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Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => Crappies => Topic started by: Wiener on May 20, 2010, 10:07 AM
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(http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/6393/zimmercrappie31510embed.jpg)
Sunday, Mar. 28, 2010
ROD KLOECKNER / www.bnd.com
Mike Zimmer was enjoying a phenomenal morning of crappie fishing. Then, it nearly turned historic.
The 33-year-old angler from Waterloo was fishing a lake in Southern Illinois on March 15 when he hooked a 4 pound, 5 ounce white crappie. That's two ounces shy of the state record caught by Kevin Dennis in a private pond on April 8, 1973.
Most crappie caught are in the half- to 1-pound range.
"It was unbelievable," Zimmer said. "It's probably like catching an 8- or 9-pound bass or a 70-pound flathead (catfish). Crappie fisherman know just how big something like this is."
The behemoth that measured 19 inches long and had a girth of 16 inches was part of a crappie bonanza for Zimmer. He started fishing that chilly morning -- the temperature was about 40 degrees -- at 7:20 a.m.
By 10:30 a.m., he was already at the dock with his limit of 25 crappie. Among the keepers were a 3-pounder and one that weighed 3 pounds, 8 ounces.
The previous day, Zimmer also caught his limit of 25 in under four hours. That's why he declined to reveal the name of the lake that harbors his crappie honeyhole.
"Next thing you know, they'll be people all over the place fishing for crappie," Zimmer said with a laugh.
Clad in his thermal duck hunting clothes, Zimmer was one of the few fishermen on the lake that morning. The nippy temperatures didn't faze Zimmer, who said he has been fishing since he was in diapers.
"For me, I've always caught my bigger ones early when it was cold," he said. "For most people, they would not even go on a day like that. It wasn't ideal by any means, but it was for me."
Zimmer was using a 12-foot crappie pole outfitted with 4-pound test and a slip cork. His bait of choice was a Grizzly jig tipped with a small minnow. Knowing the crappie were preparing to spawn, he was fishing in shallow water (between 2 and 10 feet) around some downed trees.
It didn't take long for Zimmer to realize he had landed on a school of crappie. Big ones, too.
"I had beaten my own personal record (3 pounds) on the 12th or 13th keeper of the day," Zimmer said. "The 4.5-pounder was the 23rd keeper. I knew I only had three more fish to go, and here I catch this one."
When he hooked it, Zimmer didn't think it was a crappie.
"I'm thinking that's a catfish because it stayed down low," he said. "It didn't want to come up. A muskie will do the same thing. They'll put a good fight up and not come up to the surface.
"After a little bit of fighting I started to see it, and I realized it was a crappie. All I could think of was that 4-pound test breaking, because I knew it was a big one. I don't know how long I fought it because all I was thinking was getting it in the boat."
Once he landed the papermouth, he collapsed into his seat due to a combination of exhaustion and excitement over his catch. After he caught his breath, Zimmer weighed the crappie on a hand-held scale. It came in just under 4.5 pounds.
Zimmer then had the fish weighed on certified scales at the Millstadt post office and a butcher's shop in Sparta. The fish is currently at a taxidermist, where Zimmer plans to have it mounted.
Coming oh-so-close to breaking a 37-year-old record didn't seem to bother Zimmer, who is a chemical operator at a plant in East St. Louis.
"It might even be better than catching the state record because I might have gotten more publicity than I wanted," Zimmer said. "Then, I would have really had to give up my spot."
News of Zimmer's near-record catch has been making the rounds.
"My brother, who lives in Waltonville, had someone come up to him saying 'Man, did you hear about this dude that caught a 4.5-pound, 3.5-pound and 3.25-pound crappie?'" Zimmer said. "He's like 'Yeah, I did. I seen them because he's my brother.' I guess news like that gets around pretty quick."
Enjoy.
Wiener
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That's one awesome Crappie!!!
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Holy Crappie! :o
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You took the words out of my mouth Howesfc , what a fish. It sounds like Mr. Zimmer may have a shot at breaking the state record going by some of the other crappies he has caught.
Steve
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I wish I could find some around here like that...
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Here's more pics of this Crappie.
(http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/Wiener77/image003.jpg)
(http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/Wiener77/image002.jpg)
Just a bit over 19"
Nice Crappie, it don't take too many that size to make a dozen.
Enjoy.
Wiener
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HAHHAHA heard this same story but out of Wisconsin!!! Except thats like a black crappie
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This is the story from Wisconsin.
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Hahaha, heres a link to an article saying it was caught out of Illinois.
http://www.iloutdoornews.com/articles/2010/04/08/top_news/news03.txt (http://www.iloutdoornews.com/articles/2010/04/08/top_news/news03.txt)
Internet is a good thing most of the time, but is sure makes it tough to believe a good story when you hear it.
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:oWow!!! Thats insane.
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Beautiful fish; though I'm with IceNomads; looks like a Black Crappie to me, as well. ;)
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Wow, nice crappie!!! :o :o :o
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Awesome fish, But that first picture just looks fake to me. Anyone else?
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:o :o :o :o :o :othat's a small mouth :o :o :o :o :o :o
:o
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that thing is a hog!!!!!!!!! wtg :o :o :o
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Awesome fish, But that first picture just looks fake to me. Anyone else?
Yeah, I know what you mean.
When it was sent to me I asked if there were any more pics.
That's how I ended up with the one's showing the tape measure.
I think it is because he is holding the fish away from his body, that makes it look weird.
I wouldn't mind a dozen or so that size.
Wiener
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That's one huge crappie! ;D
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WHITE/BLACK.................... Can't we all just get along :'( :'( :roflmao:
WOW, you would need a gutter spike to hang that thing on the wall
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Yeah, I know what you mean.
When it was sent to me I asked if there were any more pics.
That's how I ended up with the one's showing the tape measure.
I think it is because he is holding the fish away from his body, that makes it look weird.
I wouldn't mind a dozen or so that size.
Wiener
Ya I agree. the last two look real. Must be how he is holding it. What a fish!!
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Now that's a crappie.
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Trophy Black Crappie indeed! SweeeeeeeeeT :tipup:
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i've never caught one near that size. some day. nice fish
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My biggest was 17.5". I was young and really had no idea what I had - I ate the thing and have little proof other then a single photo taken from a distance. If I could do it over again I would have hung the thing on my wall. Makes me wonder as to how many monsters have been caught and cooked with individuals having no idea as to what they had on their hands.
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WTG man thats awesome!
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When i was younger i caught a 7.5 lb LM bass i knew what i had then and it hangs on my wall this very day. When i got it i said this will be the only time i ever get something this big so i got it mounted and i have yet to come close to that size bass.
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nice 1 naiver seen that be-for ;D fish of a life time
good job
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What a fish
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wow
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This is no 19" but it is an 18" caught a few days ago with some other 16 and 17's..
http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=179631.0
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Thats a huge Black Crappie!
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That is one heck of a crappie! Nice job
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wow!!!
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wow....