In no particular order, who do you consider the best all around Crappie fishermen in our area. Top ten or 20.

We are blessed to have a lot of talent in the area.

Just thinking out loud....

probably some of the best crappie fisherman around have never heard of the TFF and may not even own a computer. Old timers are often pretty decent fisherfolk.

Paul
Ahn
James Rains
Cv
Ernest
Guy
Brian Carter
Wes Belcher
Rick Crilley
Cliff Spindle
Gary Sims
Jerry Hancock
Lovdflx for his mad creek skills
Carl Ellis
Cliff Dalton
Doug Broadway


In no particular order other than I think Paul, and Ahn are the 2 best.

+1 I agree completly

probably would go with the top 20 in the points since they fish compititoins and have proved how good they are........but what do i know?????????

Brain,

You missed one - most likely the best is Rob Jolliff.

Rob tends to (most days) kick my [censored] on the Crappie.

Yep, I love those Crappie but Rob will tend do a little better most days.

With my folks we catch all we can (Stripers, Hybrids, White Bass and normally, then the Crappie only once we have already limited on the others).

I use to fish just Crappie on Aquilla and Navarro Mills then once limited on those Crappie we would go to the Hybrids and White Bass (once the limits on Crappie were done).

But most days now we turn that around and limit on the Stripers/Hybrids and White Bass and once that is done we turn our focus to those Crappie.

But for those that fish strictly for the Crappie - Rob Jolliff is very hard to beat (that is really all he does and wants to do - JUST CARPPIE).

For me to fish sticky Crappie with Customers – the conditions have to be right (where I feel they will be ON – so often those guys are NOT ON with fronts and conditions). You have to pick your days to fish them (at least when you have customers and wanting to limit out consistently),

Chuck Rollins, thats all I have to say about that!!!

Dont know Rob but hear he is good.

We have lots and lots of really good fisherman on this board and around us. But as far as being able to go to a random lake and continue to find and catch big fish, Paul is hard to beat. He's the best timber fisherman around IMO. He covers a lot of water and just out works a lot of people by the amount of timber/trees he fishes.

Great list.

Who do some of the top people in Brian's list think the best fisherman in our area are?

Ernest wouldnt be a bad pick! He seems to put up good numbers every time he goes out!

In no particular order:

Paul
Jerry
Ernest
Guy
Jason Anderson
C.V.
Anh
Brian Carter
Wes Belcher

Still sort of in our area:

Fred Dooley
Bob McAffrey

1 Stucky
2 DWMoore

In reverse particular order

First of all, thank you for the mentions above...thank you very much.

This poll kinda depends on what the qualifications are to be the "best crappie fishermen": Does that mean going out to one or 2 lakes over and over and catching fish within a couple techniques...fishing 3-5 lakes over and over and catching fish within a couple techniques...or all of that plus fishing all over the state, and sometimes country, and continually putting fish in the boat, using many many different techniques, rain or shine, for fun, and for competition?

In my opinion, the "best crappie fishermen" are the ones who can catch crappie on any lake, any time, anywhere. May not be 25+ crappie every trip, but you are putting yourself on crappie that are biting every where you go, any time you go. The knowledge and experience that it takes to do that gives you the confidence, and skins on the wall, to say "I can catch crappie anywhere I go", and in my opinion, puts you in the "best crappie fishermen" category.

As for the best, it's hard to say. I'll keep my opinion to myself. I have only fished with some of the guys mentioned and they all have there strong parts. Some are better on timber and others on brush or boat docks. Plus I can think of some that aren't tff guys.
The guys that fish a couple of hundred days a year are definatly going to be more skilled than the others in most cases. Just like any skill the more you practice the better you are. I'm sure I'll get bashed for saying it, but that's the truth.

Like Brian said also, when you can go to any lake and catch crappie and lots of them! That makes ya pretty good in my book.

Good post Brian. With that in mind and considering I don't know or track too many crappie fisherman, I can only name 4.

Paul
Jerry
Ahn
Putman

Good list and I agree that a lot of good fishermen don't show up on TFF.

Don't forget:
Wally Marshall
Chuck Rollins
Jeff Heuman
If you are going to include Waco then you would need to include Rob's partner, Charlie Pack.

Also one of the best is Alton Jones, Bass pro but a great Crappie fisherman.

I'm sure there's a lot more that are smart enough to keep quiet.

there are a bunch of good fisherman. there are anglers that fish the same lake or 2 over and over and catch fish. i would hope so,if you spend that much time on a lake. but as far as a member on tff that could go to any lake and adapt to the pattern very quick and catch fish. i would put my $$ on paul each and every time. he likes to fish timber but he has one many tournaments fishing docks,bp's,points and other structure. he also doesnt even have one of them fancy dancy side imaging machines.hell he doesnt even have gps. he doesnt carry tackle boxes. he has 3 bags in his boat .1 has jig heads and the other 2 have 2 different color jigs. thats it. so a guy that has limited tackle and electronics but catches crappie out of a mudhole has SKILL.

