Thread: How did it go CAST tourney

BIG G and Reaper, did you guys do any good? I went out there this morning. i caught my limit by 12pm. all my fish came off minnows and apox 18ft.. i do know this the comminty holes are not work yet/ there not on yet. tthe biggest crappie was 16inche and there rest 11-12 1/2 inches long. these crappie got the be moving still to there summer holes. what do you guys think?


red.../

I think I need to rethink my fishing/locating techniques. I didn't catch a legal fish to weigh on Friday. Not one! It was an embarassment to even attend the weigh in. I prefished Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I hit my regular haunts on Talala Creek briefly. I caught a fish or two there and moved on to try and locate other areas that might be holding some fish. Wednesday afternoon, I fished the Creek itself, 7.5' depth and caught one that went around 15.5", 3' below the surface. I got out of there and planned to spend some time in the area on opening morning.
Friday morning, I drew #68 in the start, (reverse order on Saturday). I trailered the boat to Talala Creek and was fishing by 7:15. I hit all the usual standing timber that I have caught fish off of in summers past. I fished the creek, I fished all the usual spots that I have anchored over and caught nice fish. I fished the bamboo I placed. I worked the points in different depths trying to locate suspended fish. I worked the areas I've seen the same locals hit, time and time again. The wind was fierce till about 1 p.m. This limited me to no being able to venture out on the main lake as my boat will just not take much of it. Through out all this, I ended the day hooking one fish that may have hit 11" and was unable to get it in the boat.
I was extremely upset, and mad at myself for even thinking I had a shot. I learned that sometimes, a home lake advantage can also be a disadvantage. Jerry Hancock and Paul O'Bier, of Texas, had a first day total of over 9 lbs. They fished mainly an area of standing timber that I have fished at least 30 times and never hit on much of anything. I have always thought that particular timber would be a good spot, for the lack of pressure it recieves from us locals. It is located off the main lake, and the wind makes it so unfriendly to fish on most outings. So, after day 1, I was out of it other than the big fish prize of 1k offered by Humminbird. The big fish contest was sitting at 1.87 lbs and not an impossible feat to overcome if one got lucky. I didn't have a thing to weigh, like I said, total embarrassment.
Day 2, all my concentration and efforts had been on Talala Creek prior to the tournament. The Blakemore RoadRunners I was using during prefishing had been doing their job. It's a great lure for Crappie for those of you who don't have any. I broke down and bought some minnows for day two. I rigged 4 rods with a 3/4 oz weight on the bottom, and two Blood Red True Turn hooks. I trailered to Spencer Creek and hit some of the brush I help the Corp place last fall. I came across a few dinks, then started working the channel trying to locate suspended fish slow trolling minnows and RoadRunners. I had a couple of 10' Outlaw Rods that work really well for this. I came across two fish in the 11" range, both coming off a RoadRunner down around 14' in 28' of water. This was the area across from Goose Island on the east bank where the channel runs close to the bluff.
So, in two very full days of fishing, my home lake whipped me like a step child. I learned so much from talking to Jerry and Paul, as well as some of the other fishermen in the contest. This was only the second tournament I have ever entered, the first being the qualifying event. I plan to enter many more, and will never take a home lake hotspot for granted again. There is a reason the guys that place in the top ten regularly. I really don't think it makes a difference what lake they are on.
My knowledge increased allot the last two days. I plan to try to take things to another level my next time out. Until then, I will treat each trip to the lake, as a tournament day. There is a big difference between filling the freezer, and finding 7 nice fish. I have been humbled by the pros.
Thanks go out to Tim and Todd with CAST. They do a pretty good job running this thing and are great guys to boot. Congrats to the other locals that did well and it was nice to meet you all. Thanks to all the out of state visitors that came to the CAST Classic and participated. Just goes to show that most Crappie fishermen are great people.

I had a lil over 14 lbs for the 2 days and I can tell you this my fingers are sore from all the fish that I caught and threw back 3/4 lb fish were abundant I just couldnt catch a nice kicker fish that is what these things are won with I love the O it is one of the best crappie lakes in Okla for sure

I didn't get a chance to thank you BG for your help, so thanks! That check for my entry into CAST Championship was in my mailbox when I got home saturday. We still need to hook up and fish together someday.
On another note, let's revive your idea of creating some kind of Crappie Club here in NE Oklahoma. I would love to do some mini tourneys with some of the area fishermen. What were you thinking of entry fees, paid places, etc?
Also, what lakes do we want to include? I'll talk to you later. Right now, I can't get my mind off getting a 987SI and a bigger faster boat to mount it onto.

Reaper things just didnt go your way this time or mine either I heard one today on FLW tv show "If you fish by memory you will lose every time" I am inclined to believe that saying we both should have checked out stuff that we normally dont fish like I told you guys that dont fish a lake regular and dont know the regular spots find the better fish In this game river channels and creek channels are everything as they are crappie highways I am going to become more diverse in my fishing as I am basically known as a ledge man if that pattern doesnt work then I am in trouble I really hate standing timber but will start trying it a lil

Say, Big George an Crappie Reaper, sure was nice meeting you guys again up thar!! That lake is tough on the smaller crappie, we just so happen to not know enough about the lake to stik to a certain area. We covered alot of water both days, an im a tellin you rite now, it was work. Top three was some fishon machines, and would be tough to beat on any lake, congrats to them fellers!!!. All in all, it was some good fishin on lake Oologah, a lesson to be learned by all. Nice lake and good company was the best part for me. Yall guys have some very nice lakes in OK, and will be lookin forward to seein yall all again.

Big G and Reaper you guys will get them next time, I bet you guys will take 1st and 2nd next time. I dont like using jigs, i wish i did it would save me some cash, since i wont have to buy minnows. i should give jigs another chance, uh.

will today i went out again w/brother law and we took home 58 good keepers, the smallest was 11 inches. most of crappie where 12-13inch plus long and are biggest 14 plus. all came off minnows in apox 18ft of water. the water need to get around 85-87 degress to get the deep bite on. it only should be another week your so, before it gets there.

i forgot to tell you guys, you may have saw me sat morning at the hawthrone boat ramp. i notice that you guys didnt take off apox 630. i was ramp in apox 0600. i was in a red wrap truck F-150 that had visual fx and lowrance logo with big fish near the back of truck. if see me next time at the ramp come by and say hi.

red...

Good to meet you and your son Ratmo! I can't wait to go try it again. The next trip out, I am going to treat as a tournament day. It will be at least a week before I try it. I have my girls this week and will be busy being a father to them. I want to make sure their time with me is as good as posible. I can always fish later. I plan to hit the same timber the leaders/winners hit. I'll post my 7 best fish (if I can catch 7). I can't believe how fast this tourney has me rethinking my fishing methods. I'll save the brush piles for the night time trips. Jerry Hancock and Paul gave some great info. I know one thing for sure, I don't want to ever show up to a weigh in again with an empty sack! It might take me some time, but I'll get there eventually.

reaper, that standing timber up near east side ramp or further up near plum creek arm? ive never fish past the brigde yet.

red...

Reaper is this the same guys who won last year??