Evening turn-on

I've fished a few crappie spots I've done well at in the past from shore on both the CT River and local ponds this last few days, with almost nothing to show for it. It's still pre-spawn here and the water has been quite high everywhere, and cool. However the last couple of days have been sunny and clear, but with a fair amount of wind.

I've fished mostly Bobby Garland baits with 1/32 oz jig heads under a bobber. And mostly late mornings. No crappies, and I was beginning to wonder if they were just scarcer this year.

Well, nope.... this evening on a whim I drove to my local pond at 6:30, planning to just test the waters before supper. Three separate kayakers were at the launching ramp preparing to go after bigger game (it's a pretty fair bass spot). Once they left I started casting right at the end of the ramp. Bobber disappeared, and I had a crappie at last. Only about a 9" fish, but it WAS a crappie.

Cast out again, and another almost instant hit. A 10: fish. I released both.

Cast again, another crappie. This went on for 20 fish as fast as I could cast, unhook and release them.

Finally I hooked into a really big one. In fact it started to pull drag. Two zigs right and left, and then a 5 pound largemouth erupted from the calm evening water 15 feet in front of me, shook at the top of its leap and chucked my Bobby Garland baby shad back at my feet, along with the 1/32 oz jig. I said Holy.... something or other!

None of the kayakers saw this from the distance.

No need to take a boat away from the launching ramp.

It was time to go home....

Awesome evening outing. Thanks for taking us along.

Sounds like a cool evening. Awesome, thanks for sharing

Fun times

Good work! Thanks for posting. Glad someone in New England is catching crappie 'cause I'm sure not.

6Pound, I had the same problem for the last week or so. But the magic hour yesterday turned out to be 6:30-7:30 PM here -- in trees shaddows as the sun got low, from shore, right at the launching ramp in about 7 feet of water, clean bottom, some nearby weeds. Garland blue ice baby shad About 30" below bobber, No added action other than slight ripples of the dying wind. Just letting them sit.

Maybe try that without your boat as an evening test? I had mine with, just didn't launch it.

Sounds like some good action. Good job.