3lb Crappie

[Daniel My Brother]

At our annual 4 day boys fishing weekend, the best fish is normally a big bass, but this past year it was a crappie. A 3lb 3 oz crappie to be exact! The fisherman is Jeff Grey, and the fish was caught on a large minnow. I've seen big crappie before, but this one was just beautiful. I only see Jeff a couple of times a year, but he always manages to catch something big...

[RoLo]

Humongous!   :o

What lake?

[Daniel My Brother]

It's a 50 acre strip pit in southern Illinois, just north of Murphysboro.  It's a private lake that doesn't see a lot of fishing pressure.  It has produced 5 crappie that I know of over two pounds in the last couple years. There's a blurry old picture on the wall of the cabin that shows one old guy holding 2 crappie that size, though neither were as pretty as this one.

[Grey Wolf]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a crappie.

[tallydude]

Beautiful fish! Wow!

[JiggaMan512]

 :oHOLY CRAP-PIE!! that thing is huge. if i was that guy, ide have been sayin to myself, "reel, state record, reel, state record, careful...."

[RoLo]

It's a 50 acre strip pit in southern Illinois, just north of Murphysboro. It's a private lake that doesn't see a lot of fishing pressure.

I might've known

It has produced 5 crappie that I know of over two pounds in the last couple years. There's a blurry old picture on the wall of the cabin that shows one old guy holding 2 crappie that size, though neither were as pretty as this one.

That's remarkable!

The largest crappie I've ever seen was caught by my friend, we were fishing West Point Lake in Georgia.

I weighed it for Jerry, and hated to give him the news, it tipped the scales at 2 lbs, 15 oz.

So I can 'honestly' say that I've never seen a 3-pound crappie ;D

Roger

[senile1]

I haven't seen a 3 lb crappie in real life.  That's a beautiful fish.  

[Daniel My Brother]

Guys,

Thanks for the kind words. I hate telling other guys fishing stories, but I can't seem to get my fishing buddies online. My regular partner is 39 and doesn't even own a home computer! I'll print this thread for Jeff, and maybe convince him to pop on himself and show off some of the big flatheads he catches.

Thanks Again,

Dan

PS Rolo, I have a lot of respect for any fisherman who doesn't "round up". 2lbs 15oz is absolutely HUGE. I've never personally caught a 2 pounder...but I am fishing the right lake.  

[roadwarrior]

Next spring you and your buddies need to take a roadtrip south on I55 about three hours. Make it a four day trip and fish Arkabutla, Sardis, Enid and Grenada in Mississippi, just south of Memphis. I don't fish for crappie, but you guys will be in hog heaven! Three and four pounders are not common, but you will probably catch a few. Who knows, you might catch a new World Record. That's where they live and it's not far from you.

[senile1]

Daniel My Brother, I didn't notice you lived in Cape Girardeau, MO until I read RW's post.  I'm going to hijack the thread for just a second.  I graduated from Southeast Missouri State University and lived there for eight years.  My parents live in Sikeston.  I make it down there quite often but I only fish in the area maybe once or twice a year.  The next time I fish down there I'll have to hit you up for some fishing reports.    Maybe you can turn me on to some big crappie.  Does Lake Girardeau still have good bass fishing?

[Daniel My Brother]

Senile1,

Good to hear from a former Indian...er Redhawk. I sent you a PM, let me know if you don't get it.

RW,

Thanks for the tip on those lakes, I need to do a little more research. I'll never get this group of guys to leave southern Illinois, but I do have a friend who works at WMC and lives in South Haven. He wants me to come down and golf, but this sounds WAY more fun...How far from Tunica?

Dan

[roadwarrior]

Research?

Okay...That's fine...

ALL crappie and "bream" WORLD RECORDS are from these lakes.

For SIZE or QUANTITY...there is nothing to talk about. There is NO place in the WORLD quite like these small lakes. Again, I don't actually fish for them, but when it comes to crappie, this is EXACTLY where it's at. Guys in other parts of the country can have a whole lot of fun with these fish, but if you guys are serious about catching some real crappie, C'mon down!

If I am invited, I'll join you.

[Daniel My Brother]

ALL crappie and "bream" WORLD RECORDS are from these lakes.

I'm no crappie expert, but that's some pretty good research you got there... Always room for a Bud man.

[Hooked On Bass Fishing]

Biggest Crappie Ive Ever Seen

[BD]

Wow!

I have been 'big' crappie too....

[Bud]

You need to check  that could be a state record.  hope you still have it.  

[SPEEDBEAD.]

awesome pic...

[roadwarrior]

Missouri State Records:

Black crappie 5.0 lbs

White crappie 4 lbs - 9 oz

[Fish Chris]

I have to admit something here..... Forgive me for being skeptical, but when I saw the title "3 lb Crappie" I kind of rolled my eyes a little bit.... You know, like when you here a guy say, "I caught a 10 lb Bass"..... and your thinking, "Oh yea ? So, was it 'exactly' 10 lbs" ?

But anyway, a 3lb 3oz Crappie it certainly is !!! Holy #$#% ! That thing is HUGE, and just beautiful too ! I'm not worthy. Still looking for my 3.0.......

Hey Dan, the next time you see this guy, give him a big congrats for me !

Fish

[bass2187]

I go to SIU down here. I fish all over around here. Been fishing for crappie,white bass and catfish under those bridges on 13 latly. I wanna go somewhere else next saturday or i may go somewhere differntI dont have a boat so i am an all shore fisherman. There are a ton of places down here to fish that i still wanna try. I have heard about those strip mine lakes but wasnt ever really sure where they were. Do you think you can give me directions to a couple of your favorite spots Daniel, at least ones with some shore access. I went camping and fishing with friends this weekend at ferne clyffe and fished that lake. They just stocked it with trout. We got a few delicious cats and trout for dinner. They even had some of those golden rainbows. They were very pretty.

Mike

[Daniel My Brother]

bass2187,

If I were stuck on shore I would definitely fish Visitor Pond (it's actually about a 20 acre lake) semi-hidden behind the Crab Orchard welcome center. No boats allowed, and many big bass over 5 pounds. It's got a 1 bass limit, so it's pretty much catch & release. The guys who do best are using live minnows. Also some nice bluegill in there. You do have to pay a refuge user's fee, but it's only a couple of bucks. I only mention this because I was always broke in college.

Second choice would be Pyramid State Park, lots of old strip pits, not too crowded, fun to explore.

Let me know how you do.

[Bass XL]

wow i'd be hangin that on the wall!

[bass2187]

Ive done the vistisor pond before and it truly does contain some monsters. That was actually one of the areas i was thinking about going to this weekend. May even through on my waders and try that. Seems like bass have been really slow down here latly. I gotta figure out what they are hitting.

I have heard of pryamid but i dont know where it is. Is it far from Carbondale?

mike

[Daniel My Brother]

Mike,

Pyramid is about 15 minutes north of Murphy, I sent you a PM with some contact information of Shawn, the DNR guy who can give you a lot more help than I can. Pyramid has the only public strip pits that I'm aware of. By the way, I just read where DNR just stocked Kinkaid with smallmouth! How cool is that?

We've been catching fish dropshotting on humps, which is tough to do from shore. Deadsticking weightless soft plastics seems to be producing as well. But, I haven't caught a BIG fish in a loooong time.

Good Luck,

Dan