Zero to Hero time >>>> pic heavy >>>>

[Ketchn]

Its been tough off the bank since the 2021 blizzard here in Texas . Last week, I hit 3 different lakes off the bank and GOT ZERO bites ,not even the slightest peck at 3 locations that "should" have been productive .
Saturday I thought ok ,time to get serious . Let's break a rule or 2 and figure this out . The fish at one spot could clearly be seen on livescope and NOTHING would get a bite last week ! Minnows on my buds rods were a ZERO and the same was the deal with a jig on mine .
I hit a spot Saturday that should have been really good , FINALLY got a take and it broke my line on the hook set !
not another peck was the way it went once again !
The lone crappie angler there said at first light he caught 3 little ones and couldn't figure out what was up . I said well that's enough for me I am going to try something else. I thought maybe try that little spot in 5 foot of water before I quit , what do I have to lose right ?
3 foot down in 5 foot of water was the ticket ! Got into a few real good fish and then nothing, told myself I bet first light at that spot would be about a ketchfest as I drove off happy my stinky dry streak left me .......
So what would you do you might ask , be there at first light the next day is the answer !
36 degrees it was and frost on the ground , don't know what the water temperature was ,but I bet pretty low ...45 to 50 maybe ?
First drop when I walked up ,just lonely me out there and to be sure a sling festival !
I brought 2 rods with me and after a few on my light set up , I went to the straight braid ,medium heavy 7 foot and started to really whoop some slabs !
3 foot of line off the rod tip is not for the faint of heart with fish in the 2 lb range I tell ya !
bone jarring thumps and fish slinging commenced .
I brought my ice chest to keep a few and left when it was about tired ,just like old me
Good times for sure and one male black crappie weighed 2 lbs. 3 oz. when I got home after being on ice for 8 hours ! the lake record there is 2 lbs. 2 oz on a black crappie .....
it was boy girl boy girl blacks and whites all together and to be sure it was ridiculous good fun !
I used my new handtie on my braid rod and a cowabunga on my light rod , I couldnt tell any difference in which one was better though and even slung doubles with a rod in each hand a time or 2
heck I even put a float on for a bit just for grins as well.
to be sure it was a case of ....
KABOOM ,no doubt about it

[SuperDave336]

WooHoo that looks like a blast! Those are some nice ones. Nothing can stop the KABOOM when he puts his mind to it. Good job Ketchn.

[BuckeyeCrappie]

Nice job, thanks for sharing your trip!

[BobC]

YOWZER! Those are some mighty fine slabs. You figured the pattern out ok. BTW, you’re not known to be braid guy, is this something new you decided to try?
Bob

[Slab Apprentice]

Wow Ketchn! You are on em ol son! Appreciate the report. I will have to employ those techniques.


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[SKs Crappie Catching Adventures]

Days like that have to be cherished..... Nice catches

[longhunter]

Lord have mercy...

[Chuck Adams]

Sweet!!!!


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[Ketchn]

YOWZER! Those are some mighty fine slabs. You figured the pattern out ok. BTW, you’re not known to be braid guy, is this something new you decided to try?
Bob

braid isn't actually new to me , I have broke more rods using braid than some folks will ever own . this coupled with a few real deep cuts and trolling motor disasters and the other 14 hundred reasons why it ain't so good makes me rarely use it . have 2 or 3 reels loaded up with it and it will work well in some cases . but "most" of the time it only comes out for very specific applications . in this case it was i knew there would be some fish in the mix that could use a heavy rod and line since it was a short water episode with no net . if i am pretty sure the fish will be 2 ish range and possibly up and not sluggish and its a meat run .....i "might " use braid .....said might
that particular braid is around 10 years old and prototype line btw

[Tradbow]

Looks like the Christmas tree colored jig got in on some of the action.