SaltFork, I have said it many times because I have been in your shoes. The best investment you can make is to hire a guide (Guy), and believe it or not this will save you time and money in the long run. You will see that you can actually fish, you just needed a good guide to steer you in the right direction and tell you why. I have hired most of the guides on this forum, and still do when I am having a problem on a certain lake. I recently hired Jerry Hancock and it was money well spent. Treat yourself, I'm sure you love fishing, and I'm sure you spend money on alot of things that you wouldn't enjoy as much as a good private lesson from one of these TFF guides.

SaltFork/agfisher02,
Don't know what you guys are use to fishing on Grapevine, so can't tell you if you're in the wrong mindset. But this time of year is where most people do get very frustrated, cause most everyone is thinking 'shallow'. Well, Grapevine is a later lake than most. I expect to get lots of shallow fish this weekend at Grapevine...but it will be the first time this year that I've even looked for them shallow. I've been catching all my fish off deeper structure. The big females are still laying out there in 10-17' of water on Grapevine. This week the males are invading the shallows due to the hot weather, but I'm not banking on finding lots of big fish shallow; just lots of fish.

As for trees on Grapevine...the fish have been on some of the trees, but not like they will be later. If you go out this week/weekend, start deeper in the morning, but after about 9:00, go shallow. I think you'll probably find some fish. Don't give it up, but don't stay in "the box" either.

Right now, Grapevine will rival Cedar Creek on size of fish (and I did not say 'count and size'). We are catching some fish on Grapevine that is considered very good size fish no matter where you fish.

Hang in there guys...you'll figure it out.

Guy,
Do you think this front rolling in on Wednesday night is going to slow the fish from coming up shallow?? Do you think they'll just stage a little deeper until the pressure gets back to normal, or will the likely ignore it and head on up shallow to spawn?

Well then, I'll just have to be patient!

I've read the "Grapevine is last in line" thing plenty of times. Not sure why I didn't do this earlier, but I just went back and checked dates on my photos from last year...

May 1!



May 4!



I feel better now. I'm useless at fishing for crappie deep from the bank. I thought I had them figured out last year. All that whining for nothing! I looked like a little kid throwing a fit today when I left the lake.

JDavis,
I'm thinking it won't have much of an impact, but I'll let the fish tell me for sure

I caught some up shallow last Monday in what is left of Marshall Creek.
Last year when there was lots of water we caught them shallow from February till May.

went to little petes last night and caught a few under the lights about 2' to 3' deep

Headin' to the vine tomorrow, Guy, with an old HS buddy of mine in his boat. He wants to go after some bass and sandbass as well, so I told him let's do that early, then go after crappie later in the morning when the water has warmed.

Should be much cooler tomorrow, which sounds good to me.

--Eric