Keith Lusher 02.26.24
Crappie could be a number of the hardest fish to catch even for a number 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 not too long ago been compelled to alter course after relocating his household to Lacombe, LA which is 35 miles north. Whereas the space doesn’t appear trivial, it makes a giant distinction relating to 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 learn to fish for bass,” Bates mentioned.
Bates purchased a 17-foot RT Ranger boat to interchange his bay boat and took to the native rivers and bayous to learn to catch bass. “I used to be having fun with studying concerning the rivers right here and I used to be getting higher at bass fishing regardless that I used to be 65 years previous,” Bates mentioned. 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 speak about sac-a-lait (crappie) fishing,” Bates mentioned. 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 bought my quantity and mentioned he would name me to make a visit to expertise sac-a-lait fishing,” he mentioned.
Just a few 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 numerous crappie and can be Bye’s dwelling river. After launching, the staff 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 right down to the precise depth and known as his shot – ‘He’s bought it!’ – he mentioned as he set the hook on fish after fish,” Bates mentioned. It took Bates a number of hours of statement to lastly give it a shot. “I used to be hooked after that first thump,” he mentioned. Bye and Bates put 25 massive slabs within the boat earlier than heading dwelling.
After returning dwelling Bates cleaned the fish and fried them. “That’s a number of the greatest fried fillets I’ve ever had,” he mentioned. 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 mentioned. He bought a Garmin LiveScope Dwell Picture Sonar System and slowly discovered his manner round his dwelling 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 dwelling. 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 to visit 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 mentioned. Because the excited fisherman added fish after fish into his dwell nicely, he was compelled to give up fishing when his dwell nicely was crammed, and a number of the crappie had been falling out of the tank. “It was a type of ‘pinch me I have to be dreaming’ moments,” mentioned Bates. “For the primary time, the whole lot got here collectively for me, I felt like I had received the battle in opposition to these fish. It was commencement day for me,” the 66-year-old angler mentioned. The as soon as saltwater fisherman had graduated to an official crappie angler and returned dwelling 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 sport plan got here collectively – from begin to end. I knew my electronics. I knew what I used to be searching for. I knew how you can learn the display. Every part got here collectively,” he mentioned.
Bates now’s a daily 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 mentioned. Since then, Bates has taught his nephew Austin Dabdoub what he has discovered out on the water and now the 2 make journeys often. “He’s picked up quite a bit and now backs down the boat and runs the sonar and the trolling motor,” he mentioned. “Hopefully I can train him sufficient to exit on his personal and sooner or later hopefully he’ll expertise his personal Commencement Day,” Bates mentioned.
