I finally got my chance to make the 3 hour drive up to Steamboat Rock State Park on Banks Lake to fish for Crappie...I am so glad that I made the trip! I put in at the Park around 8:30 a.m. and immediately began searching for water warmer than the 49 degrees at the docks. Began keying on the dark bottom bays by drifting along the south shore. It was slow at 1st, because of a cool north wind but gradually I found my warmer water (52 degrees) around scattered rocks and toulees along the bank. My first fish was a 14" Largemouth that picked up my Berkley minnow off a single stick up. My second cast after the tell tail tick and swim off, I scooped up a beautiful 13" Black Crappie.I methodically probed pockets in the stands by alternating a 1/16th oz. Baby bass Blue Fox jighead with a Calcutta Tackle green/silver Tennessee Shad skirt and my 2" Smelt minnow. Despite the wind, the fish started hitting....A 19" Largemouth ran deep then jumped untill I lipped her and slid the tape along her side and let her go to spawn. In a little over an hour, I had caught 11 Largemouths, 3 nice smallies and 13 slab crappies to 14". I culled the smaller fish (9 to11")...The bite died off around 10 a.m. (My digital camera took a dip in the water and won't turn on.) I was able to take some Crappie photos on my cell phone and disposable Kodak camera. Pictures speak volumes!!! Going back tomarrow! Keep ya posted...The Jigmiester

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