Went out yesterday to check on my honey holes. The crappie are there, but just undersize. Launched at 9am-1pm. Caught at least a one man limit with 3 just barely being legal size. Below are a few pics. They have some nice colors to them. Oh I finally took my canoe out for our maiden fishing trip. She's a little tipsy as compared to my Outback, but once I got familiar with the canoe the tipsiness wasn't too bad. My Minnkota performed like a champ pushing the canoe through the water.

Good report Ren. Very nice crappie too. I see this is a fall/winter report. Are you down to just two reports a year now?
Your going to have to skip a day of school and go fishing with us again.

Nice Ren. You'll have to take me out with you sometime. I've never really targeted crappie before. Always been a bass guy.

Ahoy Ren, Thanks for the report and pic's. Have a blessed Thanksgiving !!

Had some company while fishing one of my honey holes




Yeah brotha! Don't think I haven't thought about skipping a few times...coz I have...hahaha

Sure man. It's pretty close too

Thanks! Happy Thanksgiving to you too & to everyone else!

which creek did you see the hogs at ?

Looks like it will be on very soon ninja!
Nice report

We need to start hunting out if our yaks for.some pork chops

+1

I got hog dogs thinking bout letin one ride on the yak with me haha

Still a lot of small ones today. Launched at 9am-1pm. Everything caught on jigs. Was misting with fog at 9am. Rain didn't come until later around noonish. At the end of the day, only 4 keepers. Pics are below for your enjoyment.

More pics

Looks like your doing all the good.

Nice job, Ren. Let me know next time you go and want some company...

Looking good G.spot. Think the bigs willl be up in there by X-mas?

The should have already been stacked up by now. This time last year, I was killing'em. The creek is still low about 3ft-5ft give or take, but still maneuverable by kayak/canoe/bass buster/jon boat. I'm hoping they show up by X-mas. Between now and X-mas, it needs to rain A LOT!!! The crappie are there just scattered about the creek. You just have to work a little harder than last year.

Which creek are y'all talkin bout ?

I was surprised to find pigs last year on Rowlette creek north of Miller road.

The only crappie I have found in creeks so far this year have been balled up tight in holes. Keepers have only been 25% of catch at best.

I suspect after the cold snap and rain this week the shad balls will be more concentrated and then the crappie will improve and the blues will be in the shallows at the mouth of the creeks. This is the most exciting time of the year.

Tight lines, Phill.

I'll definitely let you know next time I go out. Always want company when I go fishing. I usually go during the week though since the weekend gets kinda crowded.

You see all sorts of things up in Rowlette Creek. I'm hoping this weekend's front & rain will make a difference. Otherwise, it's gonna be tough crappie fishing in the creeks this fall/winter.

Launched at 8:30am and off the water by 2pm. Water wasn't flowing since they turn the water off at the dam. My usual honey holes weren't producing today. Went up the creek hitting BP's and logs on the way. Stop at a new fallen down tree and it was on, but mainly sandies and was only able to catch 3 crappie today. Only one pic this time.

Monday's 12/19 catch Jig & bobber setup with jig 2ft-4ft under bobber. Color of the day was white/chartreuse. Rain came so decided to in search of new holes.Trolling motor got stuck between logs & while trying to get free from the logs by going in reverse & forward then suddenly the propeller stopped turning but I can still hear the motor going. I'm thinking not good. Well I didn't make it to any new holes or old ones.Had to "PADDLE" my way back to the boat launch. Got home took a look at my trolling motor and found out the shear pin broke. No biggie thank Buddha! Problem fixed replaced shear pin now good to go.

Tuesday 12/20



Wednesday 12/21
Lure of the day Bobby Garlands baby shad in white or blue ice or blue thunder. Also white/chartreuse tube jig worked well in 8ft-10ft of water.

Game on!!!

Nice

Good job Ren!

Nice Job! You going to eat that LMB?

Pan Fried Largemouth Bass with Lemon Garlic Herb Butter Sauce

Your doing great down there Ren.

12-23-2011 Took capt'n Paul & zombie along. Crappie & sandies were cooperating!!!



12-27-2011 Hit it again with zombie. Was only able to boat 3 nice ones. Zombie out-crappied me I better up my crappie game....

