Keith Lusher 02.26.24
Crappie might be a few of the hardest fish to catch even for a few of the most seasoned anglers. It’s secure to say that crappie fishing isn’t precisely a beginner-friendly sport. Saltwater fisherman Jim Bates grew up fishing for trout, redfish, and flounder in Chalmette, LA which is close to New Orleans, however has just lately been pressured to alter course after relocating his household to Lacombe, LA which is 35 miles north. Whereas the gap doesn’t appear trivial, it makes a giant distinction on the subject of the form of water that Bate’s is left to fish. “It’s mainly all freshwater fishing right here round right here so I made a decision to discover ways to fish for bass,” Bates stated.
Bates purchased a 17-foot RT Ranger boat to interchange his bay boat and took to the native rivers and bayous to discover ways to catch bass. “I used to be having fun with studying in regards to the rivers right here and I used to be getting higher at bass fishing despite the fact that I used to be 65 years previous,” Bates stated. As Bates was getting higher his momentum was abruptly interrupted by an encounter with a number of crappie fishing professionals at a neighborhood fishing seminar. “There was a man named Ray Miller who goes by the title Cajun Ray Miller. I’ve heard him on the radio discuss sac-a-lait (crappie) fishing,” Bates stated. One other gentleman Bates spoke with on the crappie fishing seminar was Tim Bye. Bye was a grasp at utilizing Garmin Livescope to focus on crappie. “I used to be enthralled with our dialog and earlier than I left, Tim obtained my quantity and stated he would name me to make a visit to expertise sac-a-lait fishing,” he stated.
A number of weeks glided by and Bates acquired a name from Bye and was capable of make that journey. The 2 met at a ship launch on the Tchefuncte River. The river produces plenty of crappie and can be Bye’s residence river. After launching, the workforce headed south previous Interstate 12 in Covington, LA. Then Bye placed on a clinic of his personal. “I used to be enamored! I watched Tim decrease his jig all the way down to the fitting depth and known as his shot – ‘He’s obtained it!’ – he stated as he set the hook on fish after fish,” Bates stated. It took Bates a number of hours of commentary to lastly give it a shot. “I used to be hooked after that first thump,” he stated. Bye and Bates put 25 massive slabs within the boat earlier than heading residence.
After returning residence Bates cleaned the fish and fried them. “That’s a few of the greatest fried fillets I’ve ever had,” he stated. After that day Bates went on a rampage devouring each piece of crappie fishing materials that he might discover. “I learn books on sac-a-lait fishing, watched tons of YouTube movies, and signd up for quite a few subscription websites,” Bates stated. He bought a Garmin LiveScope Reside Picture Sonar System and slowly discovered his approach round his residence bayou of Lacombe. On his newest journey, all of it got here collectively for Bates.
Bates launched his Ranger in Bayou Lacombe close to his residence. The bayou drains into Lake Pontchartrain and is a well-liked vacation spot for crappie fishermen in Southeast Louisiana. There was a slight breeze and Bates was fishing a rising tide. At his first cease, he lowered down his Bobby Garland jig and noticed a fish swim up and inhale the lure.
He set the hook and landed an 11-inch crappie. Bate’s repeated the sample and after his fifth crappie came visiting the gunwale, he began shaking. “It was a pinch me form of second! I discovered these fish and I used to be catching them,” Bates stated. Because the excited fisherman added fish after fish into his reside effectively, he was pressured to stop fishing when his reside effectively was stuffed, and a few of the crappie have been falling out of the tank. “It was a type of ‘pinch me I should be dreaming’ moments,” stated Bates. “For the primary time, the whole lot got here collectively for me, I felt like I had gained the battle towards these fish. It was commencement day for me,” the 66-year-old angler stated. The as soon as saltwater fisherman had graduated to an official crappie angler and returned residence with 26 crappie, with a number of of them being over 1o inches. “It was unarguably one of the rewarding fishing journeys I’ve ever skilled. For the primary time, I lastly felt like had management of the whole lot. My recreation plan got here collectively – from begin to end. I knew my electronics. I knew what I used to be on the lookout for. I knew how you can learn the display screen. All the pieces got here collectively,” he stated.
Bates now’s an everyday on Bayou Lacombe and hasn’t been bass fishing since that magical journey. “I’m formally a sac-a-lait fisherman. It’s all I need to do now,” Bates stated. Since then, Bates has taught his nephew Austin Dabdoub what he has discovered out on the water and now the 2 make journeys frequently. “He’s picked up quite a bit and now backs down the boat and runs the sonar and the trolling motor,” he stated. “Hopefully I can educate him sufficient to exit on his personal and someday hopefully he’ll expertise his personal Commencement Day,” Bates stated.
