Hal, Chick, Crappie, 11-11-10, Alone

[FishNews]

I put in at daybreak this morning to 39* temps which was a lot colder than the 53* on top of Signal Mtn. Surprise to say the least at the big inversion and because I didn't wear a lot of clothes and boat riding isn't all that much fun when you're cold, emoAngry<br />The day started off pretty well after I warmed up but by 8 AM the bite had slowed and I moved around for the rest of the day hunting. I fished deep structure, rock bluffs, blow downs, and tried to fish docks in the river but the current made it impossible to get even a 1/8 oz jig to go down like it should.<br />I put an end to the slow fishing around 1 PM and headed in with a total of 29 caught. I had kept about a dozen that were between 11" and 13 - 1/2" with no intention of taking them home to clean. I stopped at the Sale Creek Bridge to chat with an elderly gentleman, (imagine me calling someone else "elderly" emoSmile ) and found that he wasn't having much luck in catchin'. He said he was staying at the camp ground so I asked if he wanted some fish to which he replied "Oh yeah" so I put a dozen really nice slabs on him, emoSmile I found out that he was an Army Vet so I hope the crappie gift made him feel as good as it did for me to give it, emoSmile So I got my "Vet's Day" at-a-boy for 2010, emoBig He said that a good mess o' crappie would make his wife mighty happy emoThumbsup emoThumbsup Hope they enjoy the fish and their camping trip to the Chick, emoThumbsup <br />Fish were caught on BG MoGlo Ghost, Patriot, and a couple on Outlaw Specials. Water temps were around 55*<br />It was a beautiful day to be out on the river, emoTongue