This past week consisted of great crappie successes mixed with checking the water clarity in the south end of the Farm for bass potential.
The crappie at the south portion of the impoundment have completed their spawn. There will always be a few latecomers, but the majority appears done. I had a high spot surrounded by deep water (4 feet at the shallow point, with 10-12 all around it) upon which a big group of crappie spawned. Without grass to work with, the crappie appear to be using clean sandy bottom areas that are shallow enough for the sun to reach and hatch the eggs. Obviously, the spot they select will have to be a bit higher than the surrounding bottom terrain simply to assure the eggs do not get silted over. (This is the same approach shell beds follow when selecting a spot for the colony to grow. Water currents sweep silt from the higher locations and it settles in the deeper zones. That way the shell bed inhabitants do not become silted over and smother.)
Don Hoffman and I went to check the crappie on the 25th, working that shallow mound area. We found a large number of fish still on it, but noted their bellies were not nearly as swollen with egg sacs and the week before. We assumed that meant they were in process of dropping the eggs. Plus, we also found a LOT of big bluegill in the location. The presence of the bluegills indicates crappie spawning, in the bluegill eat the crappie eggs.
A few days later, I took out a party for crappie and we found the high area virtually void of crappie. Assuming the spawn might be complete there, I simply had the guys turn 180 degrees in their boat seats and toss the PERFECT Jigs out into the deep water behind us. Guess what? There the crappie were, back in the open water and schooled nicely. Just like the textbook says. The report is below.
So, the bottom line appears to be that the bass fishing is OK for now, so long as the water clarity is 14-18 inches. Rather than taking a chance on the fishing if you have travel from very far, just watch the weather and the wind speed/directions for the four days before your trip. If it is from the N, NE, or NW and the speed is 15 or higher, forget it.
As for the crappie, they are back schooled in that open water. That makes it a ‘drift the minnows and jigs’ approach. But, it is also easy and very productive fishing. The only catch is that, like the bass fishing, the water must be reasonable clean.
For a couple of weeks, we have had some terrific north and NE winds. The entire Farm 13/Stick Marsh impoundment has looked like coffee and cream. This past week, things started to change. With about 5 days of strong, but easterly, winds, the waters in the Farm's south end did begin to clear a bit. I would check that southern end of Farm 13 each time we went out for crappie and, finally, it started to look better. Not great, mind you, but at least I could see my net 12 inches down.
So, on 30 and 31 March, with great apprehension, we gingerly ventured forth to try the bass. One of the trips was exceptional for giant bass. The other was darned good. The stories and pictures are below.
31 March 2007
Randy Orr, Bill Kinsel and I went to see if ‘bass magic’ could be performed on the impoundment. Our goal was ‘big bass’, so we opted for shiners in the still-murky waters of Farm 13. This was a slow day, until the last three hours. The fish were non-cooperative and the shiners enjoyed a vacation. Every so often, a dumb bass messed up and had a snack. But, in all the morning was poor fishing. Then, the winds got up high. We worked at getting the big Blazer boat to hold on the anchors, re-setting three times. Finally we moved off our primary spot to an adjacent one where I knew there were some logs and stumps for the anchors to grab hold. That turned out to be a good move. The anchors locked us down, while we also started to catch fish!! Bang – 4 pound; Pow – 5 pounds; Crash – 3 pounds; and so it went for awhile. Then, as suddenly as it started, the bite stopped and we watched shines basking in the warm water and sunlight again.