This is a multi-visit report. It was a long 3 day weekend of fishing in 5 different lakes so I'll remember as best I can.

After my encounter with missafish, I can catch tons of crappie out of Larsen. The important lessons are that they bite jigs, not worms, and they only bite before sunrise and after sunset. And that if you're using a jig in dim light and they're not biting, move locations, because they move.

If I recall, Friday morning I landed about 5, Friday evening about 10, 8 of them between 9 and 9:30 pm, Saturday morning another half dozen, Saturday evening another half dozen. Saturday evening they were much less cooperative than Friday evening. The problem is, they're all small. ALL of them. 25+ fish, zero over 6 inches, and probably only 2-3 of them even made 6 inches.

I think Saturday morning it was, I also caught my first bass out of Larsen. About 4 inches. Apparently I am the king of catching minnows, as whatever lake I visit I get .... almost entirely fish in the 4 to 7 inch range.

I've put in far more effort at Larsen than can be justified with zero keepers in approaching 10 visits. It is fun to go catching rather than fishing, now that I know what to do - a lot more fun than when I was catching nothing - but I'm not willing to eat 5 inch fish, and if I catch 10 fish I expect at least 1 to be a keeper. I've given my rubber raft 2 trial runs now. I think I'll be spending a lot more time at Lake Ballinger in the near future as that is a 5 minute drive and Larsen is a 30 minute drive.

On a side note, on Saturday evening I bumped into a guy and his 2 kids on the dock at Larsen. They were fishing with bobbers, worms, and about a 6 food leader. Apparently down 6 feet everything changes. He said they had caught 2 small trout. While I was there they caught another 3 or so bullheads, and while the boy got distracted reeling in and left his bobber right next to the dock, he caught a bass about 6-7 inches. So clearly there are other options in this lake, but they require more depth.

On a side note, the crappie seem to become less active when it's really dark. They seem to like dusk best.

Westside Angler

8/11/2014 10:38:00 PM

Keep at it Whorde, Eventually you will be rewarded with some nice slabs! Since you put a lot of efforts into spinay rays, I think I might private message you on one of my secret lakes - they're hybrid bluegills (cross btw LMB & bluegill), I use to catch hand size but b/c not too many knows the place, they're overcrowding the lake. It's approx 5 miles north of Ballinger and easily catch them on bobber & tiny jigs + easy to catch 3 lb avg native rainbows. I enjoy seeing responsible fishermen catch fish!

whorde

8/12/2014 8:20:00 AM

I appreciate the kind words. If something shows up in my inbox, I would certainly appreciate it!

That does sound like an ideal scenario for me. I'm not one to go home with a 5 gallon pail full. I like catching. And at the end of the day, maybe taking 1 home. Unless it's panfish, and as you state they're out-breeding their habitat. Then, clearly, I'm obligated to take more than 1 home as otherwise I contribute to only catching 4 inchers. On that note, maybe I should hit Larsen 3 nights per week and leave with some of those minnows. Maybe haul them to Phantom and throw them in there?

I may have a use for an occasional 4-5 inch fish now though. Last night, on an impulse, I ordered 2 crayfish traps!

N E 1 FISSION

8/13/2014 4:30:00 PM

I can relate, I live in Lynnwood and am willing to drive to Larsen, long commute to get skunked or nothing to show,...but I will be persistent and keep trying. Westside AnglerI enjoy reading your ventures, props for your "great reads" and tecnique,..

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