1-2-2012 Me and zombie hit the SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSL again only to see a boat show at the HOLE!!! Shoulda known when the parking lot was pretty much packed.
8am
temp: cold
water temp: even colder
lure/color of the day: bobby garland's baby shad/blue thunder
Depth: 5ft-8ft
Structure: log jams

Left zombie at his "sandie hole" (he slaughtered the sandies today, but that's a story for zombie to tell) I was only able to land 8 crappie. Had an awful time with the "creek gremlins" with the shear pin breaking on my trolling motor just as I was getting close to the spot I wanted to fish to getting snagged or hung on pretty much every cast. Frustrating to say the least...but still a great day on the creek.


1-3-2012 I hit the creek again, but alone today
8am
temp: cold
water temp: even colder
lure/color of the day: tube jig white/chartreuse on a 1/16 pink jig head
Depth: 5ft
Structure: log jams/submerged timber

Only 8 crappie again today. Again the "creek gremlins" were at it with another broken shear pin and sangs & hang ups. The day started off super slow even there wasn't a lot of people on the creek. Didn't start catching them until I decided to head on home. Then on the way back to the boat ramp I decided to try out a new (to me) spot and BAM!!! Game on! By now it was about 1pm and I'm late to pick up my son from the babysitter. So, I left my "new spot" biting. Oh BTW, when I got home I found 2 more crappie in my canoe so that makes 10 total for today from that one spot!

Wind kicked up around 12:30pm & the bite slowed waaaay down!
Ren later told me that the pressure went sky high too
Caught 8 more keepers after this pit stop.
23 overs on white curly tail grubs in tandem slow rolled across the bottom from deep to shallow.

Cut the 4 largest sides off that night & baked em on the half shell.
They sure hit the spot.

Good reports guys!!! Sounds like a fun time in the creek!!

I know where your SSSSSL is but no worries the fish are safe with me there.

It's a SSSSSL.

We must fish together soon.
Ren can teach you to Crappie
I can train you in the ways of the White Ones
When you can snatch the lure from our hands you may move
to the next hole

I like tacos. No body invited me to the taco party.

@Todd. When you taking me to your crappie "honey holes"?

01-05-2012 Caught a mess of sandies and 6 crappie. The sandies were all over the place. No one was around but an old man on his bass buster and he was catching some too. Then his side stop biting and of course he worked his way to my side but wasn't casting into the area I was working. He struck up a conversation and before I knew it, he was fishing next to me working the same area I was. I thought oh well, he's a friend of my dad so I'm not gonna say anything.


01-06-2012 Caught 10 sandies & 5 crappie. Not too good today. Remember the old man I mentioned above? Well, today we were fishing the same "hole" again and the bite was super slow. A bite here & there sporadically, but then the old man was getting a lot of action crappie & sandies. I decided to head home since my side wasn't producing. I floated by the old man and cast in my jig & bobber and pulled out a nice size sandie. The FEAKING old man told to me go fish some where else. I was like WHAT!!! Didn't you do the same thing to me yesterday? But I didn't say that to him, but I was sure thinking it. I just told him I'm on my way out and just wanted to pick up a couple of more sandies. I made a few more casts pulled a few more sandies out then left.

I think you need a different calendar. Nice hauls, though.

Nice haul!!!

+1

I need to make some time to drown a few minnows.

I'll be hitting it again this coming week if you want to come join

8 AM Jan 12
Temp: 30 degrees
Barometric Pressure: 30.22 and fluctuating
Winds: NW 14
Lure: Bobby Garland's blue thunder baby shad & White/chartreuse tube jig on a 1/16 oz pink jig head
Structure: submerged BP's.
Depth: 5ft under bobber
Total Tally: 12 crappie with 6 of them 13+" & a limit of sandies

The big ones are finally moving into the creek and again the sandies were stacked up. Had the creek pretty much all to myself due to the winds. All the bass busters didn't show up and it was a great day of fishing. Even had the nerve to stand up and fish in my canoe....and managed to not fall in....woohoo!

What creek? Looks like fun. You and fz looked like you were hammering crappie and sandies.

Would love to join

You, sir, are a better man than I.


FM

mkdm,

PM sent

Looks like fun.

Man that looks fun. I'd like to try some crappie fishing sometime.

Only one 14" crappie today and a 2 man limit of sandies. Not too bad of a day....

What's up strangler!

That's awesome Ren. Need to come out with you sometime. You'll have to teach this bass guy how to crappie fish

Just getting ready for the next time. I'm thinking catfish for my next outing. 14" crappie�toad!

