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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Jan 04, 1972
Page
11
Outdoor editor Tony Estes notes above average temperatures sparking a crappie feeding frenzy with large catches. Gene Woodard and Larry Wilson report 58 crappie weighing 91 pounds, while anglers describe locating schools by depth finders and watching fellow fishermen, then catching several in one pass.
Fishermen favor hooking minnows through the lip just below the top fin to keep bait lively and increase hookup rate. The method allows the minnow to swim freely and makes it harder for the fish to shed the hook, with many bites coming head first.
Casting feathered jigs into likely habitat can yield crappie when live minnows are ignored. Use ultralight gear to let the lure sink then lift and drop to draw strikes. The technique lets the fisher take fish from a school without rebaiting each cast, increasing fishing time before the school scatters.
Big crappie catches occur as bass fishermen use deep diving lures like Sonics Hellbenders and Rebels to reach depths below 20 feet. The size of minnows matters less than time place and water conditions for big crappie, with sometimes small shiners drawing bites while large minnows do not.
Woodard and Wilson caught crappie found in a small cove west of the railroad trestle after fishing for hours with dwindling bait. Woodard says once a group is located, filling the boat is easy and that river scouting helps when weather and water conditions cooperate. See CRAPPIE On Page B-4.
Anglers report good bass action on Smith Lake using live minnows and big shiners with depths of 10 to 25 feet. Night bassing and deep running plugs remain productive while crappie slow. Other areas including Elk River and Second Creek show crappie and bass catches with minnows and lures.
Conservation officer Sam Spencer will address the Hartselle and Decatur Bass clubs on January 12 at Falkville High School. He will discuss future stocking of Smith Lake with Florida bass and note recent catches in Flint Creek and the river, with live minnows as best bait. Beech Creek Camp reports crappie biting in deep water, four pound fish and slow bass fishing amid muddy banks.
A note by Jack Lovett Jr. discusses sky busting among hunters and blames Magnum guns for excess range. He cites that a 12 gauge magnum load at two and three quarter inches outranges a light 12 gauge field load by seven and a half yards, offering food for thought on shooting skill vs power.
The piece warns that three inch magnum shells barely outgun light 12 gauge loads beyond 12 yards and full chokes extend only marginally. It condemns out of range shots as a tragic waste, especially harming doves and ducks, urging hunters to judge distances and set safe limits to protect game and set a better example for youngsters.
The split dove season in Alabama ends at 4 52 p m Saturday. Valley counties squirrel season closed Jan 1. All other hunts open. Wheeler Refuge tours shift to Sundays from White Springs dike gate. Tours meet before 3 p m Sundays rain or shine with refuge staff guiding waterfowl watchers.
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