I agree, those paper lips with a good sized frisky crappie going, plunk back in the water would be sad. Especially fishing on a pier with 6-8 feet off the water.

I'm getting ready to have major back surgery on March 24th, right in the early start of Crappie fishing here in NC. But if someone was to ask, since I'll be down for awhile recovering and you want to take my boat out. Sorry pal, but there are some thing's my boat needs maintenance on before I would launch it myself, until it's safe to do so, I can't let you take my boat out.

The best place to catch crappies is right in the mouth, beer batter or dry cornmeal pan fried crappies are some fine eating 😋

My grandpa fishing private farm ponds and lakes then learned a few things on my own to where I out fished them all. When grandpa and my father, no longer could fish I'd catch a mess of fish, clean them so they could enjoy a fish meal. Thanks grandpa and Daddy.

I'm a catfisherman so I need a strong well made rod and a reel that can handle a 20 to 40 plus fish consistently with more than one outfit. So spending a $100 plus dollars on equipment that will get the job done. But we all know of some little kid or elderly person who caught 80 pounders on a 202 Zebco. But I'm serious about putting fish in my live wells.

That's happened to me before more than once, I've learned my lesson. I walk around the whole boat checking plugs are in or I won't launch it. You never know if it's not seated right or if some kid played with it fueling or grocery store running. Check those plugs every time.

Wow did you catch all those fish today? No I was just driving around in my boat yesterday and they jumped in and I can't make them leave!

I wear different fishing gloves depending on what tasks I'm doing..if I'm jug fishing big catfish, I wear a thick non slip glove to grab 30 plus pounders in the mouth, cleaning gloves for sharp knives and Bass, crappies or other species I use a light weight nylon glove to protect me from cross contamination of the fish. I don't have to wear gloves, but don't want spend anymore trips to the ER getting a hook removed and filet knife cut sewed up.

Show me any river or resivior in the lower 48 and I'll set my juglines out and catch Flat heads, Flats live in holes in the banks of creeks, rivers and lakes. I have been a big cat fisherman for 50+ year's from Texas to NC. In my experience huge cats aren't good eating. Channels cats arm length 3lbs to 20lbs better than steaks.

Flat Heads are not scavengers, but Apex predators, I used gold fish, half pound carp, fresh cut bait like shad and blue gills are great too. I have caught them in the Yadkin River in NC from 10lbs to 100lbs of boat dragging back breaking monsters. The channel catfish and blues go after chicken livers but don't stay on big hooks very well. Channels are just more fun on a big bait cast rod and reel from the bank or on boat. Usually when the Channels near their end of spawn, the Flats start in shallow waters with a good current to ambush food. Take a friend because with Flat heads you never know what danger you're in until you try to land a monster cat.

I've asked that question to my grandpa, who has built many ponds for local farmers and ranches around Oklahoma. He's gone now but he said, water bird's like duck's, geese and other animals transfer fish eggs from pond to pond, or other bodies of water. Flooding also can relocate fish and man releasing fish in his own pond caught from another source. Stocking fingerings by the agricultural department.

That's a beautiful fish thanks for sharing the pictures

I am used to hot weather lived in Wichita Falls for 40 years and moved to NC 20 years ago. I live a few mile from High Rock lake and mainly fish the river that feeds it. I lived on Lake Arrowhead TX and so spoiled having the best crappie cove in my backyard off my pier and ran juglines and trotlines off beach area's. Up here they think 80's are hot and melt with 90's. I tell them if you think it's hot here go to my home town where 100 plus Temps for 30+ day's will fry your brain. St. Jo I've been there a few time.

I live in NC now but was born in Wichita Falls, TX and I have caught 3 albino 1 jug fishing in Lake Arrowhead where I caught one, one out of Lake Wichita and another out of the Red River. I've always heard the story the fish hatchery want them they don't. they're beautiful fish white and pink eye's. but what the hatchery want is linker fish like the 10lb Bass, 4lb crappie and monster cats. hoping giants produce monster offspring. I tried to offer them a 17lbs Black Bass I caught from a friend's private pond. the fish wouldn't survive that long out of water, so I released it back in the pond.

That's a great looking fish, I caught my first 100lb flathead catfish last week out of High Rock lake in NC, took 30 minutes to tire her out enough to net her, which broke my net, being all by myself. I'm not sure I want another one that big and understand people can get accidentally drowned catching monsters alone.