Baker’s Dozen

[ET Fish]

What a strange spring! We usually count on late winter and early spring to restock the freezer, but between crazy weather and various obligations, that hasn’t happened. Yesterday we saw a window of opportunity. According to the weather report, thunderstorms were to end at 4:45. Since they had never started, I made a calculated decision that would be the perfect launch time...we’ll come back to this later!
We launched in the blaring, hot sun, and I knew where to go for some shade. After the transducer finally acclimated, we found water temps that ranged from 66-68. Having fished very little, I can only assume that we are post spawn? The water temps don’t make that a certainty, but the calendar and length of daylight point to post spawn. I am not aware of spawning activity taking place after Memorial Day, but I have never witnessed Dogwoods and Redbuds blooming at the same time. Or freezing temperatures at Mother’s Day. In other words, the only thing that you can be certain of thus far in 2020 is that there are no certainties! Go back to January 1 in your mind....would you ever have imagined the changes that would take place by May 29? I read a Meme a few days ago that said, “I am no longer looking for signs. I am now listening for the trumpet!”
Anyway, found some shade in 18 FOW, and dropped a Slabsauced CB Slider in Junebug/Chartreuse flavor. As the pendulum was about halfway back it was thump city! The great part was, this went on, hard and steady for about 20 minutes. For the first time in a long time, I had to pull out the clicker! Then.....we felt a sprinkle and looked North at a dark sky! This is not a huge worry, as most of our weather comes from the West. Key word here is “most!” Long story short, we tried to hide in a covered dock for two torrential downpours with some thunder for some extra spice!
After the final storm, it’s pushing 8:00, the fish have turned off, we are soaked, the boat is soaked, our equipment is soaked, and I’ve had enough....so off we go.
As we entered the mouth of the creek that leads to the truck, I remembered a brushpile that I like to drop a jig into from time to time. It was not red hot, but it held fish, so we stayed and ripped a few more lips. We stayed until running lights were required to run the last quarter mile in our waterlogged carriage. Finally back, I strip out of the rain suit, and back the trailer in. I glanced back and saw a floating running board! A quick exit from the water found it attached by one lag bolt...just enough to keep it from floating away. Utilizing some ratchet strap ingenuity, I didn’t have Duct tape so that ruins some of my Redneck cred., we load up and finally head home.
Fishing often has challenges, but this was such a small set of inconveniences compared to what so many are facing. I hurt for those who are sick, unemployed, alienated from family, and just scared! I am so fortunate and blessed to be relatively unaffected by this pandemic. I pray for those affected daily, and thank God for blessing me. Please join me in this prayer, and let me know if I can add you specifically to my prayer list.
Anyway, we probably caught 40 crappie, and brought home a Baker’s dozen! Those lucky 13 were gooduns!






Sent from my iPad using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[BarryG]

Nice! I had the same thing happen to me a couple years ago! As my son backed into the water I saw a board start floating, Thank the Lord I had ratchet straps!

[S10CHEVY]

Great report, and outing. Some very nice fish. So who caught the most, not that it matters. Thanks for sharing.

[BuckeyeCrappie]

Thanks for sharing

[ET Fish]

Great report, and outing. Some very nice fish. So who caught the most, not that it matters. Thanks for sharing.

For the first time in forever.....me!

["G"]

Thanks for sharing ET

[skeetbum]

Beautiful place you were fishing, thanks for the good report.

[StantheMan2567]

Good afternoon catch. Glad to see some TN reports, I have been struggling big time here lately, numbers yes, size no! Caught keepers in March now I cannot find more than one per trip.

["D"]

Great post and I agree, things are always worse for somebody.

[Ketchn]

nice read and fish , this pandemic thing sure effected a lot of us .
looks like the unlucky 13 to me btw ….
KABOOM is the word