Trolling for Crappie, Grenada Lake Style
Are you looking for big crappie? Well, look no further than the lake dubbed, “the home of three-pound crappie.”
It might not have a three-pound crappie hiding behind every submerged stump, but it holds its fair share of some big slabs. Not accustomed to catching crappie much over 12-inches in my home state of Illinois, the thought of catching trophy crappie was exciting and something my wife, nephew and mother were looking forward to.
Our trip would be to Grenada, Mississippi with Jason Golding, owner of Grenada Lake Charters. With decades of guiding clients to trophy crappie, state of the art Angler Qwest fishing pontoons, mouthwatering food and luxurious, yet cozy cabins, we knew we were about to embark on a fishing adventure that we would not soon forget.
Pulling up to the headquarters pf Grenada Lake Charters we found a spacious outdoor kitchen (named the “Slab Shack”) equipped with all the amenities of a home kitchen, plus a fire pit. What more could you ask for? In no time, ribeye steaks and baked potatoes found the grill top and soon our plates along with fresh vegetables and breads. When you thought you had enough to eat, they brought out the homemade ice cream and pies. With full bellies, we planned out the next day’s schedule as we relaxed next to a warm fire, and soon thereafter retied for the night to a spacious “cabin” that I could have easily called home.
Having the opportunity to catch big crappie is one thing but being able to do it in comfort is something totally different. Something else that was different was the act of trolling for crappies. Using 20-foot poles, we slowly maneuvered the pontoon through the stumps until a pole doubled over, raised the rod up until the fish broke the water’s surface and was scooped up by an extra-long net. Admittedly, it took a little while to get use to not reeling when a fish took advantage our minnows.
Several times we had doubles and even triples. Not only that, but enough times that I lost count, the same angler was pulling in two crappies at once. Thankfully, the 824 Crappie by Angler Qwest provided enough room that we were able to stay out of each other’s way when things got a little hectic and Jason was able to make easy work netting the fish. With a whopping 24-feet of length, it was nice not having to trip over each other as we fought fish after fish.
If you have ever wanted to catch your limit of big crappie, Grenada Lake Charters are the people you need to get in touch with. They will work hard to get you on the fish. With fully exclusive packages, these trips are great for the entire family, a group of friends, or corporate events.
This is the first time I had fished out of an Angler Qwest pontoon. I can’t say enough about these boats. I had never given any thought to fishing out of a pontoon but have quickly became a believer in their capabilities. With ample seating, plenty of storage, room to easily move about and its smooth riding it is everything you need to fish out of it. A great advantage to this boat is that even though it is built with the fisherman in mind, it can be used for a relaxing day on the water skiing, entertaining or doing absolutely nothing. This might make it easier to convince your significant other to let you buy a fishing boat.
Not only are crappie one of my favorite fish to eat, but the excitement of non-stop action has me already planning my next trip to Grenada Lake. And, after fishing from the 824 Crappie from Angler Qwest, I am doing a little more thinking about my next boat purchase.
For more information on Grenada Lake Charters, visit www.grenadalakecharters.com
More information on the 824 Crappie and other Angler Qwest Pontoons can be found at www.anglerqwestpontoons.com
