What a lucky and blessed person I am, I have been accompanied by different Dyess Air Force personnel and their children for the last several days on early morning fishing trips over this long Memorial Day Weekend. Sand bass were very cooperative and the crappie are finicky, but can be caught.

I cannot emphasize enough how important and what a blessing it is, to take the armed forces personnel especially those returning from Iraq and other strongholds of the terroist. Having served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam, I relate to the horror that wars of any shape or fashion bring to the armed forces personnel and their families. I was fortunate enough to take fathers and sons and fathers and daughters out since last Friday and what a thrill it was for the families recovering from separation. These Dads have been deployed multiple times and this was just a little reward for them and their kiddos. The excitement for the Dads and their youngsters with cooperative sand bass is a tremendous experience.

I would encourage anyone to contact any armed forces branch in or close to their living location and take these veterans and their children fishing. I am just an average fisherman, fortunate to have a boat and the rewards from taking these veterans is immense. I might add, that it doesn't have to be just when there is a Memorial Day Holiday, they would appreciate it, ANYTIME.

Sand bass were smashing topwaters and rattlin spots early before the pleasure craft took over. Crappie preferred pink/black/pink and white/chart/white with chartruce crappie nibblets added for the Dad and his son/daughter.

Regards and Remember that Serviceman and his Family,
Mud-Dabber

Ya done good Dabber. Just checking in .
I see we are still alive.
Whites are kicking tail here now, trolling, slabbing or minnows. crappie are fair and big this year. Limited several times on whites, not yet on crappie, but plenty for the skillet.

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have a good`un heycods

Heycods

Glad to hear from you. Lakes are going down hard around here due to the drought conditions. Has not stopped the crappie from biting from the same areas previously mentioned to you. I don't believe I have seen the huge amounts of non legal crappie like I have this year. Should be outstanding next year. I am catching a limit almost every time out, but no real big ones yet. Need some rain and/or cooler weather to turn the big ones on I am thinking.

You need to think about fishing over at Oak Creek Lake, near Blackwell. Lake filled up and you talk the rebirth of a lake.

Good Fishing,
Ron, Mud-Dabber