Very nice.
Despite the forecast for rain this morning, Steve, his brother Mark and myself made the decision to make a trip down to Gun Lake to chase bluegill and crappie. We met at Steves at 6 am and were soon on the road. We pulled into the access road at Gun at 7:00 and, to our surprise, the gate was locked. The signage said it was opened at 8:00 so we were faced with a decision, wait an hour to launch or head 10 miles south and fish Crooked Lake.
Being the patient person I am it was a no brainer, we were going to Crooked. About the time we hit Prairieville the steady sprinkle turned into a rain that would be uncomfortable to fish in so we were faced with decision #2, launch and fish in the rain or stop at a little mom and pop cafe and get breakfast. The food was very good and the older lady who runs the place could trade verbal jabs with the best of them. She even threatened me with a wooden paddle a nun would be proud to own. By the time we were done eating the rain had let up.
We soon had the boat in the water and were moving along the shore tossing red worms under bobbers into the shallows. It took a while before we found a school of real nice bluegills and sunfish and when we did it was steady action. When the bite slowed down,we went searching for another school and stumbled on a cluster of fresh beds with fish on them. Again it was fast and furious. We were using small Hali jigs under bobbers and tipping them with red worms and pieces of crawler.
On one very impressive cast my worm went one direction and Hali and bobber another direction. When I was reeling in to rebait, a nice crappie hit my Hali. I tried again and again I caught a crappie. Steve and Mark baited up with minnows and I grabbed a tube jig under a bobber and we went to town catching crappie one after another. They were holding around a partially submerged dock and boat lift. Most were in the 10-11 inch range but some were 12"+. Biggest was 13 1/2 and weighed a spawned out 1lb 2 oz. A quick count told us we had a 3 man limit so we played a little catch and release. First time I've ever thrown back 12" crappie. It didn't hurt that bad.
Water temp was low to mid 60's and we saw just the one set of beds. The crappie were spawned out and the gills are just staging to spawn. Our total was 48 gills and 27 crappie with one bonus perch thrown in. Mark can probably beat Jeff in a no talk contest and could hold his against Capt. Sinkie in a spill the worm dirt contest. Hope you enjoy the pictures.
Last edited by "D"; 05-20-2018 at 09:06 AM.
The older I get the more I realize the therapeutic benefits of fishing
Proud member of Michigan chapter "Team Overalls"
Worlds proudest grandpa x6
Very nice.
Custom Rods: Out-Snagging Berkly's 7-2 Since 2019 / Custom Rods: Collecting more dust that Berkley due to Covid Since 2020
Custom Rods: Not afraid to show, in 2021
Sure was fun!
Gotta give Jerry credit, those bargain rods he buys....why they are so sensitive he can tell when the littlest of fish are on the hook......
I don’t know if I’m more proud of all the fish we put in the boat or more proud of the compliments bestowed on my boat by people we see in parking lots!
Day two coming up......which means more fun I’m sure of it!
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
Great report and pics. Congrats
Glad you found some, looked like another great trip.
Im suprised it say open at 8am, use to always be @7, with about 4 trips there this year its been open@7 but one time, i also have a backup plan for that
You can go in the campground and use there launch, you just need to take a short hike to park your trailer, also until this year I had a yearly launch permit that operated by a gate on the east side of Gun and it never closes, makes a great alternative
Last edited by ready2fish; 05-20-2018 at 07:45 AM.
Now that looked fun. Good times. And that took a while to turn all those pics, but they sure are good pics.
Last edited by "D"; 05-20-2018 at 09:08 AM.
Just Steve, spartannation thanked you for this post
I'll bet someone used a carpet cleaner!
Looks like another great article for the HOME page to me. Good job guys.
I have spent most my life fishing........the rest I wasted.
PROUD MEMBER OF TEAM GEEZER
PICO Lures Field Rep
"D" LIKED above post
Thanks for the assist, Danny. The pictures are right way up in my lap top but turn sideways when I post them, sometimes.
The lure in the picture Steve posted, the one with the "giant" bass, is called a smelt stick, similar to a Hali. I don't know why they catch fish like they do but they work great on pan fish.
The older I get the more I realize the therapeutic benefits of fishing
Proud member of Michigan chapter "Team Overalls"
Worlds proudest grandpa x6
Very nice mess of fish
I was there on Friday and also did well on both gills and crappie
Caught everything on a 1/16 jig with gulp alive minnow
A change from my usual bobber and minnows
I may have to get me a set of overalls like you fellows
Then I would fit in
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
fillet em n fry em
johnJust Steve, skillett007 LIKED above post