The Crappie Dock, a Beautiful Thing”
I’ve been fishing The Crappie Dock several years now; some years were slower, and some years were absolute crappie catching crazy.
From The Dock, we “tight line” these fish directly off the bottom, SLOWLY retrieving in a curly tail crappie jig that is tied 18 inches below a large split shot.
The fish start arriving in the shallows from their suspended open water position when the water reaches the right temperature. . .usually about 65 degrees on this lake.
As I’ve described before, they cruise in with great numbers, reminding me of large squadrons of jet planes silently gliding into the shallows.
The fish range in size from small throw-backs, to medium size, with an occasional bucket slab showing.
As you might know, by bucket slab, I mean when you throw the fish into the bottom of an empty 5-gallon bucket, both the crappie’s head, and the tail curl up on the opposite sides of the bucket!
Fishing The Dock for me is always a special experience — but it’s in no way, just the great fishing — as I’ve had great days in my old bass boat, (owned it for 35 years) fishing all by myself, and truly enjoying them.
With The Crappie Dock, it’s the fishing with a diverse group of men, (with about seven various ethnicities) (and sometimes women) that leave all their differences, whether political, economic, racial, or religious, back up in the parking lot.
Thats what makes fishing The Dock a special experience for me.
We’re all on a first name basis, we’re all different, and we’re ready to help the other guy out when needed.
Sometimes, I’m the only one on The Dock, but most times there are about a half-dozen there casting for slabs.
But, I’ve seen a crazy time when there was a double row — with the second row casting over the shoulders of the first row, hoisting multiple flopping crappies all over the deck. No arguments, no fighting — maybe you might catch a rare unintelligible murmur under someone’s breath, but that’s it. The only griping that I occasionally heard is if someone is getting skunked when everybody else is reeling them in. : )
No matter how many lines are in the water — we all get along on The Crappie Dock.
It’s a beautiful thing!
