Crappie Recon Mission 2 COMPLETE! (5-14-11)

[TaperSteve]

I arrived at the Vine around 4:30am to a very small line as expected with trout season all but over. Being the 2nd boat in line I had my boat launched and on the water by 6:10am.

Here's pic I snapped shortly after leaving the dock!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-14-11/DSCF0327.jpg

Even with the recon mission at hand like last week I couldn't resist, I had to start out the day trolling for trout. I trolled all over the lake for the first 3 hours of the morning for nothing but 2 short hits. Other boats I talked to that were trolling reported doing OK. Hometown even reported a mixed bag with a trout, crappie, and catfish all on the troll.

With 0% breeze the lake was still looking like glass so I decided to go grab my trolling motor outta my van and put it on my boat so I could follow the balls of shad up the creek. As I pulled up to the mouth of the creek I turned off my OB motor and started trolling up the creek looking for the shad.

Didn't see much shad at first but after getting a ways back into the creek I started seeing shad. Almost as soon as I started seeing the shad I saw a large trout roll on the surface feeding on the shad. I started casting towards where I saw him with my jig but nothing. Then I saw him do it again "over there" so I kept casting at him but still nothing. I continued seeing him (5-6 defferent times) rolling on the surface. Just as I was about to be squeezed outta the area by another boat, BAM!!! Fish 0N!!! He immediately took to the air not 10 feet from the other boat! On 2lb test in 4ft of water with lots of underwater structure it took me about 5 mins to get this beast to the net. He ended up going 5lbs 2ozs on my scale!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-14-11/DSCF0346.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-14-11/DSCF0347.jpg

Even though I had a blast catching that trout I still had a recon mission to complete. I didn't see much action on the crappie in the creek so I decided to head to my secret "crappie grounds". Just as I pulled up to the area I saw Marlon Meade pulling up to another area close by.

Almost as soon as I started jigging, Fish 0N!!! 1st crappie of the day!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-14-11/c1.jpg

2nd crappie of the day!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-14-11/c2.jpg

and 3rd crappie of the day!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-14-11/c3.jpg

3 crappie in less then 30 mins! I could see Marlon's spot wasn't producing. He moved over to my spot and almost immediately he was hooked up. I snapped this pick just as he was yelling over to me, "We'll be outta your spot in just a sec".
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-14-11/DSCF0345.jpg

After that the action was non-stopped for the rest of the day!

4th crappie of the day!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-14-11/c4.jpg

5th crappie of the day!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-14-11/c5.jpg

6th crappie of the day!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-14-11/c6.jpg

7th crappie of the day!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-14-11/c7.jpg

8th crappie of the day!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-14-11/c8.jpg

9th crappie of the day!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-14-11/c9.jpg

and 10th crappie of the day!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/TaperSteve/5-14-11/c10.jpg

I decided to declare "mission accomplished" at 3pm with 10 crappie.

I trolled the long way in for nothing and ended the day around 4:30pm.

All crappie I caught today were safely released for me to catch again next week at the Crappie Classic.

I can't wait for the Crappie Classic next weekend! It's going to be a ton of fun! A small group of us are going to be getting together the night before to BBQ/camp the line. Come join us! http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/showthread.php?56269-Crappie-Classic-2011-the-Vine-Camp-BBQ-the-Line-Nite-B4!

Hope to see ya'll this weekend at my favorite lake, the Vine!
:Dancing Banana::Dancing Banana::Dancing Banana:

TaperSteve

[tpfishnfool]

Nice Haul !!

[diamondbear]

Good job as usual TS , NICE TROUT AND THE CRAPPIE , WELL DONE .

[5150fishn]

Good job as usual Steve. Your persistence paid off on tossing at that trout! Way to slay on the crappie. I guess you will be the man to beat! Surprise suprise LOL! I will see you Friday night around 8:00.

[Hitts0n]

Dayum fuugkin slayed umm !!!!

[Frequent Flyer]

now we all no the secret bait! (if ther is 1, or is he tryin to trick us all?)...good job out ther

[TaperSteve]

now we all no the secret bait! (if ther is 1, or is he tryin to trick us all?)...good job out ther

Ehh I thought about not using those pics but its the same s*** Marlon's telling people to use and its even on some of the flyers for the event and weekly fishing reports. Besides theres AL0T more to it then that. Location, depths, etc....

I dont mind putting people on the fish. While slaying the crappie there were 2 guys anchored up close by watching me for over an hour. They finally asked me what I was using. I told them I was fishing for crappie and what I was using but they didnt have the right gear to do it. They were fishing with nightcrawlers for trout and catfish but hadnt caught anything all day. I gave them a few tips and sent them to one of my secret trout spots and they were on their way.

At the end of the day as I was loading my gear from my boat to my van I saw Deputy Kewly Fife taking some pics of a nice stringer by the tackle shop. I went over to get a closer look and I could see it was the same two guys from earlier. They had a very impressive 5 fish stringer that was easily over 20lbs. They couldnt thank me enough for the tips I gave them and the spot I sent them to. They told me it was their 1st time at the Vine. Then they went on to tell me they were about to call it a day and would have "never came back to this lake" if I didnt help them out and put them on the fish.

I sure hope the Vine ends up putting up one of those pics on their website. That really made my day way more then the great day of fishing I had. I hope to see those guys at the Vine again in the future!

TS

[Rooster]

Great job out there, Those anglers will not forget it. Hope ya win the crappie Tourney

[the killa fish taco]

Steve: You're my HERO!!!!

[karalm]

Steve,
You are the man. Two for two in the Crappie Recon slay and then turning on some newbies to a killer string!!
I say you start your guiding service right away and I am your first customer!!Nice pics and report.

[Marley]

I thought that was you on that spot. I was out at the Boy Scouts event with one of my diners and couldn't help myself so I stopped and looked out over the lake as I drove in. I'm beginning to feel the bad effects of not spending time on the water and it hurt a little being so close, but oh-so-far away.
Good job on the mixed bag.

[Cameron]

great report & that is a nice trout thanks for posting.

[troutdog]

I dont mind putting people on the fish. While slaying the crappie there were 2 guys anchored up close by watching me for over an hour. They finally asked me what I was using. I told them I was fishing for crappie and what I was using but they didnt have the right gear to do it. They were fishing with nightcrawlers for trout and catfish but hadnt caught anything all day. I gave them a few tips and sent them to one of my secret trout spots and they were on their way.

At the end of the day as I was loading my gear from my boat to my van I saw Deputy Kewly Fife taking some pics of a nice stringer by the tackle shop. I went over to get a closer look and I could see it was the same two guys from earlier. They had a very impressive 5 fish stringer that was easily over 20lbs. They couldnt thank me enough for the tips I gave them and the spot I sent them to. They told me it was their 1st time at the Vine. Then they went on to tell me they were about to call it a day and would have "never came back to this lake" if I didnt help them out and put them on the fish.

I sure hope the Vine ends up putting up one of those pics on their website. That really made my day way more then the great day of fishing I had. I hope to see those guys at the Vine again in the future!

TS

That is awesome Steve, prime example of what Team57 spirit is all about imo....you da man Steve-O

lmfa @ Kewly Fife :LOL:

Great reporting Steve and congrats on the solid results. You are definitely the current "Irvine Lake Guru"....wear your badge with pride my friend :Wink:


TD

[kewlwhip]

Way to slay TS!