Dink Fishing

[Illinoisgiller]

The grandson called and wanted to come over Wed. after shhool for some fishing. I went out to the local canal to see if I could find something for him to catch. I quickly got a keeper crappie ,but the bite was slow. I moved up the canal and found a spot for some early gills. They were all small, but I caught over 40 and could have cleaned about a dozen. I was supprised that the gills were hitting this early. I used a Shadle's type white 124 th oz.w/wax worm. I had to trim the tail to stop the short biters. Now I've got a place to take him tonight after school if he gets bored chasing crappie. :rolleyes: Mike

[Screen]

Way to go grandpa -

Madison(3) stopped by my store yesterday - asked her if she was ready to go fishing (her father went to Mark Twaine last weekend)! She said she would go when it got warmer - Her mom said the pink barbie pole was now being used as a magic wand! Best fishing partner you could ask for - GRANDCHILDREN!

Just got off the phone with Schoe! sounds like several of us need to get together and wet some line! How are the crappie down there?

[wewamohawk]

i have to go to Canada or Maine to fish with my grandchildren so i dint get to fish with them to much i wish i could but its so far to travel now

[Illinoisgiller]

I don't like to fish a real low pressure day or right after a storm front. I had a simple jig pattern I've been wanting to try on the small canal gills. I took a couple 124 th oz. gold jigs and tied them with a 1/4" red yarn tail and wound small light chartruse chinelle on one and orange on the other. I figured the bite would be light and I figured right this time . Those little things did work.
This evening I was able to slip up the canal a ways and picked up 47 gills and 8 crappies. The crappie were only 9 inchers, but was supprised that I was getting them on that tiny hook. Every one was hooked in the top lip. Mike

[Illinoisgiller]

Had a morning with the grandkids ,and they had a ball up by Atkinson catching little gills. We did manage to get a dozen or so keeper crappie. We finally moved up the canal to an area I don't normally get to. There are brush piles every 20 ft. along one bank.:D I knew this area holds a few decent gills so I pulled out the 12' B&M Sam Heaton strung w/Fireline. I tied on a 1/124 th oz. Shadles type sparkle jig in Chartruse. I worked the brush, and as I suspected, the cold water bite is still there. I did manage 10 heavy gills with knob foreheads. I'll be returning there with a selection of ice jigs and anything else small. The 124 th oz is working best for now because I pull off wood a lot. I kept track, and straightened one jig hook over 20 times. Also got one 10 1/2 crappie on that tiny hook.
Any body else fishing? :p Mike

[Schoe]

Mike your the man, I really envy you with the Gills that you have been taking lately. As a few people on the site already know the Gills are my favorite bar none of all to fish for and of course there the best of the table fare. Schoe