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I'm going Crappie fishing tomorrow. It'll be the first time fishing this year.

We hit a crappie hole at Indian Lake one time, about the size of a bathtub. They would hit ANYTHING we dropped in the water, even bare hooks and chewing gum, but not cut up crappie. We had to leave when we ran out of bait. I remember at least 2 fish traps full and 3 stringers.

Deb says I do
Still in the 30’s here but boat comes home this week

I LOVE that top picture! You can't buy those smiles anywhere.

Looking forward to fishing with the kids this summer

I like to fish almost as much as I like to hunt and I can generally do it a lot more of the year in nicer weather.

I grew up around a fishing lodge and paid for most of college guiding fly fishermen fishing for the half pounder (juvenile) steelhead on the lower Rogue. I also guided some for winter steelhead and spring chinook though those were less reliable. I burned out on fishing and focused on hunting and varmint shooting for quite a while. The little big of fishing I did in those years was mostly quite different than what I'd done guiding. I have a decently large, shallow lake near where i live now so I did some largemouth fishing with topwater stuff .. fishing from the shore, no boat. I also did some fishing for shad on the Umpqua and even targeted trash fish in the eddies along the Rogue .. catch and release ... release up the bank into the bushes for the 'coons to eat.

I'm back into fishing more but I still don't do much that I did back in college and years closely following.

My favorite fishing now is for trout in the southern Oregon Cascades. Long ago brook trout were introduced. F&W folks have decided that was a bad idea because they out-compete the native species. There's no limit on number or size in many locations. I will generally explore creeks or off-trail lakes first with a ultralight spin outfit ... 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 feet preferably, the lightest open face spin reel I can find, 4 pound maxima, and a selection of size 1 and size 2 panther martins. If I find an area where there's room enough to cast a bit, then I'll go back with light fly gear .. that's 000 to 2 weight .. and dry flies on 1 and 2 pound leader.

I still have my heavier tackle and it'll get used again someday ... someday.

One intriguing thing is my new GF's house 40 yards from the river's edge and from her deck, I've been scoping out the little "run" right in front. I think it will fish in a very serious way. Those half pounders may be in trouble again ....

Tom

And we caught the majority of ours in 3-5ft of water off of cypress trees. If you can find a bunch of trees at that water depth, within 20ft of the bank, it's money.

I practically grew up on Toledo Bend. My dad found an old logging road that led down a narrow peninsula that ended in a cleared area. The first time we went there on his summer vacation days I was 10. I never missed when he started packing the tent and getting his boat ready. We had to bring whatever we needed to eat and drink...there was a marina a ways off where we fueled up the boat, and we could get semi-fresh water there for cooking and boiling the dishes in. Trotline went out on day 1 and the crappie light was hung out among all the dead tree trunks. Fishing there was always good to great. I have nothing but great memories about Toledo Bend.

Well, I am FishinHank........

Fishing can be hard work!!!!




DMc

The bite was slow yesterday but managed to catch enough for supper. Fresh crappie fillets make a fine supper.

The Kid's been out wrestling with river monsters again....

I like catching bass...





Nice Topaz Cutty...

Crappie is my favorite

How I miss the Truckee River.Never ventured to Pyramid, but made many memories between Tahoe and Reno on the Truckee.Good luck with the Lahonton cutts

I decided that I hadn't spread myself thin enough, so added the pursuit of steelhead to my life this "spring", (12" inches of snow this week, sub-freezing temps and 40+ gusts today, hence the quotes around spring). We chased after them at the Cheboygan river last week, but had no luck. I've been itching to get back out, but the weather has tanked, so I'm just going to have to wait a bit.

I've caught more fish than I remember on both forks of the Carson, both forks of the Walker, Prosser creek, Little Truckee, etc. Every time I go to the Truckee, I get my ass handed to me. It's become a running joke. I've caught a few here and there, but the balance of success to effort is way out of wack for me on that river. I have a ball trying, though!!!

One of my favorite little brooky spots...

That also is stocked with tiger trout. Super aggressive and a blast to catch.

All kids like catching cat fish...

The H Wiggler was great for bass in the thick stuff and on creeks. Maybe they werent lure shy however.