore than I do with just mono. It is all about depth control for me. Knowing where my bait is and how deep.