First trip of the year

The promise of 60 degree weather in January was to "fishy" to ignore. Got on the water and it was a beautiful day -- but never made it to the 60's:

[img width=213 height=159]http://i43.tinypic.com/jb4x7l.jpg[/img]

For about an hour the "specs" were biting....but then the wind kicked up and the fish shut down. Still ended up with plenty of fish for a meal:

[img width=639 height=478]http://i41.tinypic.com/20axj44.jpg[/img]

So, they weren't sheepies, trout, kings, spanish, or ling -- but the Arkansas version of "specs" ain't bad. If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with. :)

Not a thing wrong with that catch!

Thanks for the report.

thanks for the report and pics, are those croppie?

Crappie, yes sir, that's them. Technically, these were all black crappie...or specs as we call them around here. The big one on top was just over 17 inches. Fat and healthy.

A very good tasting fish, especially winter and spring time catches. Flesh is more firm.

Spring freshwater fishing is not too far away.

[quote author=midwestexile link=topic=528.msg4804#msg4804 date=1327462231]
Spring freshwater fishing is not too far away.
[/quote]

So true. They had been killing the big crappie last week on several area lakes in Central Arkansas before the nasty weather moved through Sunday. I was glad to get enough for a meal for the family in some tough post-frontal conditions.

Man, I want some of those for my aquarium. Such a beautiful fish. Tough to give up eating one though, heh!

Nice catch...as far as freshwater fish go, fried crappie is one of the best tasting fish out there in my opinion.

Nice. Good eating. Lucky dog.