OK, I'm in the anything over 10" group. I like me sum fried Sac-a-lait.

Growing up in Missouri, where the legal limit is 9 inches, I was shocked at the sheer number of 12+-inchers here. Even with that, your son caught a VERY nice crappie there!

And yes, it is addictive. I've tried to explain it to people. There really is something addictive about crappie fishing.

The light tackle, the fast and furious nature of it when they're on, the fact that it's ok to keep them, and they taste SO good ... and that THUMP!

A 2-pound crappie is a good fish.

2.6 is lunker to most, the THUMP is very addictive,I started bass fishing years ago because addiction to crappie got so bad the fun was gone. Now, I never hit the water without a setup for catching both kinds.

I normally catch enough bass while crappie fishing to satisfy my occasional taste for bass...so I abandoned the bass equipment a decade or two ago...almost abandoned the catfish gear, as well...never seems to be any cat gear on my boat these days...

Yes sir, you did right by the kid, taking him crappie fishing...that is what happened to me at a young age, brim fishing, then crappie fishing, then cat fishing, then bass fishing, then cat fishing, then crappie fishing...crappie/bream will keep youngsters interested in fishing....and that is the point...

A very nice crappie! I'm still looking to catch my first 2lber.As for the next trip,I'd go back to crappie fishing hands down if the conditions are right.Looks like you were using minnows or at least had them on stand by?I say give them what they want.

Nice catch! Crappie fishing is surely addictive.

Hows this?

I've discussed this a million times and might have a different view than most.

You can only catch fish as big as those in your local waters. I've caught THOUSANDS of fish in my local lakes over the last 4-5 years and have yet to break 2 lbs. I can travel 45 minutes - 1.5 hrs away and catch 2.5-3.5 lb fish but it's almost impossible for me to get away that long when I have a half dozen spots 10 minutes from my house.

My brother and nephews fish small lakes in Oklahoma that 13" seem like monsters (under 1.5lbs) and other lakes that've produced 4+lb fish (this year).

I consider 14"+ nice fish. Really depends on the weight from there. Just weighed a fish 13.75" at 1lb 14oz and thought it was big... have a male in the freezer that's 15" and 2.4 and thought it was big.

I think it all depends on the water you're fishing.

EDIT: If anyone wants to come show me 2lbers in my local waters, feel free to call/PM me.

Hey Jerry sure your not fishin my lake .I know what ya talkin about.But it is fun to make the drive and catch a mess of 2t fish then you got to drive back home to reality.Darrell

Jerry T....love the comment and yes, it's true...

Here is my add on the entire topic and a logical progression that you left out...My primary reason for fishing for crappie in the first place, is because they are my wife's favorite eating fish...and I like to please my wife!! So, here is the deal that we sometimes forget...what is the best eating size crappie??? For me, I saut� crappie (with butter) and the best size filets come from 11.5 to 13 inch crappie. Also, I make crappie tacos frequently. For tacos (baked dish) I prefer the 10.5 to 11.5 inch fish. Now, these two recipes cover the bulk of my cooking size spectrum for crappie (yes I have many other recipes that I use, but these are good examples), so I will mention that for cooking purposes, anything over a 13 inch crappie is basically unnecessary. So, the question is...will your lake consistently produce 10.5 to 13 inch fish? If so, looks like you got a winner to me...If not, you might consider finding another lake.

Now, to expand the equation a bit more, let's say, for example you are able to catch bigger crappie at certain times of the year, than your preferred size of eating crappie. Do you, take a pic them release them to grow bigger, keep them for eating purposes? Why or why not? What if your lake only produced an occasional big fish (near lake record)

And my final comment on this topic...isn't the primary purpose of crappie, as a panfish?...as opposed to a trophy fish?

And for what it is worth...this is my 5000th post....so I decided to give DW some food for thought...HA

I really prefer to catch 15 in fish and cut them in half.I would rather holler get the net alllll day.ha Darrell

Yep we used both minnows and jigs and had about equal success. I also had his two younger brothers on board and they were definitely drowning some minnows lol. My 5 year old actually boaed the first fish that morning on bottom in 18' of water on a shiner. Good times with my boys for sure. Going to try again this coming weekend.

Stay away from the THUMP! Seen plenty of Bass guy become crappie guy never once seen a crappie guy become a bass guy!