Carlos?

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

Whatdayamean your pal didn't have any cold weather gear? 20 degrees, 30 knot wind (out of the North), a little sleet now and then, why that's a lovely day on the water. I'm gonna have to re-up you for survival training. Quantico has some open spots!! They'll put you in your boat out on Lunga and make you catch your own food and cook it on the boat!! LOL. You mean to tell me you don't have enough gear for the both of you? Because you posted that you were going out, out of respect I went out Saturday after I dropped my father-in-law off at the airport. I figured if you could brave it so could I. Now you tell me you didn't go. I'm devastated!! I took my little boat and went out on a VDGIF lake (225 acres) close to my house. Got rained on (big time!!), had some sleet, wind was unbelievable, I even had to retreat to the jeep for a warm up session (and dry out a little). But you know what???? I limited out on Crappie all over a pound (25 fish). Oh did we have a feast at my house last night. Beer battered Crappie (deep fried in peanut oil), cornbread, fries and of course tater-tots for my daughter. So,.......you wanna come up here and take home a mess of Crappie? Better make your mind up quick because with the wind and the weather the schools are moving...... and right now I know where they are!! Yum, Yum!! Any body else?? Wanna go out in a 2 man boat freeze your tail off for some of the best tastin' fare mother nature has to offer. Nothing beats cold water Crappie (especially BIG Crappie)!!



TOXIC

 

[Gene B]

I've been hitting the crappie for the last couple of weeks up here in Michigan. I thought about putting the boat up, but the thought of all those crappie out there has made me put it off till the water gets hard or I run out of minnows. My bunny hunting trip to Drummond Island got snowed out. Too much snow to run the dogs...I hate winter.



Gene

 

[gone bye bye]

Where have you been crappie fishing?



Mini

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

Gene, I'm too cheap to buy minnows, plus you gotta take your hands outta your gloves to hook em' up!! I use artificials (1 inch grubs) and a little secret attractant (Smelly Jelly) and troll them on 4lb test behind my 2-man pvc boat (46lb minnkota 12v). The lake I'm fishing gives up more fish by trolling. I've got on top of the fish and tried to vertical jig them but just can't get the numbers I can trolling. Cold Water clean Crappie, nothing better. I even cleaned these in the house and my wife didn't pitch a fit (no smell). I've drug that little boat across ice to get to open water before. That's how much I like cold water Crappie.



TOXIC

 

[Gene B]

On a lake between Lake Odessa and Lowell in Ionia county. I find them w/ my graph and stay on them w/ trolling motor. I caught around 50 fish one day, I had 6 at 12" or bigger. I had my limit by 10:00am and cycled through the live well till noon. The fffiingers were coooold but who cares, I was on the fish. 30 ft of water 15-20 ft down w/ a "Michigan" drop shot rig(hooks 3" off the main line, otherwise it's considered a snagging rig)12# stren high strength(8# dia. I don't want them to break me off. LOL). I took a pkg of fillets to my mom & dad, I had a hard time letting them go!



Gene

 

[Tim King]

Partner and I kept 52 this morning! All were 12" and up, the third fish of the morning went 2.25 pounds!! Oh how I love to catch winter crappies. We caught them on homemade spoons that look like little snowmen!! 15 ft deep over brush in 18 to 20 feet of water!!



Tim

 

[Gene B]

Man, sounds great. We can only keep 25. This is the first year I've caught crappie like this. Usually I'm hunting, but since I got my new boat in August 2001 I can't stay out of it. I really didn't care if I went deer hunting or not this year. I would have been just as happy out in the boat. It sounds like I need to try artificials next time out.



Gene

 

[Carlos Hathcock III]

AAARRGGHH Tox,

And you did not call me!!!!! He was up from Virginina Beach and my stuff does nto fit him. I was thinking hard on where I could get some gear from though!!!! I ahve done cold weather and SERE training and that is enough of the "have to be in the cold" exercixe. If I want to me in the cold, now that is a diffrent matter and I wear the clothes to help out. Ice on the rod tip is not always a bad thing But ice on the tip of my nose is a bad thing

Are you all warmed up now? I was thinking fo going out this weekend if nothing comes up. Are teh crappie hitting at Anna? I only have the big boat and not a smaller one like the one you have. Any ideas please pass them on. I still want to try Anna and also the upper Potomac before the real winter sets in.



Carlos

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

Ha, ha, ha, Carlos....