Ren,

a 2 man limit? did you have someone with you?
a good friend & i wanted to hit a new spot but the winds didn't look favorable.
would have been a nice day in a river or creek.

Crappie Machine Sandbass Machine

Yes, a 2 man limit
Yes, I had my buddy with me. He finally came out to check the creek. Man he was tearing up the sandies when we got there. He had me worried for a bit. I couldn't let a newbie to the creek out fish me. So, I turn it on. By the end of the day, he caught 17 sandies to my 33. We split the catch and I even gave him the 14" crappie. He earned it when I almost hooked him in the head when trying to set the hook on my line and up came my rig of tandem jigs and 1/8 oz weight. One hook caught him on his cap luckily. Funny but dangerous.
When did you get a friend?
It was a nice day on the creek/river/stream/canal. Thought I saw you out there? Unless it was another kayaker wearing waders one size too small on a yellow kayak

loading comeback. please stand by...

Ouch!

OOOooooooo! think my waders are small? Rens mamma clothes are binding! I ounce saw ren's mamma, & she ain't never missed a meal! i might as well go on & say it! SHE'S BIG!

REAL BIG!!!

Anyone care to know how big she is?

How big is she?

She's so BIG

When Jabba The Hut saw her, even
he said, "Daaaaaaaaaam!"

It took you 9 hours to come up with that?


Yo Mama so big when she went to the movies she sat next to everyone

Yo mama so BIG they have to grease the door frame and hold a twinkie on the other side just to get her through.

Alrighty back to fishing....My 1st double from 1-16-2012



Today's catch from another creek that I finally decided to explore. Same body of water just a different feeder creek. My NEW SSSSSSSSSSSSSL!!!

Really Nice!

I'm very curious about the sinker above the jig on the right. Can you tell us the trick here? Is it to get the jig down quickly or some kind of Carolina jig?

Yes a Carolina rig

1-20-2012 Sandies weren't too active, but the crappie kinda were...

The master shows his skills yet again.

One day, i too, will learn to crappie like you master!

1st you must take the jig from my hand young grasshoppa, for then you too will be a crappie master

That's very creative! Do you mind sharing the tricks about the presentation? With a jig on the end, it seems that the lure will touch the bottom very quickly.

Ren you have this gig down. Very nice!!

One of these days soon, I'm gonna join you...until then, keep 'em coming.

Ill be at the sssssssssl tomorrow. Hopefully I'll catch a fish or two.

I might be out there too. Just depends how late get home from this bachelor party I'm at right now.

well the sandies seem to be biting on the bottom. All I'm doing is slow rolling
on my retrieval

Thanks for sharing. Got to try it out next time:)

Went a different direction at the ssssssl All I can find are these.

Nice I didn't make it out this morning due to making it in extremely late last night/early morning 4:30am from the bachelor party. We had a party bus and a whole lotta alcohol. After getting kicked out of 5 bars, we decided to call it a night at about 3:30am.

Only 18 crappie and 3 sandies for today's total. Water is now stained. Fish seem to be very active, but way under size. I probably caught 50 crappie to get those 18. Most were 11" only 3 were 13". Sorry no pics this time....

fish fry at Rens house tonite!

WTG Ren. Hoping to run down there tomorrow after work.

Ren your freezer should be getting mighty full by now.

Nice.

