Well Monday evening was another great time fishing. The gills and crappies were on the feed once again, but just not for everyone. I arrived in a bay about the same time as a boat with an older couple and 3 kids that looked to be in their 20s. There were already 2 other boats in the same area. It was around 6:30 pm and the wind was down to just about nothing. I could see minnows beginning to come to the surface and it was only a matter of a few minutes before I saw the feed begin. Gills and specks began blowing minnows up in several large schools.
My little jigs were being eaten one cast after another as I paddled from one feeding frenzy to the next. I couldn't help but notice that the boat which arrived at the same time as me was not having much luck at all so I eased over to about 20 yards from them and just watched.
The first thing I noticed was the big red and white bobbers on each of the lines. Then I saw a big fat chunk of crawler hanging about a foot under a large split shot, about 4 feet under that big ole bobber. I just couldn't stand it so I eased a little closer and asked if they were trying to catch panfish. They informed me that they had been trying for the past 3 days to catch enough for a decent fish fry but were just not having luck. I then asked if they would like a couple tips that might help them put a few fish on their stringer. They were happy to listen to my advice.
I told them all to reel in their baits and just watch for a second. I scanned the water nearby. We only sat for a minute or two before I started seeing the backs of nice gills and crappies emerging from the surface of the water. It was a large school of panfish not more then 30 feet from the family of anglers boat and they had no idea. They actually thought it was weeds on the surface. I pointed out to them that they were definitely fishing far below the majority of the fish and that they should immediately raise their baits. I also had them remove the split shots and scale down the size of the crawler they were using.
Then I flipped my little jig into the mess of fish and it no sooner hit the water when a nice bluegill sucked it in. When I set the hooked the surrounding water boiled as the hooked fish made a mad dash through the rest of the school. The look on the families faces was priceless. They really didn't have a clue.
I then paddled away and left them to fish. I went about my business putting a dozen and a half nice specks and gills in my bucket and was ready to head back to the house when I saw one of the kids in the boat putting a decent bluegill on their stringer, which still only had 4 fish on it. I was feeling pretty bad for them so I paddled back over to them and asked if they needed a few more fish to help with that fish fry they were wanting.
At first they didn't want to take my fish because I then would not have any, but when I informed them that I really did have plenty at home, they were more than willing. Now I love fishing, and I love eating fish, but the gratitude I was given from that nice family was worth more than any batch of fillets in my freezer. What a great evening of fishing it was.
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