Crappie Fishing in Arkansas

[Jerry Blake]

This kid from Louisiana caught this 17.5-inch/2-pound, 6-ounce Crappie on Lake Hamilton today about 12-feet deep on a Rosy Red minnow under a slip float.

http://www.actionfishingtrips.com/Matt'sbigun.JPG

His dad called me after they left the taxidermist's to say it is the biggest crappie the taxidermist has every mounted.

[Moose1am]

Note the wear on that fish's tail? Do all the big crappie show such wear and tearr on their tails. It appears as if that fish had been preparing a spawning nest so to speak by the wear on it's tail in the picture.


Nice fish though and I wish I could catch a mess of crappie that size once in a while down here.

[PIGINTHEPIGPEN]

I just wish I could catch one crappie over 16 inches
That is Awesome!

[CrappiePappy]

That picture should be sent to the Taxidermist for coloration reference ... it would help them get the proper color and "blotching" effect on the mount. (I've seen Black Crappie mounts that were colored like polka-dotted Bass - and not the "pixel blotches" and "teal/green over white" coloration of a Crappie) That's a great picture ! .........nice fish, too, by the way !! :D ..............cp

[Jerry Blake]

Note the wear on that fish's tail? Do all the big crappie show such wear and tearr on their tails. It appears as if that fish had been preparing a spawning nest so to speak by the wear on it's tail in the picture.


Nice fish though and I wish I could catch a mess of crappie that size once in a while down here.

Hey Greg:

Usually the wear we see on males from fanning spawning beds is on the bottom of the tail.

We see quite a few larger crappie with splits or other damage to their tales, probably caused by predators like gar or maybe just wear and tear from chasing down food.

[Jerry Blake]

That picture should be sent to the Taxidermist for coloration reference ... it would help them get the proper color and "blotching" effect on the mount. (I've seen Black Crappie mounts that were colored like polka-dotted Bass - and not the "pixel blotches" and "teal/green over white" coloration of a Crappie) That's a great picture ! .........nice fish, too, by the way !! :D ..............cp

Thanks CP:

The fish was alive when it arrived at the taxidermist so I hope he took a picture of it - at least he had a chance to see it in it's "natural" state.

[Cane Pole]

I have seen those " boy" fish with their tail fins worn off, down to where the flesh meets the bottom half of the tail fin. The wear seems to all ways be about at a 30 degree angle. Anyone ever notice this?
Wonder why? Are they always looking up?

Cane Pole

[Jerry Blake]

I have seen those " boy" fish with their tail fins worn off, down to where the flesh meets the bottom half of the tail fin. The wear seems to all ways be about at a 30 degree angle. Anyone ever notice this?
Wonder why? Are they always looking up?

Cane Pole

Hey Tom:

I guess in order to get their tail close enough to the bottom to fan out a depression their head would have to be higher than their tail to keep from rubbing their belly against the bottom.

[GREENFISH]

Note the wear on that fish's tail? Do all the big crappie show such wear and tearr on their tails. It appears as if that fish had been preparing a spawning nest so to speak by the wear on it's tail in the picture.


Nice fish though and I wish I could catch a mess of crappie that size once in a while down here.

Could it be the tail was damaged in when (if) it was netted?? Just a thought.

[Oregon slabman]

Great fish. That's one happy boy and rightfully so.Good job Jerry

Does your taxidermist do replicas or skin mounts/