I didn't call you because you said you were going out with your buddy. I have not really targeted Crappie on Anna (a couple of clients) but they are always at the bridge pilings (522 Bridge especially) if you rig with some minnows. I like my small lake because 1. They can't hide from me and 2. My little boat is a snap to get in, get out in cold weather. I might be free Sunday if you want to come up for a Crappie run. I've got all of the baits and poles. Just have to bring a bucket for your fish. Let me know.



TOXIC

 

[Carlos Hathcock III]

Tox,

May I impose on you and ask if a friend can come? He is a Marine on the team. Let me know what to bring for you besides some hot coffee.



Carlos

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

You could and I wouldn't mind at all but my boat is only 2-man. You could pull your boat up and use it but like I said, I troll for them and I don't know if you could do that in your boat (the lake is trolling motor only). I hate to admit it but a tin rig would work well right now!! It would be tricky fishing but you could launch your boat without a problem (concrete ramp), I could bring my 2-man and locate them then you guys could sit over or near them and cast to them. My neighbor puts his 17' Javelin in this lake all the time (and rips the Crappie vertical jigging). No place at the lake to buy bait but if you brought Crappie minnows, your boat would probably work even better. That's assuming that we don't get 8 inches of snow because the ramp is looooong and down a 45 degree hill. Whaddya Think?



TOXIC

 

[Carlos Hathcock III]

Tox,

OK, sounds like a plan to me. I have to get my batteries back in the boat is all and I do nto mind just using the trolling motor. Will nto be as bad as the tidal Potomac!!! Boat handling nightmare at times. If this is not an imposition then lets call it a go!!! He is a good friend of mine and had to cancel last weeeknd at Anna with him. You have my cell number right? If you can send me the directions and all that so we can meet you there. I will provide, to you, free of charge a bucketfull of minnnows!!!!! And if you good and get us on the fish, howz about some chow, prefrebally hot, after we are done. Sound good?

Really though, I think that the TM and boat can handle trolling as long as it is not too fast as I have had to use my TM for hours on end, hardly an break on the Potomac.

What size minnows, there is a place here that sells tem by small large etc, the smalls would seem to work the best. Agree?

At least we will not be going fast so we do not have to worry about loosing things!



Carlos

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

No launching stuff at this lake (believe it of not, the wind blew a fleece jacket out of my little boat and I didn't even know it was gone)!! Let's give it a try. Do you have any crappie rods? I have three that will work. the more the better. I have a system where I can troll all of them out the little pvc monster. Mine are not rigged for minnows anyway. I honestly don't know where to pick up any live bait (there's absolutely nowhere out by me). As far as directions, real easy, plug Germantown Lake/Crockett Park into your mapquest. It will tell you to come north on 17 or 15 (whichever is closest to you) to 29. go north on 29 to the Meetze road exit (you will be on the skirts of Warrenton). At the end of the exit ramp go right onto Meetz road. Go about 6 miles (guess) to the park entrance on your right (big wooden sign) there will be a big Dairy farm on your left (white fence). Lake doesn't open till 6:30, closes at 5. I can guarantee you, there won't be any other boats out there. You can use the livewells of your boat also. Might cost you $5.00 in the park (non-county). If the weather moves in I'll check the ramp Saturday to see if it works. If it's a no-go, I'll give you a call. Otherwise we can meet at the lake at 6:45. You can bet I'll have a thermos of joe. Just bring food stuff for you two, you know I can't eat while I'm fishing!LOL. And dress warm!! You can always take it off but you can't put it on if you don't have it!!



TOXIC



ps if you come up 28, you would take a right onto Meetze Rd. and a left into the park. The lake is close to the Fauquier Airport (landmark wise). And oh yeah, the smaller the minners the better. I use 1 inch grubs.

 

[Tim King]

Carlos,



I use my TM to "troll" for Crappies all the time without any trouble at all. We just find them and use it to sorta drift back and forth between a couple schools and/or over the tops of brush. It's almost like a cross between vertical jigging and trolling. It seems to be very effective and that way you are not sitting right over the top of them with TM running all the time(as that seems to spook them sometimes.)just thought that may help.



Tim

 

[Carlos Hathcock III]

Tox,

Will meet you there at 0645. Thanks for the help. Can you resend me your cell number in case we are not able to find the area.

Tim,

Thanks for the information on that will try that out on Sunday!!

Carlos

 

[Carlos Hathcock III]

Tox,

Not able to pull it up on mapquest. What is the zip in that area or is ther anohter name?



Carlos

 

[Carlos Hathcock III]

Tox,

Never mind I found it!!!!



Carlos