Mike Zimmer was enjoying a phenomenal morning of crappie fishing. Then, it nearly turned historic.
The 33-year-old angler from Menomonie, Wisconsin was fishing a lake in Menomonie on March 15 when he hooked a 4 pound, 5 ounce white crappie.
Most crappie caught are in the half- to 1-pound range.



"It was unbelievable," Zimmer said. "It's probably like catching an 8- or 9-pound bass or a 70-pound flathead (catfish). Crappie fisherman know just how big something like this is."
The behemoth that measured 19 inches long and had a girth of 16 inches was part of a crappie bonanza for Zimmer. He started fishing that chilly morning -- the temperature was about 40 degrees -- at 7:20 a.m.
By 10:30 a.m., he was already at the dock with his limit of 25 crappie. Among the keepers were a 3-pounder and one that weighed 3 pounds, 8 ounces.
The previous day, Zimmer also caught his limit of 25 in under four hours. That's why he declined to reveal the name of the lake that harbors his crappie honeyhole.
"Next thing you know, they'll be people all over the place fishing for crappie," Zimmer said with a laugh.
Clad in his thermal duck hunting clothes, Zimmer was one of the few fishermen on the lake that morning. The nippy temperatures didn't faze Zimmer, who said he has been fishing since he was in diapers.
"For me, I've always caught my bigger ones early when it was cold," he said. "For most people, they would not even go on a day like that. It wasn't ideal by any means, but it was for me."
Zimmer was using a 12-foot crappie pole outfitted with 4-pound test and a slip cork. His bait of choice was a Grizzly jig tipped with a small minnow. Knowing the crappie were preparing to spawn, he was fishing in shallow water (between 2 and 10 feet) around some downed trees.
It didn't take long for Zimmer to realize he had landed on a school of crappie. Big ones, too.
"I had beaten my own personal record (3 pounds) on the 12th or 13th keeper of the day," Zimmer said. "The 4.5-pounder was the 23rd keeper. I knew I only had three more fish to go, and here I catch this one."
When he hooked it, Zimmer didn't think it was a crappie.
"I'm thinking that's a catfish because it stayed down low," he said. "It didn't want to come up. A muskie will do the same thing. They'll put a good fight up and not come up to the surface.

"After a little bit of fighting I started to see it, and I realized it was a crappie. All I could think of was that 4-pound test breaking, because I knew it was a big one. I don't know how long I fought it because all I was thinking was getting it in the boat."
Once he landed the papermouth, he collapsed into his seat due to a combination of exhaustion and excitement over his catch. After he caught his breath, Zimmer weighed the crappie on a hand-held scale. It came in just under 4.5 pounds.
Zimmer then had the fish weighed on certified scales at the Millstadt post office and a butcher's shop in Sparta . The fish is currently at a taxidermist, where Zimmer plans to have it mounted.
Coming oh-so-close to breaking a 37-year-old record didn't seem to bother Zimmer, who is a chemical operator at a plant in East St. Louis .
"It might even be better than catching the state record because I might have gotten more publicity than I wanted," Zimmer said. "Then, I would have really had to give up my spot."
News of Zimmer's near-record catch has been making the rounds.
"My brother, who lives in Waltonville, had someone come up to him saying 'Man, did you hear about this dude that caught a 4.5-pound, 3.5-pound and 3.25-pound crappie?'" Zimmer said. "He's like 'Yeah, I did. I seen them because he's my brother.' I guess news like that gets around pretty quick."

"It's probably like catching an 8- or 9-pound bass or a 70-pound flathead (catfish)."

MAybe compared to the 70lb catfish, but it is equal to a 20lb Bass in my humble opinion. I've caught a 15lb bass, and a 40lb cat and it didn't make me feel like I would if I caught that fish!!

Wow...that is one huge crappie! Too bad that giant crappie is dead already. Wish he kept it alive and donate the crappie to a fish hatchery or Bass Pro Shop.

That is one big slab. Thank's for sharing the story Redfin

what a fish! I'd have mounted it too.

Don't believe the storY of that many large fish together. Huge fish for sure.

x2

Thanks Redfin, but pre-spawn in that neck of the woods in mid-March is quite odd at that depth?? Guess they must have had a warmer spell than what we had in mid-March. One heck of a crappie, probably learned things from CrappieDale when he was living in that neck of the woods. Irregardless, if the story is legitimate that man is a heck of a crappie fishermen. Did not realize crappie of that size lived in that cold water.

Mud

Dont think the man asked to be "believed"
Catching "liked sized" fish is all to common with most "schooling species".Its very likely he will nail the "one" thats bigger from the same waters.
Anyones guess as to whether the "hole" is public or private?

There are several private waters here in Texas holding 3+lb crappie "populations".They are closely "managed"(genetics) and strictly guarded from public access.
We fished acouple some 5-7 years ago,4-5lbs from there now would be expected.

Might have to look up Ole Ray,Ray and have a look see in his fish stash

From Wisconsin I'm not sure I would believe that unless I see it somewhere else. (state records or something) I'm not saying that is not a nice fish but 4.5 WOW that huge in a southern state much less up north.

The story says white crappie and the guy is holding what appears to be a black crappie to me.

I'd like to see the picture of the 4lb white crappie. I do believe that one's a black crappie.
Great story and great accomplishment, however. Something we all dream of.

I think I would need a bigger fillet knife.

"Once he landed the papermouth, he collapsed into his seat due to a combination of exhaustion and excitement over his catch"


That certainly is the way I would have reacted if I saw that monster on my line. What a slab.


Reggie

And I thought the one I caught today was huge