There is a cormorant that hangs out off of a point at Stillhouse hollow lake, he is about the best fisherman Ive ever seen.

Mr. Ernest
Mr. Cliff
Mr. Chuck
Cause these are the only ones I have actually seen catch fish.


I have no actual proof that all those other guys dont have one of those Electric Generator Shock sticks on there boat...

kidding aside that is list to deal with.
Ahn Empressed by his fishing
Will hopfully be able to fish with Jerry -Paul and Guy Someday
Listen learn.

This is toooooo funny. Remember opinions are like, well you know and everyone has one and everyones stinks! LOL! I do think Brian Carter pretty much said it all. Remember this is just my opinion.

Scott Solis
CrappieMaster

Dang I thought for sure I'd make the list.

Lots of great names so far. Those are some of the best I'm aware of. Perhaps I'd make the list for putting kids on fish. The biggest crappie caught in my boat was from an 11 year old. 2.4 lbs

Sorry Bro,
Forget people when you get old.
ADD SCott to my list of learning.

I don't know about north texas, but in the centex it has to be Bob McCaffrey, though he has had his fair share of success up north this year.

What about Crappie Dale? Huh see ya forgot one . Glad I could contribute.

When I saw Brian's list, my head nearly pop Thanks Brian for the vote of confident mang but I know that I'm no where near the vicinity of some the guys that are being mention. I've been fortunate to have fished with some of the best fishermen around ...Jerry,Chuck,Guy,Ernest and learn from them. To me, Paul is the best that I've seen around here period!

Dont sell yourself short Anh. I always pick you on my fantasy Crappie team.

No problem mang, but don't be so modest. Your on the top of that list for a reason. You get double points for being a good net man too since you fish alone. I would love to fish with you sometime to learn from you.

No doubt about who's "THE BEST" around here, that would Be Paul O'Bier, in most of our opinions. Just a list of the better ones in the area.

Also the reason that I specified "DFW" area is because to go farther takes in so many that we don't know that well.

That's the only reason I didn't add chuck and some others. There are a lot of good one's in Texas.

I don't know who the best is since I don't fish along side many of these guys. I've fished with a few TFFers and there is some good talent with some of those guys. My whole thing is who catches the most fish when I go fishing is the best that day. Today I fished by myself so that must mean I'm the best.

If I was pressed for an answer as to who really is the best in this area, just look at who is leading the CAT leaderboard for both DIV I and DIV II and you will have my real choices.

Get the popcorn ready...............

ML..

Shouldn't there be 2 divisions?...'cause I would think for being a weekend anglers year round, I wouldn't belong in such a prestige list. Nevertheless, I am grateful that some of you guys out there give more way too much credit. Thanks....sincerely!!!
For the most part, professional guides should be among the list. If they aren’t good, they have NO business guiding! Literally!!
Although there is a monetary exchanged for services, guides are teachers.
I've posted several times joking: "I am good, but I am not God"...meaning, I am a confident and passion angler, but nowhere near great. With that being said, I feel blessed to have known and fished with some of the cream of the crop when it comes to crappie fishing in our area.
I fell in love with crappie fishing about 15yrs ago, and it all started from a great friend and mentor: John Stephens aka Master John. John reads the forum but rarely posts. Once again, thanks John for making me the better angler...
So there! Master John is another name among the "know how".
I hate this kind of post because we tend to miss out someone whose name deserves to be on the list. Often times, we only mention persons we truly know and acquainted with.

Very nicely put CV. I have learned from a few of the elites and have actually fished a tournament with Anh so I am biased towards him, he is very cool to watch fish, but definately Paul and Jerry would be right at the top. CV has taught me very much, thanks CV. Of course Crappie 101 and Mr. Paty. Wally made this a recognized hobby though.


Fun guys to fish with goes to Stucky ,Darrell, CV if you havent fished with these guys you really ought too!

Nice lists and thanks for the mention, but, at least for me, I learned what i use from guys that, unfortunately, some are no longer with us, and way before the advent of the web and the tff.

"Best" crappie fisherman I ever had the pleasure to fish next to was a guy named "Walter", fished with him for years and NEVER learned his last name! An absolute wizard with a tube jig. He could be dropped into ANY situation or setting, and it would take him miniseconds to figure out what to do to get crappie on the stringer! He was gracious enough to teach me most of what i know about catching crappie! His favorite method though, was the jig/bobber! He had this total fascination with suspending a tube below a bobber and twitching it just enough to drive a slab to the brink of insanity, and his favorite part was watching the bobber vanish in a heartbeat!

Many of you are correct in that most of the "best" crappie fishermen are the old salts who don't own a computer, don't fish tournaments, and yet, limit out regularly from October to April!
Know a few of those, lol!

Speaking of which, "Crappie Season" is just around the corner, along with Fletcher's Original State Fair Corny Dogs, Halloween Treats, and Thanksgiving dinner, with college student sons home for the Holidays!

Life is Good!

