Author Topic: Popped a pig today (Read 2420 times)

Blaine · « **on:** Jan 10, 2011, 05:22 PM »

As much fun as the coves have been, we decided today that it was time for some new scenery. Josh has relatives that live on a lake known for very large crappie, we’ve done well there in the past, so we decided to make the drive. We knew it would probably be a short trip as the crappie there seem to feed the best in low light. We were on the ice by 6:30 and drilling holes shorthly after that. I grabbed my Humminbird flasher and went to check some holes for signs of life… I found what I was looking for on the very first hole. We were in 31 feet of water and I had some very nice red marks suspended at 24 feet. I sprinted back to the sled, grabbed the rod with the Lindy Rattl’n Flyer and scooped a small shiner out of the bucket as fast as I could.

It didn’t take long for the first fish. It was only 12″ or so… A nice fish for where I had been spending all of my time, but not for this lake. All 3 of us were in to fish and the sun hadn’t even cracked the horizon yet. I moved on to my third hole and marked 4 or 5 separte fish suspended again. I dropped down to them and 3 of the fish converged on the jig but just sat there staring at it. Josh came over to see what I was so excited about. They just wouldn’t eat my jig… I reeled up two turns and one fish followed but still wouldn’t eat. I reeled again and as she followed, I reeled even faster. Once I came up another 6 feet, I paused this time she smashed the jig. Aside from the obvious weight, I could feel that the head shakes were pretty big. I went easy with the fish, especially when I got close to the hole. Josh saw it first and I could tell by the tone of his voice that this was a good one. The fish became wedged in the 6″ hole and I could see that there was only one hook in her lip. I jammed my hand in the hole and gently eased her the rest of the way up. This was a new personal best by quite a bit. She taped out at just under 18″. What a fish!!! After a couple of pics, I put her back. It was actually harder getting her back in the hole than it was taking her out…

My day was made… We fished for a couple more hours and had some more nice fish but was pretty anticlimactic. Most were over 12″ with a few at 14. Once it got bright out, the bite really died off. The fish just disappeared. We found a few holding tight to the bottom but they just stopped eating. I packed up at 9:15 and headed to work. Between the 3 of us, we iced 24 crappie, a few perch and a bass. Not bad for less than 3 hours worth of work…

SPADED · « **Reply #1 on:** Jan 10, 2011, 05:30 PM »

that thing IS a pig... nice job and good read.. keep us posted on how that honey hole treats ya the rest of the year

Paul D. · « **Reply #2 on:** Jan 10, 2011, 05:37 PM »

Nice fish Capt.. Those big suspenders can be frustrating, but addictive.

dmach83 · « **Reply #3 on:** Jan 10, 2011, 05:44 PM »

That thing is huge.My biggest is only 15inches and I thought that was as big as they get.Sure would have made some nice fillets. lol

Squirtx16 · « **Reply #4 on:** Jan 10, 2011, 05:45 PM »

Damn sure is a pig HOLY CRAP (pie)

Roncarr · « **Reply #5 on:** Jan 10, 2011, 06:20 PM »

nice slob Blaine congrats

FondoFishin · « **Reply #6 on:** Jan 10, 2011, 06:23 PM »

now theres a panfish to get excited about! congrats on the PB.

Velcro · « **Reply #7 on:** Jan 10, 2011, 06:27 PM »

That fish is awesome, how often do you have to worry about the size of your hole for a crappie?

Yoda · « **Reply #8 on:** Jan 10, 2011, 06:28 PM »

yeah, really nice fish. biggest i've seen

Trooper Bri · « **Reply #9 on:** Jan 10, 2011, 06:38 PM »

Whoa... Congrats! That's a freakin' moose.

Bought a couple Rattlin' Flyers when we were there yesterday. Glad I did.

hrdwtr24 · « **Reply #10 on:** Jan 10, 2011, 07:03 PM »

Thats a beauty Blaine!! congrats!.....

Tunapursuit · « **Reply #11 on:** Jan 10, 2011, 07:07 PM »

Very nice catch and Release. Congrats on a hog. Tightlines...

bob48 · « **Reply #12 on:** Jan 10, 2011, 07:33 PM »

WOW! Thats the biggest crappie I ever seen Congrats!Bob

walliceman · « **Reply #13 on:** Jan 10, 2011, 07:45 PM »

Wow Blaine, what a beast! Grats man!

LargeFry · « **Reply #14 on:** Jan 10, 2011, 07:59 PM »

I'm humbled! Nice SLAB Blaine!

thndrvlly · « **Reply #15 on:** Jan 10, 2011, 08:29 PM »

you r the man!! i would say that would take first in a lot of online tourneys did u enter it on IS tourney

P.Dona · « **Reply #16 on:** Jan 10, 2011, 08:56 PM »

Nice SLOB slab!

ctbob · « **Reply #17 on:** Jan 11, 2011, 06:51 AM »

Great fish. and great report.
I dropped down to them and 3 of the fish converged on the jig So familiar, except I usually don't get the fish.

JohnnyJigger · « **Reply #18 on:** Jan 11, 2011, 07:43 AM »

Quote from: Velcro on Jan 10, 2011, 06:27 PM

That fish is awesome, how often do you have to worry about the size of your hole for a crappie?

Ummm never.

Blaine no fair, you can't feed calico's steriods. "Hey Brody, I'm gonna need a bigger hole".
The theme to Blaines new movie. When Calico's dont fit.

JohnnyJigger · « **Reply #19 on:** Jan 11, 2011, 07:45 AM »

Now if Gary would let employees enter the CTO tourny you would have the top spot on the Calico division.

Matt_Atkins · « **Reply #20 on:** Jan 11, 2011, 09:47 AM »

What lake?

AEffling · « **Reply #21 on:** Jan 11, 2011, 09:49 AM »

Holy Crap that is some great fish

BJ_Toscano · « **Reply #22 on:** Jan 11, 2011, 10:04 AM »

Awesome fish.

lowaccord66 · « **Reply #23 on:** Jan 11, 2011, 05:48 PM »

Quote from: Trooper Bri on Jan 10, 2011, 06:38 PM

Whoa... Congrats! That's a freakin' moose.

Bought a couple Rattlin' Flyers when we were there yesterday. Glad I did.

Just started using them myself. Killer jig.

gulp · « **Reply #24 on:** Jan 11, 2011, 05:53 PM »

And the best part is that you let it go to fight another day. Man what a fish.

earlyrise · « **Reply #25 on:** Jan 11, 2011, 07:55 PM »

Nice fish! story was great felt like i was there. Well Done

miked · « **Reply #26 on:** Jan 11, 2011, 09:39 PM »

that's what I'M talkin about,nice fish Blaine

mikeupton · « **Reply #27 on:** Jan 12, 2011, 02:30 PM »

nice papermouths. We hit a similar, although smaller, group up at Chebacco in Essex, MA Monday. Great work.

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Author Topic: Popped a pig today (Read 2420 times)

Trooper Bri