Best trip ever

[Slab]

Even when considering the ongoing virus concerns, and perhaps in spite of those issues, this was the most awesome trip ever. It felt like the pandemic was over. Some had their shots, some had immunity from having caught it. Everything was seemingly getting back to normal again. Fishermen were gathering, eating together, telling stories. Although we did some social distancing when inside, outside, in the sunshine together, things were just about normal. This was probably the best trip ever, a welcome reprieve from the isolated, couped up life most all of us have been living for almost a year now.

Reason number two for this being the best trip ever was the fact that we were in the heartland of “monster crappie”. I was in the Mississippi delta, on Lake Washington and staying at Bait n' Thangs. Great place, great hosts, and big crappie. Gotta love it.

Reason number three was because I was surrounded by friends. Brad Wiegmann is a writer for Crappie.com and he arranged this “inaugural writers camp”. It was a camp specific to Crappie Fishing so I knew just about everyone. Heck I should know everyone particularly because I own the biggest “Family Friendly” crappie fishing forum on the internet. And if I did not know them by name, I knew them by their screen name on Crappie.com. “Old home” week surrounded by friends, gotta love it.

And reason number four. This is the reason I waited this long to write this story. I traveled across the country, stopping in rest rooms, staying in hotels, spending time with a bunch of other fishermen, and didn't catch the virus. I waited because I kinda quarantined myself in my house away from others to make sure I did not have have it. Yay me, no Corona. It felt absolutely great mingling with folks again. Next step for me will be the vaccine, and then all will be 100% back to normal. Just waiting my turn on that one.

OK, on to some of the good stuff, some “fishing” details...

Lake Washington is an awesome lake. And you don't have to travel far from the launch at Bait n' Thangs to start catching them. No long back breaking runs across the lake, and my bad back likes it that way. It's a 5,000 acre Mississippi River Oxbow Lake. Mississippi has larger reservoirs, but Lake Washington is one of its largest natural lakes. It's average depth is 6 ft, and is at it's deepest 22 ft. It has very cool cypress “forests in the water”, and monster crappie.

On the morning of day one, I'm teamed up with Mitch Glenn and we're fishing with Brad Chappell. Let me repeat that, I'll be fishing with Mitch Glenn and Brad Chappell. How cool is that. Wait, it gets better. We're gonna fish out of tournament trail angler and champion Kody Hamilton's boat. I'm not sure why but I think Brad's boat is more set up for longlining, and on Kody's boat we're gonna be spider rigging using a live scope.

AND WE KILLED THEM. Take a look at these pics.


I call this my "Corona Virus Haircut", really just the lack of a hair cut. Looking like a vagrant keeps people at arms length. Works good! lol




We used PICO Scope Eyes tipped with PICO Tubes and minnows. The Scope Eyes jigs are designed to really show up on the live scope, and that they do.









We had 8 poles out, and did what you normally do when Spider Rigging, but used the Livescope to essentially chase some of them down. When we'd see a fish, we'd try to follow it with all eight rods out front. It was different for me, but I liked it. I have a live scope, and use it to check depth of bait, and locate some fish. But I have a real hard time targeting fish with a single pole, managing a trolling motor remote, and also controlling a live scope. I never can seem to find the fish and drop the jig in front of it. I like this idea of leaving the rod in the holder and just having to manage the trolling motor and the live scope. I can't do three things at once I guess, two is tough enough. I'm telling you, I'm 100% gonna try this on my home lake, and I think I'll be successful.

[SuperDave336]

Very nice fish. Sounds like a awesome trip and worth the travels.

[silverside]

This story made me smile. A nice change from the current boring pandemic style I live these days. Thanks for the uplifting story.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[Special K]

On the road again. Things are lookin' up for sure.
Thanks for sharing.

[Cane Pole]

Vagrants! I smell like one. Well froze.

ps


great fishing

[Billbob]

Good trip


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[kycreek]

Awesome trip Ed with some really nice fish to boot.

[NwLa sacalait]

It's going to be hard to top that trip! Great write up boss man!!

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

[zekepa]

Very Jealous. Good for you.

[BobC]

What a great trip and report. I can't wait to hit the water again. Getting a lot closer. Glad to see you were able to do it.
Bob