7bler On crappie crank 4 27 12

Good piece ! Booth

Nice catch Mark.

To me she looked postspawn, but you know how a fisherman's eyes work. Hahaha

Seriously, a very big head. Since they stopped stocking trout up there two years ago, I've caught a few 7's with 10lb heads, and I'm not the only one.

But at least I can rest easy, knowing the stocked trout can no longer jump over the 100' dam, struggle past the inches deep sand bars in the feeder creek leading down from the dam, and compete with the salmon and steelhead which have survived all the pesticides and agricultural runoff to come back up the season Santa Clara River to spawn. Big relief, let me tell you!

I've caught several big crappie in that lake, and they had a greenish hue with golden overtones, so I used a pearl white base, peridot sides and back, and then shot a thin coat of metalic gold over the back and shoulders.

I used a black sharpie to make the crappie spots, and dipped it three times in SC9000.

Fun catching on a homemade lure with my own paint scheme.

I don't know that either the bait or the scheme made them more successful, or it was just getting a bait in front of them at the right time, but I like to think there was a large portion of maker genius involved. Hahahahahaha!!!!!

Ain't it sweet to catch a biggun on a handmade crank. Nice catch.

Nice one Mark!!

Looks bigger than 7 to me too! Nice one on a home made.

Nice fish and bait

Thanks to all.

I tried to get it to eat the marker buoy weights I had in the boat, but no dice.

All the fish I caught that day were on stuff I made or painted. A fun day, for sure.

Big Congrats Mark !! Might try feeding them your lunch next time. Looks like a great spot to fish behind you.

Now that is awesome! Congrats Mark.

Thanks again.

You know, I can paint a little, and i can carve and shape a little, but I'm no artist like some of the masters here.

So when my baits and paint jobs fool fish it shows me that the fish really aren't that smart, and baits don't have to be perfect to catch fish, thank goodness!

Thanks again.

You know, I can paint a little, and i can carve and shape a little, but I'm no artist like some of the masters here.

So when my baits and paint jobs fool fish it shows me that the fish really aren't that smart, and baits don't have to be perfect to catch fish, thank goodness!

Hi Mark, thats a nice one, especially nice being caught on one of your own. I second what you say about not having to be perfect to catch the bass. Perfect and purty catches the fisherman. Good Haul. I sure like the looks of the water behind you.

John