I ventured down to the Mighty Mississippi River this morning with a couple boxes full of Caney Creek plastics, primarily the paddletails and the Small Frys. I think I had fifteen colors in each bait along with a box of light [1/32] heads and a long rod. I set my sights on a dock that ran along a back channel where the ice was gone and the current light. The water depth along this dock was right around 12 feet for the entire 150 foot length of the structure, all of it with a sand bottom. Recent heavy snows along with some substantial rainfalls in the watershed north of this area have gotten the big drink on the rise and the water has taken on some color now. The water temp this morning was a balmy 36 degrees with the air temp at 38. A couple more degrees and I figured it would be shirt sleeve weather. Another ten and short sleeves can come out.
The crappies didn't want a bait quite as long as the paddletail right away so I switched to the Small Fry and things took right off. The key seemed to be a purely vertical presentation. The hits were anything but subtle. Color was an issue with the sky being overcast, glow and chameleon were the two productive colors.
Perhaps forty fish were taken at this location in a couple hours. I had to sort some but came home with 4 nice crappies and a dandy sunfish for a nice Lenten supper. Around 9AM the bite went flat, so I picked up and shifted gears and locations by a couple miles. I finished the morning off in downtown Red Wing, MN.....home to Red Wing Boots....where time was passed by using a heavier jig and the paddletails. I cast this rig along barge moorings looking for a vagrant walleye or sauger. Today was not the day they wanted to come play so I headed home. The still-rising water and increasing dirt loat of the water has probably got the fish unsettled for a day or two, but it was a nice trip none the less. The paddletail had one hit which ended in a cut line. I'm thinking pike....felt like one. Both baits got attention.
I was able to try some small baits made off other molds as well and as long as I was targeting crappies, the fish accomodated me. Given the circumstances and weather conditions I feel I did ok. I came away with a great deal of satisfaction knowing that everything I fished today caught fish and everything I fished today I made. No trip can be called a bad one when things come together like this.
