Keith Lusher 02.26.24
![Crappie Fishing Rookie Experieces “Graduation Day” When it all Comes Together on Recent Trip](https://outdoorhub-res.cloudinary.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:low,w_auto,dpr_auto/https://cdn.outdoorhub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Screen-Shot-2024-02-25-at-5.20.24-PM-450x600.png)
Crappie might be a few of the hardest fish to catch even for a few of the most seasoned anglers. It’s secure to say that crappie fishing isn’t precisely a beginner-friendly sport. Saltwater fisherman Jim Bates grew up fishing for trout, redfish, and flounder in Chalmette, LA which is close to New Orleans, however has just lately been compelled to alter course after relocating his household to Lacombe, LA which is 35 miles north. Whereas the gap doesn’t appear trivial, it makes a giant distinction in terms of the sort of water that Bate’s is left to fish. “It’s mainly all freshwater fishing right here round right here so I made a decision to learn to fish for bass,” Bates mentioned.
Bates purchased a 17-foot RT Ranger boat to switch his bay boat and took to the native rivers and bayous to learn to catch bass. “I used to be having fun with studying in regards to the rivers right here and I used to be getting higher at bass fishing though I used to be 65 years previous,” Bates mentioned. As Bates was getting higher his momentum was abruptly interrupted by an encounter with a couple of crappie fishing professionals at a neighborhood fishing seminar. “There was a man named Ray Miller who goes by the title Cajun Ray Miller. I’ve heard him on the radio discuss sac-a-lait (crappie) fishing,” Bates mentioned. One other gentleman Bates spoke with on the crappie fishing seminar was Tim Bye. Bye was a grasp at utilizing Garmin Livescope to focus on crappie. “I used to be enthralled with our dialog and earlier than I left, Tim received my quantity and mentioned he would name me to make a visit to expertise sac-a-lait fishing,” he mentioned.
Just a few weeks glided by and Bates obtained a name from Bye and was capable of make that journey. The 2 met at a ship launch on the Tchefuncte River. The river produces numerous crappie and can also be Bye’s dwelling river. After launching, the crew headed south previous Interstate 12 in Covington, LA. Then Bye placed on a clinic of his personal. “I used to be enamored! I watched Tim decrease his jig right down to the suitable depth and known as his shot – ‘He’s received it!’ – he mentioned as he set the hook on fish after fish,” Bates mentioned. It took Bates a couple of hours of statement to lastly give it a shot. “I used to be hooked after that first thump,” he mentioned. Bye and Bates put 25 giant slabs within the boat earlier than heading dwelling.
After returning dwelling Bates cleaned the fish and fried them. “That’s a few of the finest fried fillets I’ve ever had,” he mentioned. After that day Bates went on a rampage devouring each piece of crappie fishing materials that he may discover. “I learn books on sac-a-lait fishing, watched tons of YouTube movies, and signd up for quite a few subscription websites,” Bates mentioned. He bought a Garmin LiveScope Reside Picture Sonar System and slowly discovered his means round his dwelling bayou of Lacombe. On his newest journey, all of it got here collectively for Bates.
Bates launched his Ranger in Bayou Lacombe close to his dwelling. The bayou drains into Lake Pontchartrain and is a well-liked vacation spot for crappie fishermen in Southeast Louisiana. There was a slight breeze and Bates was fishing a rising tide. At his first cease, he lowered down his Bobby Garland jig and noticed a fish swim up and inhale the lure.
He set the hook and landed an 11-inch crappie. Bate’s repeated the sample and after his fifth crappie came to visit the gunwale, he began shaking. “It was a pinch me sort of second! I discovered these fish and I used to be catching them,” Bates mentioned. Because the excited fisherman added fish after fish into his reside properly, he was compelled to stop fishing when his reside properly was crammed, and a few of the crappie have been falling out of the tank. “It was a kind of ‘pinch me I should be dreaming’ moments,” mentioned Bates. “For the primary time, every part got here collectively for me, I felt like I had gained the battle towards these fish. It was commencement day for me,” the 66-year-old angler mentioned. The as soon as saltwater fisherman had graduated to an official crappie angler and returned dwelling with 26 crappie, with a number of of them being over 1o inches. “It was unarguably some of the rewarding fishing journeys I’ve ever skilled. For the primary time, I lastly felt like had management of every part. My recreation plan got here collectively – from begin to end. I knew my electronics. I knew what I used to be in search of. I knew learn how to learn the display screen. All the things got here collectively,” he mentioned.
Bates now could be a daily on Bayou Lacombe and hasn’t been bass fishing since that magical journey. “I’m formally a sac-a-lait fisherman. It’s all I wish to do now,” Bates mentioned. Since then, Bates has taught his nephew Austin Dabdoub what he has discovered out on the water and now the 2 make journeys repeatedly. “He’s picked up quite a bit and now backs down the boat and runs the sonar and the trolling motor,” he mentioned. “Hopefully I can educate him sufficient to exit on his personal and someday hopefully he’ll expertise his personal Commencement Day,” Bates mentioned.