I have to agree with Tim .Looking at all those lines in the water the only thing missing was a main line and you would have a trotline.They did have them surrounded.Troll on looks like everyone was having a blast.Come on spring time.Darrell

I was wondering from the picture if any fish got foul hooked? Poor little crappie at the dam screaming Circle the Wagons! Had 'em surrounded for sure. Tim you're such a rebel. Me, I am busy getting my excuses lined up for Lewisville and Texoma. Gotta learn to I guess.

I don't see how there could be any confusion about the intent of the club: twice as many people fished this year than last with lots of limits weighed in. Seems to me the club is right on track; increasing interest in crappie fishing and teaching people how to catch fish. Now I am confused about you being confused.

Steve

Great pictures! Looks like a blast!

It looked like a bunch of summer time sandbass fisherman out there at the dam looking on from just south of the island. I'm glad it turned out better for you guys than the catfishing for us did. All that extra water made it look like a new lake in some of those coves that used to have trees sticking up everywhere.

No one said go north in February. It was no secret the fish were at the dam. Now if it was in mid March, you'd be right.

I just wanna know how good thoose st coix rods are trollin!!!!!!!!

lol James

Jerry I know that was the best shot but since everyone was doing it does give someone thinking outside the box an advantage if they could have capatilized on it. I know there are fish in 10 foot of water out there. Catching 7 is another story but a couple of kickers would have won it for someone.

I'll take that as a shot at me and that's fine I wish you'd go start your own club so we could quit hearing about CAT not doing what it was intended to do? It's plain you think CAT is going in the wrong direction and you your not a happy member. Numbers don't lie and CAT is growing and more people are competing and giving their self a chance to win at these tournaments yet we aren't teaching and helping people learn? You've been asked many times to explain your 'intent" when you make those comments but you never do
I'd never tell someone how to fish but I do try to help give them solid advice. I don't care who trolls or who don't. It's deadly proven technique that every tournament fisherman should be able to do. If you limit yourself to one or two styles, your not gonna win as much. If winning doesn't matter, then don't learn how. I hate to troll also, but I'm dam good at it I'd never say it is "not a good way to fish", that would not be a true statement IMO.

If you look at the pictures, there was a lot of CAMARADERIE going on Saturday. People were sharing brush piles talking and cutting up.
I've cashed checks in more than one tournament trail and yes I do have an opinion and it is based on results...

Believe me, I've tried it all this time of year. I'm pretty confident you can't catch 7 fish in less than 30' water right now unless your in a slip.
I fished many, many brush piles and timber and never got a bite. Never caught a fish in less than 30' water.

Those big fish disappear this time of year. I think they are out in the middle of the lake just waiting to move towards the creeks.
If I had it to do over, I'd prolly get out there in 45' and just take my chances. We talked about it but never tried it.
I fished the same way I always do this time of year, two years ago we hammered the big ones on tournament day and this year we didn't. You can't win them all I guess.

CANT WAIT TILL LIVINGSTON!!!!!!!! im betting trolling gets beat at that show! just a guess. i stayed home saturday cause we just arent set up for trolling

I'm glad I let Chase read these post yesterday after he felt good about winning. Today I would have to explain why what we won doing was boring. I'm sure everyone would love to catch fish in 2ft of water all year long but it doesn't work that way. I'm trying to teach Chase different ways it takes to catch fish at different times of the year. If the fish were all 2#'s like they were this fall, would it still be boring? We can't wait for the shallow bite either, nothing better that that. It just ain't here yet. It will be soon, hopefully EVERYONE will enjoy that.

Thanks,
Mark

Now were gettin somewhere .Jerry why do think the big fish stage in the open deep water and not relate to the cover like the other crappie?Do they dominate the sweet spot in a lake .I always wondered just what the water temp is a different depths.Do the guys in other states troll the deep open water in winter to target big fish? I got a million more questions but this will do for now.Ha Darrell

From October thru January you can hammer those big fish along the dam and on the deep brush piles. Once and if the water gets into the low 40's, they seem to disappear in numbers.
When I used to run Catfish trips, I did a lot of drifting in that 40-45' water. I'd drop a couple minnow poles down every now and then and usually pick up a couple Crappie. Just something extra for my clients. Many times they were huge fish. I can't say that a majority go out in the middle of the lake but some do I know.
They aren't shallow, they aren't in the 30-40' water in numbers so where do they go? This past November you could catch 75 keepers a day and 25 would be over 2 pounds. Where did they go?
Now I'm talking about Lavon. Other lakes may be different.

I dropped a temp gauge down several years ago and it was 45 degrees on the surface and 51 degrees at 40'. That deep water doesn't cool off at night as fast and isn't affected as much by cold fronts. It stays more constant. That is why the Shad move deep. Once the water temps get about 45 degrees, Threadfin Shad start to die. I noticed a few dead Shad on friday and the bottom of the lake is covered up in Shad in the deep water. Those fish only have to open their mouth and they are full.
I lose those big ones this time of year and I'm not ashamed to tell you I've not figured them out.

I am prof CATS helps people this was Jason and I first year to troll and we got first place in D1 bought home 1170 buck im trolling you other guys can throw your money away im trolling in winter and spring Thanks Mark