Rudy

Blake and Tim have taken the skills from all the guys they have fished with and compiled them to be excellent fisherman.They may not competete in all the tourneys but they are great fisherman who use all there skills to fish to a high level each time they fish.We fish whats there and make the best of it .But most osf all we hold ourselves to a standard that no tourney can match.Life is short and we fish to master our sport and to share ideas and techniques with others and ourselves .We enjoy our sport and make the most of everyday on the water.Its not about trophys its being the best you can be and enjoying good friends and being on the water.

If I may this is one of the questions that can't be answerd truly honest therefore names will be left out, the best would be someone or ones whos fishing goes beyond the fishing experience for example not everyone on the forum has a boat or access to one they may be be restricted to the bank or a smoke filled barge none the less they catch fish, and the biggest fish of all they build relationships and exchange ideas with people who they never would have met. I know this is side tracked but is something to think about.This is not an opion merely an observatation.

Fishing must be slow for this kind of thread up north... The greatest ones seems to be the ones whom don't post.

Well put Brian! How's did the boat turnout?

Hey man...the 12' boat turned out great. I painted it red, and the motor purrs right along. I have not used it nearly as much as I thought I would, but still fun to fish creeks with.

Stucky for President

Everyone is still forgetting about Bob Young from East Texas.

Crappie is fun and great to eat,

But to catch them all every day - You bet why not - have more fun - Keep what you need and release rest.





It is all good every day, - even on the tough days - the next few days will be MUCH BETTER after this Front,

Haha ...thanks Blake. Sounds good Brian but I have to see if I can beat you & young Anthony on y'all home lake. You guys ready??? cause Ima coming

I agree Pat,

I know a lot of guys out here that could hold their own.

Yeah we are as ready as we are going to be. At small disadvantage with the stupid little 25hp motor on my boat. Im affraid it will be hard to get the spots I want. Oh well Ill be on my best one as early as allowed and wait till the bell rings.

Where every fisherman is playing by the same rules, we will find out the answer to your question at the upcoming CAT tourney on Texoma.

Angler of the Year will be decided between the teams of Sims/O'Bier and McAffry/Dooley and it all comes down to the final stop of season.

Which team is your money on?

Texas has some fine fisherman and I think the best crappie fisherman in DFW is one that takes a kid fishing.

Congrats to Brian and crew on being the best in Texas, not just in the DFW area.

God - it just might be me!


And Yep they caught them all too (Hybrid limits and Crappie Too).


And these - Crappie limits and White Bass limits too:


And these - 125 Crappie Limtis:


Actually I think it's about who is the best all around Guide or fisherman - it's an everyday thing (let's just catch fish and have FUN!),

Don't think I would consider Rob Jolliff as being in the DFW area. I would put him in the Centex area. He is probably one of the best in our area, but I would back him during any tourney, any lake against the best of the DFW area crappie fishermen. Looking forward to fishing with him as soon as I or he gets the chance.
As far as crappie fishing greats then you all need to put Tommy Tidwell up @ the top of the list from the Centex area. He is the only guide I know that the TP&W requested to put on a seminar about Crappie fishing @ their event in Austin every summer.

DB, I would also vote for Tommy Tidwell in this area and that Paul guy up yonder!

Wally Marshall on a good day. Them boys from Houston on a bad day!

I heard that some guy named Ernest Paty, is one heckuva crappie tamer...

I would love to see someone come and catch a 125 fish limit on Stillhouse hollow lake right now. I would wear a hat for a year saying.. blank blank is the greatest fisherman of all time that has ever walked the earth..

I don't know a lot of these guys on here, but i crappie fish with Larry (Dalejrfan8) and that guy can catch a crappie out of a empty toilet. Just my 2cents

MY VOTE, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, WOULD BE FOR CLIFF SPINDLE. GOOD FISHERMAN, GOOD MAN.

Anyone that catches em on eagle mountain has to be pretty good!

After this weekend, I think the best fisherman around must be
Shane Davis and Don Wilcox.
They put a whupping on everyone at the TSC.
They had a two day total of 19.205. The next closest team weighed in at 14.940.
When a D/2 team can beat the best D/1 team by such a great margin, they get my attention!

I agree Kevin, there hasn't been much conversation about those guys but they did put a whoopin on everyone by a pretty good margin...They were truly the best that day for sure...

I finally got to meet these two men .Both super nice guys and now I can say super great fisherman.I think they may be around for awhile .I got an invite to come down and fish with them they aint going to have to ask me twice.Darrell

Darrell, let me know when you go fishin with them so I can get your notes from you about how they do it.

This is a funny post. I've fished with guys who were percieved to be "great" crappie fishermen and then fished with them and they didn't end up being all they were cracked up to be. And, on the other hand, i've fished w/ guys who I really woulden't think had it all together and they really did. We percieve alot of things that arn't, and sometime percieve things exactly how they are. With that said, it takes a lot of skill and time to become a "great" crappie fisherman. The best I know has never been on the TFF.