HaHa HaHa:  0
Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: The Dark Side, chapter 2

  1. #1
    skeetbum's Avatar
    skeetbum is offline Crappie.com Legend - Moderator Jig Tying Forum
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    22,856
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default The Dark Side, chapter 2


    Started the day very early compared to most folks. Passed the park where we held the Slabfest at 5:30. Went to the Seminole County side just because it was open. First on the scene there and launched without incident and headed out into the pitch black, no moon that I saw. The only lights were from the overpass. I was wanting to get up to where some stripers were said to be at absolute first light. Had I not had a home court advantage of knowing my way around and a GPS for reference I would never have started this early and waited for safe light. As it turned out I never saw a hint of them and could’ve had another cup of coffee. There was enough light from downtown Sanford and the interstate that I could see the unlit signs long before it would’ve been an issue. I had just throttled back close to where I wanted to be when I noticed the first warming of the eastern sky. Let the games begin, I hope. Name:  F2A6E5AF-DFE5-42B6-8BF1-926AA540C039.jpg
Views: 380
Size:  17.9 KBName:  30DB7189-7AD5-4620-B5BE-2BA408C4B207.jpg
Views: 377
Size:  25.1 KBName:  0C7F6653-20A3-45C9-9BFF-1296F2BAD455.jpg
Views: 365
Size:  49.1 KBName:  27F0F2A7-65A4-4EAA-B0FF-BCAB873A7E4B.jpg
Views: 390
Size:  41.3 KB

    Took a pic of the sunrise and thought about putting some rods out and discovered that my clear glasses were still in the truck. Guess I just got most of the details. Ice and gas and minnows bought the day before had made my morning pretty direct. So all I had were my shades with the cheaters in the bottom of the lens. Just getting rods separated wasn’t bad but it had its moments. Got a few rods out, short ones first from the way they were loaded, and didn’t finish long when a 6’er bent over. Now I was excited and not thinking about the 51* I had seen on the pickup when I launched. First fish of the day was a good 13” and I hoped he had lots of friends. Took a pic and put him on ice and started putting some minnows out, just barely able to see enough for that. No trolling motor today as I was going back to my roots of this kind of fishing. Boat drifting sideways at the mercy of the wind. Got that done and settled back to watch the show. The sun rising, the other boats showing up nearby, just life in general on the lake. Not having put on the bibs this morning wasn’t the smartest thing either. The light wind that made me drift just right was just enough to make the top of my thighs wish for some sunshine. Now the fish were there and I caught 4 in good time that all went in the box, no throwbacks yet. Reeled the rods in short and idled with the outboard to make another drift, this one with a slightly different track. Quite a few boats were out this morning, Slimjim among them. As I got towards the end of this drift I got a few smalls. Hollered at Jim that the bigger ones I had found were further west as I went by. Turns out this was the beginning of the end of the bite. The only quality fish I had on after this point I never saw but he fought better than any other this day. I hung around for one more pass in an area more west but to no avail. I gave them time, making a few phone calls wishing a happy to friends, but finally wrapped up the rods and headed in just after 12. 5 had made the ice bath, and I felt that though the take wasn’t as good as I had hoped I was satisfied

    Takes a while to wrap up and stow all I had out. The good part of the planning was that the trip back was downwind. A much better ride in a flat bottom skiff. Most all of the boats I’d seen earlier had been gone for a while. I was looking forward to lunch with my queen at a barbecue place for some brisket, greens and black eye peas and cornbread. Got to the ramp and after I pulled I saw a boat I had seen several times on previous trips. I stopped him and asked how they had done, he said 4 was all they could find. Just couldn’t see both of us having almost enough for a good bunch and he took mine with a smile. Just a little cleanup and put away when I get home and I’m done, ready for work in the morning. It had been a good day with about 15 visitors. All the minnows got dumped before I headed back so I know there’s some happy crappie out there if they find them. The boat control doing this was much more stress free and the take not much different, a very good change of pace. Not sure how long before the minnow man gets to see me next but he doesn’t need to get his hopes up. Thanks for taking the ride with me, it was a good way to welcome the new year. Hope to see you on the water soon......Skeet
    Creativity is just intelligence fooling around

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Central Florida
    Posts
    2,768
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Thanks Skeet very detailed report, nice way to welcome in the New Year.
    u2d

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
    Thanks for checkin' on me! CURIOSITY takes me there, SUCCESS ushers me back!
    Thanks skeetbum thanked you for this post

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    New Smyrna, FL
    Posts
    3,974
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Great effort to break away from the norm and caught some fish, Happy New Year !!
    The finest gift you can give to any fisherman is to put a good fish back, and who knows if the fish that you caught isn't someone else's gift to you?"
    Thanks skeetbum thanked you for this post

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Deltona, Fl
    Posts
    1,652
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    It was good to see you on the water. An other great report ! Thanks for taking us along.


    another good day at the office !
    Thanks skeetbum thanked you for this post

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Apopka Beauclaire Canal FL
    Posts
    4,731
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Good story
    CG1 "Dances with fish"
    Thanks skeetbum thanked you for this post

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 1996
    Location
    Central Florida
    Posts
    25,836
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Great report, thanks for sharing.
    Owner
    "Wear your PFD" "No texting n driving" slab
    Crappie.com members are the best
    Thanks skeetbum thanked you for this post

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Longwood, FL
    Posts
    515
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Glad you enjoyed the morning Skeet!! Great report
    Thanks skeetbum thanked you for this post

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    florida
    Posts
    253
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Enjoyed your report Skeet. Kinda sound like my act when i put in at Dark. And i always bring my Clown Suit so there is neve a Dull moment.
    The CRAPPIESLAYER
    Likes Conrod LIKED above post
    Thanks skeetbum thanked you for this post

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Mechanicsville, VA
    Posts
    5,261
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Good report Tim, good read and I love the dark thirty pics. Thanks for sharing, hope you have a great 2020.

    Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
    Thanks skeetbum thanked you for this post

  10. #10
    skeetbum's Avatar
    skeetbum is offline Crappie.com Legend - Moderator Jig Tying Forum
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    22,856
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    You too Vic, and everyone else also. I. Looking forward to a very good year.

    Slayer, I’m ready to see the clown suit!!
    Creativity is just intelligence fooling around
    Likes crappieslayer60 LIKED above post

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

BACK TO TOP