Page 8 - Crappie NOW | July 2015

by Jeff Samsel

I ’ll admit it. An errant cast

helped us locate the crappie on
the first morning of my trip to Like
Powell earlier this year. I had
cast toward some tumbleweeds
(yep, same stuff they sing about
in cowboy songs), overshot the
cast a bit and snagged some
brush.
As we moved closer to the
snag, David Rose and I peered
into the water, mostly to gawk at
the crazy clarity. About the time I
was popping my bait free, Rose
said, “fish!” pointing into the
water. “Crappie,” he added, as he
got a better look. Sure enough. A
nice-sized crappie was holding
tight to some tumbleweeds,
and after a bit more looking, we
realize several slabs were within
pitching range.
Initially, we pitched
whatever baits we had rigged.
We were geared for smallmouths,
though, and the crappie just
moved out of the way. So Rose
dug though his tackle stash and
found a micro jig – one actually
designed primarily for ice fishing
– and rigged it on a St. Croix
crappie rod.
“We need to go small in
this clear water,” Rose said
confidently, as he pitched his
dainty offering just past a crappie
and let it swing in front of the
fish. The fish showed immediate
interest and sort of danced with
the bait, with Rose leading the
dance and both of us watching.
Soon temptation won, and Rose
was able to set the hook into a