Crappie on the Q

[Crestliner08]

Hit the Quabbin Reservoir yesterday with my long time fishing partner, Walt. We got on the water at 8 am and had to get off by 1 pm, due to the heat. Nice breeze blowing allowed us to set up several drift patterns. We used tubes, curly tails, boot tails and straight tails. The crappie didn't show much of a preference. Water temps were in the 80's. Fished over 18' - 23'.

Here's a few of Walt's fish:







And here's a few of the ones I caught:







This place turns out several in the 2 - 3 lb. range every season. (Which is why the back ground in these photos is disguised. There are several local fishermen who regularly keep everything they catch and this particular ecosystem is not loaded with quality crappie.) However, we fell quite short of the 2 lb. mark. Each of us boating (and releasing) 7 - 8 decent crappie and maybe another 1/2 doz. gills. Got my first crappie and bluegill on the drop shot, drifting it over 20'. Interesting day.

[Sandwich Maker]

Looks like beautiful country to have to fish, a lot different from where I'm at in Texas. Nice fish and pictures!

[ifish4redd]

nice fish

[SLABMAGNET]

Good catch

[NIMROD]

Good day on the water.

[Jocko]

Looks like a great day.

[Crestliner08]

Thanks guys. We don't have the quantity/quality of crappie that some of you southern folks are use to, but we do occasionally tie into a 2 - 3 pounder. And we can't spider rig either. And we can't use lead jigs. Lots of "can'ts" up in this neck of the woods.