Some may ask why was it a great day when you lost a tournament. Well after thinking about it and tring to come up with a post. Any time you can go out and catch over 400 crappie with over 250 or so being keepers what else can you say. The only thing lacking was more big fish which while fishing a tourament sure helps . Congrats to Paul and Gary on being able to find the big ones and win the tournament. You are 2 of the best crappie tournamnt fishermen I know. And also congrats to all the other winners.

I would like to thank all the folks that was cheering for me, I hope I didn't let you down or cost you any money LOL. Taking 5th place and 1st place big fish with an elete group of crappie tournament fishermen is good enough for me. I would like to also thank TFF Keyboard (Larry) for putting up with me the last 2 days it was great having you for a partner.

Now for good stuff.
The crappie at RR are biting great with huge numbers being caught on brush piles from 13 to 35 ft of water and even deeper. The bigger fish have not yet moved on the piles but soon will. Our average crappie was 11 to 12 inches for keepers the last 2 days on brush but for now the timber is your best shot for bigger crappie. Minnows and jigs tipped with minnows is you top producing baits. We did catch several fish on just jigs but depending on what part of the lake your fishing for what colors. Wht/char Rocky Tops did good in the clearer water but ThumpIt's blk/orange/Char was the best jig on the west arm in the more stained water. Many of the crappie we have been catching have been suspended above the brush so if your not getting hit down low try raising your bait and even go down and slow reel up and you should get hit.

I have a special running this fall on crappie trips so if your wanting to get into the action and save some money doing so check out my web site under specials for details.

Thanks,
Cliff

Thanks for the report! Great job at the tournament.

Putting that many fish in the boat says it all. You got to be a serious Crappie Man to put those numbers in the boat. And I'm sure their were several at the Tournment that did. I gues with all the skill it takes to put the odds ( The more fish, the better the odds of catching 7 monsters) in you favor. Just goes to show that the actual winning still has to be lucky also.

Great report. My brother and I are going to start fishing the CAT Touramnets in October. Were rookies and can compete with these guys, but sure sound like a lot of fun, whether you can compete or not. Look forward to meeting many of these guys in the next year. Dang, boating 400+ fish, Geesh...

We get excited if we get close to a limit.

keith

Thanks Cliff,
Your exactly right about elite crappie fisher-people...
CAT has some of the best in the USA.... I believe all that participated were winners. Keep up the great work there on Ray Bob...
Matthew

Great job on the win Gary and Paul!!!!!! Crappie Guru's

Congrats to Gary & Paul they really showed why they are 2 of the best. It was awesome competing this year, and a big thanks to Cliff for putting up with me for 2 days. He kept me pretty busy dipping minnows and picking up the marker beoy all day.

If any of you are looking to learn how to fish Ray Roberts, Give Cliff a call, he knows that place like the back of his hand. he was not just yelping about the number of fish that we boated, well of 200 keepers all solid fish, just a fish or two short on big ones.

Big fish for the tournamnet was a nice kicker and yes Clif got him, but I get half credit, cause I dipped the minnow out of the bucket for him.

See everyone next month at Cedar Creek ought to be on there for sure.

Well just like Cliff said if you want to go catch keeper crappie go to Ray Roberts. I fished the tourney and went through 2lbs of minnows each day, lots of 11 and 12inch fish. Seemed like every tree in 16 to 25 foot of water had atleast 5 or 6 fish on them, Just drop down to 14 or 16 feet and if no bites in a few minutes pick up and move to the next tree. My jig of choice was a white and chart rocky top tipped with a minnow, Caught fish literally all day. Good luck

So let me see if got this right you used a rocky top and put a minnow on the hook also. If so did u hook thru back area or thru eyes or lips Also if you don't mind what area of lake never been there but want to go. Just curious where is best place to get bait by lb. I have never been there. Was going to go up today without boat to check out area. Thanks for help

Hook the minnow through the lips with your jig. I normally always hook the minnow through the lips on a minnow rig but yesterday we caught most of them hooking them through the back. We caught most of our fish on the west arm but the bite is good on east arm too but you will catch mostly 9 to 9 3/4 inch black crappie.

Was a fun tournament. Only negative was the heat (and small fish) I never caught so many 10"-11" fish without an occasional good fish. maybe they will grow up someday.

I think that was my last tournament. I'm just getting to old to fish till three in the heat. We need a senior division, fish till noon and quit.

I might fish a few of thoughs. Screw fishing after 12. Im ready for a nap about 11am. I turn 50 oct and got my aarp card the other day. That should make me old enough.

I like that until noon scenario too for the summer. Good job Ernest in the tournament.

I have been saying that for years about the crappie up there.

If I'm a coming back out with ya I'll need that special after paying off my gambling debts,lol