Decided to treat myself to a few hours of fishing today since I aced all my quizzes at school. Woke up at 6:30am my son was already up as I can hear him calling for me. Got him changed/dressed and ready to hit the road to go pick up Heineken from the vet (thanks MR Alvarado Vet Clinic was ) by 8am and try to make it back home by 9ish and then FISHING!!! Dropped Heineken off, dropped my son off to the babysitter and was on the water by 10ish. Only 2 other cars were in the parking lot so no crowds...yay! Motored to the "hole" & met the gentlemen who own the 2 cars in the parking lot whom I know. They yelled out "Come on! they're biting!" So I pulled up to a log & tied off and got to work with my slip bobber rod set at 10ft. Fan casted my area with several of my go-to colors/lures with no bites while the 2 gentlemen were still pulling fish up sandies & small crappie. I threw the 2 OG's my deuce and motored up the creek to my SSSL's not finding any bites whatsoever. Was beginning to think I shoulda stayed home. Then I casted to a spot where I saw big crappie pulled from before. As I was working my bobber on my retrieve, it slowly went under (from pass experience when your bobber slow goes under, IT'S A BIG CRAPPIE!) I set the hook & it was on! A HUGE crappie. Cast to the area again and BAM! Another HUGE crappie. Decided to motor closer to the area, but as I closer my canoe bumped a lot of logs & figured I prolly spooked the fish. Now, I'm pretty much on top of the area I was casting to. Tossed my bobber into the spot and BAM a huge sandie. Tossed in again and again, a huge sandie. Changed colors and Bam a nice crappie and then another since sandie. Then got the dreaded call from the babysitter. It's about 2pm now rushing home, I bumped a few logs then my trolling motor prop stops propulsion...hmmm shear pin broke??? Disconnected the negative and unmounted my TM from the 2x4 it was mounted to. Got it open to see the shear pin did not break, but the inside of the prop was mangled. I was able to get the shear pin straighten & prop working again. I got mt TM in my lap and was gonna mount it back on the 2x4, but as I was turning around, I lean over just a little and IN THE DRINK I WENT! Canoe didn't capsize, but got a lot of water. I was able to hang on my canoe if not, not sure I would be here giving yall a report. I had on my winter crappie suit and that thing weigh a ton wet. Holding on to my canoe I was able to make to the bank to where I could stand. 1st thing I checked was my iPhone, which is pretty much a goner with no insurance (it was it my pocket it was in a OtterBox case, but it didn't help). OBTW, the water was freezing! Only lost 1 clear box of jigs/lures. Battery was still good even though halfway submerged in water in canoe. Had no cup or anything to bail water out. Bailed what I could with my hands. I'm shivering and shaking now could barely able to get back into my canoe, but I managed. With water inside, it made maneuvering and controlling my canoe was difficult on top of freezing my cajones off. With water, me and the battery at the back of the canoe, it made the front rise pretty high kinda like in the movie Shallow Hal... Made it back to my truck started it up with the heater blasting. Went & got my dry bag w/ spare clothes from my canoe. Got out of all my wet clothes & got dressed. Didn't have the strength to pull my canoe from the waters edge. Used my truck and straps to pull my canoe to the parking lot. Got everything out flipped it over to dump out the rest of the water. Managed to get everything into the back of my truck and home I went......And YES!!! I was able to save ALL the fish I caught....If you want to see the bright side of this story or that I didn't drowned. I only way I was able to hang on to my canoe as I was falling in, my feet was tangled in the anchor trolley line. Sorry no pics for obvious reasons. I'll snap a couple with my digital camera in the morning....Until then...Glad to be home, warm a,d dry! 2012 hasn't been too good to me....lost car keys to both of my vehicles to the SSSL, my prescription glasses, and now my iPhone 4S. What else can happened?




I do realize that ALL the above happened because of MY CARELESSNESS and the attitude of it won't happen to me.... Hope you guys are learning from my mistakes....

Glad you're ok Ren. The sssssssl goblins have been giving you fits. I've had my share of trials this year there but nothing that extreme.

The only sure fired way to get rid of those SSSL gremlins is to share the location with your good buddy ol' MR.

Glad you made it okay and didn't lose your fish or your stuff. condolences on the Iphone.

glad ur ok ninja
keep seeing ur sneaker upside down just above the water line!

at least put ur phone in a ziplock freezer double seal. saved yourself some $$$.$$

Dont get them wet n NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER feed em after midnight!!!

I'm ok just feel less intelligent cause I knew the hazards & pitfalls of being on the water with my valuables and yet I did nothing to prevent these losses or learn from previous "incidents" i.e. my prescript glasses & car keys. My feet wasn't above water. They were tangle under the water. I remembered not to panic once in the freezing water. I waited for my body & muscle to get acclimated to the water for about 3-5 minutes then I was able to some what swim with relative ease even though I was weighed down by all my clothes.

On a lighter side of things, found tips on how to get your water damaged iphone dry...put your iphone in a bag of rice for a couple days, or in with packets of silica to draw out moisture. If that doesn't work, also found videos of how to take your iphone apart to dry the inside. Last resort, go to apple store to get a replacement for $199 a lot cheaper than buying the iphone from at&t for $499-$599

@MR- you come pick me up, spring for food/drinks for the day, I'll take you to my SSSSL's.....

Sounds like a deal. I'll let you know when I can do it.

