Finally felt that tap

[Kansasoutdoorsman]

Finally got out today and found some slabs.

Two of us caught about 60 today and kept 20. Yesterday we had a quick test run to find them and came home with 4 keepers and a bonus 20" walleye off the damn. It was nice to feel that tap at the end of the line. It's been a couple of weeks since I really got into them.

[mark lo]

Good job, Duckman!

[LBM]

Way to go Duckman. I never did get around to thanking you for your 'head west' post on 3/26.

On 3/26 I was wanting to get out again even though my last two outings at Hillsdale yielded only two legal crappie and one of those outings I didn't even have a bump. Had made up my mind to get out on 3/27 even if it was to Hillsdale but I saw your post and changed my mind and headed to Melvern. I was in dire need of that 'thump , fix.

Two of us fished Melvern from daylight to 3:30pm and never saw another boat all day. A first for me for the couple dozen times that I have been over there. There are always other boats out there but not that day. Less than 100yds from the ramp my first thump was a 14 incher.:D The two of us took home 22 nice crappie with only one having to be check measured for legal length to keep. Any other measuring was just checking to see how long they were.

I'm assuming your current post here was for Hillsdale and I'm well aware of the full meaning of one making assumptions.

Anyhow thanks for the previous info and hopefully I can make as good of use out of your current info as I did out of the last.

[Kansasoutdoorsman]

LMB glad to hear you had a good day. Man, I can't remember the last 14+ fish I caught. I am getting so use to these 9 to 11 Hillsdale fish. I need to break out of my nine dots. If you had back down to Melvern and need a some one to hold the back of the boat to keep it from floating off let me know...

It has been hard down at Hillsdale the last few weeks. There are a few guys getting into them but not many. We went back out this morning and had a carbon copy of yesterday. Two of us caught about 60 and cleaned 22 this afternoon. Nice to get back into them.

[CaptainT16]

I have a question for you guys. Do you normally fish underwater brush to catch your crappie, or standing timber, or what do you guys normally look for? I normally fish a lake down here that has standing timber everywhere, but wasn't quite sure what you guys in Eastern KS normally fish when you head to your holes? Thanks for your help!

[Kansasoutdoorsman]

Captian,

I would guess you are talking about El dorado.

When I fished that lake I found it best to find underwater structure or dropoffs with Rock ledges. Rocks seem to be the key to me. When the crappie are coming to the bank I use to have really good luck with Tumble weeds that have blown into the lake or any type of new growth structure.

My real suggestion would to take a hand saw with you everytime you go. Find a salt cedar that is looking at you the wrong way and cut it down. Nothing big but not small either, managable. Go find a dead tree in 15 to 18 ft of water that is one you can remember but does not stick out and start dropping your "structure" around that tree away from where someone just driving by can find it. Ad three or four trees a year then after a couple of months, I like to fish just above the or down in the laydowns. Or since KDWP is nice enough to do this for us follow their marking and do the same.

[CaptainT16]

Yeah, that would be right on the money! I've caught a few crappie over there, but seems like I catch more Whites and Walleye then anything. Did have some good times ice fishing and catching some nice crappie. Hope to get into them more over there this year. Catch a few here and there, but nothing like you guys in the eastern part of the lake. That's kind of what I figured though. Thanks the input!