Pre-Crappie Classic Recon Mission (pt1) Complete

[TaperSteve]

With the special hours for the day (5am-4pm) I set my alarm early and arrived at the lake by 4am to a very small line. Headed for the tackle shop when it opened at 4:30am to pay for my fishing fees for the day and say my good mornings. The main gates opened at 5am and I had my boat launched and on the troll shortly there after.

Heres a pic I took shortly after launching! (See how dark it was!)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-7-11/DSCF0313.jpg

I decided my main mission for the day would be to get some practice in for the Crappie Classic later this month. With the extra hour in the morning I decided i'd troll for a couple hours till it got light out and then start fishing for crappie.

Well that was the plan anyway but on my 1st pass up the West Shore my leadcore starts zinging and I reeled in this nice crappie! So much for waiting till sun-up...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-7-11/crappie1.jpg

Heres a pic I snapped of yet another beautiful Vine sunrise! (hidden behind the clouds)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-7-11/DSCF0327.jpg

After that I continued on trolling and a few mins later my leadcore starts screaming again. This time I could tell it wasn't no crappie. Not only was it a trout but it was a very hard fighting one at that. As I got him/her close enough to the boat I could see it was a nice sized brown! He made several runs everytime i'd get him close to the boat. Took me 5 mins to tire him out but finally I netted this beautiful, hard fighting, brown trout, my 2nd in 2 weeks!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-7-11/DSCF0331.jpg

By now it was barely 7am and I felt like I still had the whole day ahead of me. After breakfast I trolled around the lake one more time for nothing till I got to one of my new "secret" crappie spots. I got everything rigged up and ready to start drifting for crappie. Didn't take long till I was fighting my 2nd crappie of the day!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-7-11/crappie2.jpg

Soon after that one of my rods goes super bendo and I could tell it wasnt a crappie. I fought and netted my 2nd trout of the day!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-7-11/DSCF0336.jpg

After that the crappie just kept on a coming! 3rd crappie of the day!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-7-11/crappie3.jpg

4th crappie of the day!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-7-11/crappie4.jpg

5th crappie of the day!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-7-11/crappie5.jpg

and the 6th crappie of the day!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-7-11/crappie6.jpg

All crappie caught today were safely released to be caught by me again at the Crappie Classic!

With all the non stopped crappie action the time slipped on by and before I knew it it was time for me to head home for the day. What an amazing day of fishing at my favorite lake, the Vine! I can't wait for the Crappie Classic on May 21st. Hope to see ya'll there!

:Dancing Banana::Dancing Banana::Dancing Banana:

TaperSteve

[BRING IT]

way to go stevo, i have a few spots i have to attack very soon. nice job!

[diamondbear]

Your on top of things TS , way to go on the crappie kill , Nice brown . // db

[fishmounter]

Hey nice going!.. but how come your fish are all so dirty and bloody? I thought you were fishing from a boat..

[TaperSteve]

The 2 fish that are bloody just about swallowed the jig. Thought that crappie was going to die but after 2-3 secs he kicked back to life and took off. As for my boat being dirty its because I have a huge (pain in the a**) tree in my front yard right above my driveway and I always take my boat outta the garage and hook it up the night before so I dont have to do it at 3am. That stupid a** tree always gets crap all over our cars, driveway, yard, etc... when its windy out.

TS

[Hitts0n]

Thats what im talking about! That brown looks great!! Congrats on the crappie slay! I'll be at Castaic slaying striper on this day!! I'll see you guys next time around !!

[5150fishn]

Steve,
Congrats on that sweet brownie and the crappie recon seemed to be effective. Nicely done bro!

[Troutman65]

Congrats on the nice brown trout you landed :Cool: Good going on the crappie too :!!!: Thanks for the report

[See Chris Fish]

Nice!!!! Mighty dark out there. What a brownie!!!!!
"Trolling School by TaperSteve"......I don't know, it's got a ring!!! lol
See ya at the pre-tourney line BBQ.

[Thisfool]

dang steve is there anything you cant do man.

slayer of trout, killer of the crappie and menace of the cats, poor pheeshes never have a chance when your around

[Bobber Boy]

WTG Steve! Beautiful brownie and some good looking crappie! See you next weekend!

[Rooster]

Nice report and pics CrappieSteve. Your the brownie master... Props

[TaperSteve]

Thats what im talking about! That brown looks great!! Congrats on the crappie slay! I'll be at Castaic slaying striper on this day!! I'll see you guys next time around !!

Wish I could be up there slaying some stripers with you! Next time though, see you at the Catfish Co-op!


Nice!!!! Mighty dark out there. What a brownie!!!!!
"Trolling School by TaperSteve"......I don't know, it's got a ring!!! lol
See ya at the pre-tourney line BBQ.

or how about "TaperSteve's Guide Service" See you next weekend....


dang steve is there anything you cant do man.

slayer of trout, killer of the crappie and menace of the cats, poor pheeshes never have a chance when your around

It's official! That my new slogan!


Nice report and pics CrappieSteve. Your the brownie master... Props

Kinda does have a ring to it doesn't it?

BRING IT, diamondbear, 5150fishn, Troutman65, Bobber Boy - Thanx for the positive replies/vibes!

TS