Very good story Mr. Paty.
It reminds me of a January day a couple of years ago jiggin the 1097 bridge on Conroe. I was catching nice fish between 27 and 28' deep, no shallower and no deeper.
There were quite a few boats up and down the length of the bridge and I noticed that most people were anchored or tied off, fishing with bobbers set at about 10-12' deep.
On one instance, I trolled past a set of pilings that had quite a few fish down deep on the pilings as seen on my Lowrance sidescan, there was a boat there getting ready to pull up anchor and I asked if was doing any good, "Nope" he replied, "caught two dinks". I asked him how deep he was fishin, he said "The only place to catch crappie on this bridge is right at the cross member". I wasn't going to argue as he obviously knew more than I did. After he left I spun around and went back to that set of pilings, and promptly pulled up 6 or 7 real nice slabs, smiling to myself the whole time.
After this stop I checked my counter and needed 5 more keepers to limit out. I kicked the trolling motor down and trolled past some more pilings looking for fish, as I went past a particular set there was a pontoon boat tied up with three gentlemen drowning minners, and the sidescan showed they had fish under them. I went to the next set of pilings and there were fish there also, so I asked them if they cared if I fished this set of pilings, They were fine with it so I dropped the jig down and imediately hooked up. After the second fish I still hadn't seen one of their bobbers go under and I heard one of the guys tell his buddies "He's fishin a helluva lot deeper than 12' deep".
I finished my limit about 10 minutes later, double checked my count and started putting my gear up. I turned to those gentlemen and told them they had fish under them and what depth they needed to be to catch. I don't know if took the advice or not but they saw me pull 5 fish out "fishin a helluva lot deeper than 12' deep", so I hope they dropped down and caught them some too!

And a big key to find the Location within the Location within the location is to keep moving, until you find fish! Then take notes, and when they stop biting there, move and find them and take notes. That is how a pattern is set!

Mr Paty, PLEASE...tell me some more fishing advice...this is fantastic, you tell a story, then every one else has a story...like we used to do sitting around the campfire at fishing camp!!! This thread made my day!

This is better than dinner and a movie, thanks TFF neighbors. Just got a small boat wirh a humminbird 788 ci combo no down or side imaging, just Quad beam I am new to crappie fishing you might say I am a virgin, with all this advice and a cold mornin with a light north wind I will bondle up and head to lake Holbrook this mornin. Yall got me excited sounds easy bot I know it takes experience. Thanks for all the info deeply appreciated. Will report back this afternoon hoping to upload pics. Thanks guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I lasted 2hrs on the lake seen fish on bamboo condo it was cold wind blew hard I was hurry,hurry,hurry. I should have dropped anchor but not thinking clearly I was to excited,went to another condo and boat went to sputtering uot of gas limped to dock loaded upno fish but had fun! Thanks again for the info TFF neighbors.

Hate to hear you had gas trouble, maybe next time.

Thnx Ernest..good lesson for the day!

as usual great post ernest

Always go over prepared. I remember a time that was similar to Ernest story. I was fishing bridge piers and was catching fish. I had a buddy with me that all he could do was complain about how much colder it was in the shade. Crappie don't like direct sun unless they are spawning!!!!! I had an extra coat in the boat but I made him suffer for a while!!!!!

great advice Ernest! thanks

(My turn around the campfire)

It's my understanding that fish prefer the shade than the sunny side to protect their eyes...Since they have no eyebrows or eyelids the suns glare is brutal to their eyes. Think I read this somewhere

Another reminder that: I NEED A BOAT!

GoldSpoonr