Crappie Fishing at Del Valle 10/24

I better start taking freshwater lessons from you, I really suck at it.  However I am still in denial about rockfish being almost over, so rehab wont work.

Thanks guys!  Had a few questions about crappie fishing and here is a site with good tips http://crappiefishingusa.com/id1.html I caught one slab crappie (14") on a trolled crankbait on 10/24 but I will have to say that DV does not hold a large population of crappie which is why I usually CNR them. Good lakes for crappie are Berryessa, Clear Lake, Folsom, New Hogan and New Melones IMO so if you want to have a crappie fry, those would would be good destinations. Last year at the New Melones trout derby, there were a ton of crappie in the sumerged trees in the Angels Creek arm. When targeting crappies using crank baits I use the Cordell Grappler Shad because they dive to 15' and are less expensive than the Rapala plugs. I usuall try to troll the plugs really close to underwater cover so you are going to get hung up frequently. If folks are interested, I could organize a spring trip to New Melones or New Hogan for a crappie and kokanee hunt.

Crappie are excellent eating, second only to walleye for freshwater fish IMO. Most people deep fry them in a beer batter but since I only brought one home, I pan seared it and served it with a garlic, lemon, caper butter sauce and served it on a bed of spinach with French bread. Of course for Adam, the FISHonaDISH pic. 

Pat and Michael, let's go get some stripers and trout. Maybe we can Big J out of retirement.

Scott

and you make it LOOK SO DAMNED GOOD! 
I knew you couldn't hold out from posting a Fish Report.  JustLIKEtheGOODol'DAYS!!  Thanks for bringing them back Scott!
I miss'd you

the FISHonaDISH pic. 

That looks fantastic. I agree that crappie are one of my fav fw fish.

I would hesitate about eating crappie caught at Clear Lake. There is a mercury issue in LMB and catfish there; so it's possible the same may be true with other fish species there.

 I love to fish them with my 4' ultra-lite and 2lb test.  A nice fatty can put up a nice battle on my little system.

I could organize a spring trip to New Melones or New Hogan for a crappie and kokanee hunt.

I'd do my best to be there.  Although I don't think you'll find kokanee at New Hogan.  Maybe a crappie and striper hunt at New Hogan or a kokanee and crappie hunt at New Melones.

Pat and Michael, let's go get some stripers and trout. Maybe we can Big J out of retirement.

Yeah, I've been banking some WAF for Joel's Fishin' & Chillin' at Del Valle because I'd read somewhere that he plans on doing it this year however we are running out of days.   Maybe I'll cash in half of it for a day trip.  Unless it is in December when I have 2 weeks off, it will unfortunately have to be a weekend for me.

Keep me posted.

Michael