Paper Mouth's - Spring is upon us

[Sam Ubl]

40 degrees is the temperature we're waiting for soon after ice out on area lakes here in SE Wisconsin. Search the Northern shores of your favorit crappie lakes to find shallow bays with last years standing vegetation, canals and overbrush and any other sort of cover to find big slabs as they stage for spawning. Be careful not to over-harvest those big females, but definitely don't starve yourself from some of the best tasting freshwater fish in N. America.

Spring is definitely upon us as I watch Phantom Lake honeycomb from all the old holes that are now open to 20" circumferences. 8" of ice is all that is left now, with the canals wide open. Nature is coming back to life as geese argue over nesting sites and the muskrat burrows under the bank below my pier.

Mmmmm.. . . . Crappies!

[Goober]

or even better.....crappies and morels!!!

[Sam Ubl]

You just opened a can of worms. . . Can you start a thread on Morel hunting? I don't know where to find them (hillsides?), when the best time to find them is, or the difference between real and false morels. . . All I know is I want to be on board!

[Goober]

Sam.....it is done, check out the living off the land board.

[tresleggos]

ill be looking for big bull gigglers my favorite.......i got my lakes picked out and i got my 16 ft scanoe ready to get in and body of water

[Goober]

ok I give up....what is a big bull giggler?????

[tresleggos]

giggler= blue gill......... big bull= mature older bluegill......big bull giggler= good eating good fighting big slob bluegill

[Sam Ubl]

First time I've EVER heard that name, but Bull-Giggler is the oddest and perhaps most catchy term I've ever heard used to describe a fish, especiall bluegill. I don't know why, but I think about the damn word every day - in fact, I woke up this morning saying "bull giggler - bull giggler" and my wife was like, WTF? I can see saying it in a deep southern drawl, like Hank Parker or something, but I myself am gonna have to stick with bluegill or gill.

[Goober]

I love it!!! Sounds like a Porn Star name........Bull Giggler.........Gull Biggler.......ahh, too funny. I will be using it though!

[BackWoodsHunter]

so you have any dates in mind when you think the crappies will be spawning??? I'm hoping to get out in the next couple weeks!!

[Marsh Rat]

I'm gonna give the crappies a shot tomorrow morning. I know it's probably too early, but it's a small, shallow lake, and I'm tired of catching short walleyes! Got the cooking oil and flour ready to go. I'll post a report tomorrow afternoon.

[Sam Ubl]

Well, the last two weeks I've spent about 15-20 minutes every day off shore from my house on Phantom Lake - NO fish yet. This weeks warm up will CERTAINLY be what it takes to draw the crappie in to the shallows so don't miss out. I'll post on Thursday evening after I get home and toss a line, I know they will be in.

Remember, North shorelines with weeds - don't be afraid to cast within inches of the cattails or reed beds.

[BackWoodsHunter]

Are you fishing a slip bobber hook and crappie minnow?? or do you have a secret lure that the crappies love even more? I like TINY pink jigs, maybe even ice fishing jigs, and a crappie minnow!!! And aren't you interested in fishing the walleye run at all?? Good luck do report back

[Sam Ubl]

This spring I've been using most of my weekend time shed hunting, however, I do take advantage of the walleye run, but not to the extent I used to when I had more time. Next week will be my annual trip to the Mississippi River on Loc 9 in Genoa with the usual group. We alternate between Alma and Genoa, and do quite well throughout the weekend.

Regarding my crappie set up. I use a clear bobber, generally a slip bobber, with a little split shot and a mini-mite. Pink/white is my favorite combo, although it always depends on the water, but for the most part, this color combo works especially well for me. I use the clear bobbers that resemble a bubble on the surface because in some instances I'm setting the jig no more than a foot below the float when fishing tight to shore. Fishing a clear bobber may not be necessary, but it's a preference of mine for confidence sake.

I just checked my notes from last spring and recorded April 4th as the first hot crappie bite of open water for myself, although that was on a different lake than Phantom.

Reports to come

[BackWoodsHunter]

THE PINK AND WHITE MINI MITE IS CLASSIC!!! Love that lure got a couple in my box right now, good to know no live bait on there at all though?? I'll be out saturday I have my eyes on my lake already I've got to get the boat ready though by saturday good to know the hot bite dates thanks sam!! You're a fish biologist right? did you go to school in Stevens Point??