The bag of rice trick didn't work for any of my kids ipods. might try the silica.

dont waste your time... its fried ninja!

Glad you're ok. Try the rice. It fixed two of my daughters phones before. They wouldn't do jack and after drying in rice for about 3-4 days they worked like new.

I'm trying the rice 1st and then take it apart and blow dry inside...Keeping my fingers crossed.

I was wondering if anyone would be interested in going out scouting for some crappie at my SDSL??? No set date yet, but it's getting close. Some of you guys have been wondering how I catch crappie and I am more than happy to show how I was taught. Let me know if you're interested.

Sounds interesting, how far of a drive am I looking at....coming from ray hub

Very interested I would like to fill the freezer if I can

Filling your freezer won't be a problem this year since we've had nice amount of rain. Should make for an awesome crappie/sandies run this year.

It's just south of Eagle Mountain.

In

I would like to as well. This weekend I can't but the following Sunday (the 21st) I am wide open. Might even be willing to take a day off during the week to go with a little notice.

I went there a little while back to check the bait situation. Found an old set of car keys but that was it.

We need to meet up some time Ren.

My schedule is in line with this

Since we are going to 3 shifts in Feb, REN, I think I am going to take the 10p to 6a shift. Not only would it let my wife go back to work full time which she wants to do, I will be able to go fishing and hunting more often by being off during the day and only having an 8 hour shift will help too.

Ren, don't want to know your honey hole, but are these lake or creek fish? I haven't made it out to my creek yet and was just wondering.

Rob,
I would guess they're lake fish since they swim up the creek for shallow waters to spawn.

Agreed

Weekends gets a little crowded there, but doable. During the week is prime-time. Just keep an eye on the weather. Next front that is forecast to come in, get your yaks ready.

10pm-6am is the best shift there is IMO. Hope we can go out fishing soon

Hint... creek known home for multiple gators relocated there

Hint ... Keep all legs and hands in the boat at all times..

If it's the creek I am thinking about I have never actually been that far up it and it's not a creek actually

So...when we going? frost this weekend

Still to early....

Paddling Oars is correct it's still a little early, but if anyone wants to go scouting this weekend, I'm game. Saturday or Sunday morning? Gates open at 8am. It may turn out to be a dinkfest though.

I might, want to take the kiddo out.

I am open for saturday, PM me the locations and I will be there.

Steve

Taking texassteve & gocart mozart to my SDSL to scout for some crappie tomorrow morning. Hope this front pushed them into the shallows...

Let me know how it goes. I'm heading out Sunday but not for crappie, I'm pretty sure its to early plus I don't think they are releasing any water. Heading to BB to take my son out. I would say two more weeks....

Had a good day on the water with both Ben and REN. REN was catching some crappie, I learned a lot by watching him, but I need more practice. no crappie for me today. I did manage to boat one fish, this drum that was nearly 18 inches. he was a fighter.

wish i would have taken more pictures of everyone fishing, sorry about that.

I landed him about 20 minutes after you left REN. Thanks again for the invite and the insight into crappie fishing.

It was nice seeing you again Steve. Sorry for not warning you guys about the snag monster at the creek... I got hung up a few times too...

@Ben - it was really nice meeting you & fishing with you today. Sorry the fishing wasn't so good.

2 Jacksons & 1 Hobie Who said I didn't like Jackson guys...


Stringer


In sink about to be cleaned & filleted


Yummy

Sweet!!!! Im ready to get in the creek at the back of mineral wells. Shouldn't be to much longer!

Tomorrow should be good I imagine. I'll probably try another creek, at least for an hour or two (my daily exercise).

Nice looking fish before and after frying :-)

Good times indeed and thanks ren now change your diaper

Shhhh that is our inside joke, but great pic

Open invite this Saturday.

nice fish are yall catching them 2ft down on jig and bobber?

I caught them about 8ft deep. Dinks were hitting about 2ft-4ft

6' is where I caught them I would go out with you but I'm going to benbrook with Mr. Dugan. Might hit it Sunday or maybe tomorrow since work is driving me nuts.

Let me know if you head out tomorrow might be able to go out for a bit

I need to quit my job so I can go fishing this week.

What time Sat?

Gates open at 8am

When did you last go out?

Sat Oct 27 the last cold front that came in

Was curious if you were they guy we meet this morning...

I use bobby garland, can't beat them.