As we were in the truck headed north from the 2017 event I shared with Doug and Rickie, while I was slow, it was plain dumb to attend this event without scheduled days for fishing the nations greatest crappie lakes. They immediately agreed. I am still uncertain if the agreement was aligned with me being slow or dumb. Anyway, we immediately booked for the 2018 event and waited impatiently for the days to roll forward.
Soon this years event date arrived and the pre trip preparations began. While originally Adam was going to ride with me and our truck pulling his boat, his physical agility in furniture moving resulted in a foot injury and sitting on the sideline for the trip. Doug said no prob since his boat easily fishes three. So I followed the Excel Bay boat south to the event. But even before the arrangements were finalized Rees called and said he had his boat ready to fish Thursday. Since I was pulling solo it didn't take this slow/dumb boy to become intelligent and take him up on his offer.
After following his directions, with only one phone call to Don for followup directions, I took the correct exit and arrived at the lakes dam launch site. Since it was close to lunch, and I had my coolers of prepared food, I started to put together a lunch. Rees arrived and said its wasn't any problem putting food in his boat. With that lunch was packed and after grabbing my life vest the trip was underway. I shared with him that his was my first time on the water on any of the Big Four. John assured me that we would catch fish and do everything possible to have a great outing.
So after awaiting one year, driving four hours, arriving at one of the best crappie lakes in the nation, with an experienced guide on this great lake, the first fish this Kentucky hillbilly caught was a ??, wait for it, a DRUM. Yep my Chaunc gasper goo membership status card is accepted on Mississippi lakes.
Rees just shook his his head and we continued to fish and what did I continue to catch ??, wait for it, BLUE CATS. Yep, we Kentuckians go BIG BLUE all the way to Mississippi.
. Rees said something, I took as a compliment, about Kentucky hillbillies and jinxing his new to him Astro boat. 
Soon, Rees put a stop to this with the rod tips bending and keeper crappie being added to the cooler. My first three fish were 15 to 15 1/2 inches. That was one way to rub that goos juice off an Astro. The trip continued with us catching several more keepers. I was texting pics to my fellow buddies of our results. I would like to think Doug and Rickie was receiving my grinning crappie pics as attempts to share my good fortune with them and not gloating. You know even slow/dumb hillbillies have good manners.
Well the day ended with Mrs. Tammy ringing the dinner bell. She had been preparing a supper for us to be delivered at our cabin. As we pulled onto the ramp the box had 19 keepers in the box. I thought that the trip had rubbed off the catfish juice from the Astro but someone needs to question Rickie and Rees about that. Just saying ????
In closing, I cannot thank John enough for giving me a great introduction to Mississippi crappie. I surely cannot thank Mrs. Tammy enough for the supper she spread out for Doug, Rickie, and I. I felt enough sorrow for Adam not being able to attend that I had healthy seconds for his absence from the trip. I didn't mind stepping up to the "plate" for ya Adam.
Rees I cannot exchange the quality of a trip for crappies if you ever head north but I can give ya a good fishing trip. However, I can beat ya on the goos and cats if you get tired of them down south. buddy
Jere, crp4570
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