Nice Crappie!

hey basser61 you know if that guy lets other fish it or just you.

I've never seen a crappie with such an orange belly, almost looks like a crappie/pumpkin seed hybrid

Rapjohn a private lake? My first thought was you must be mistaken which lake you were on, but the background in your picture sure looks like Rapjohn. Rapjohn Lake is a public lake with a public boatlaunch. The land around it is owned by at least four, if not more land owners. Possibly you may have made a continued driving straight and pulled into one of the farm homes close to the lake, but believe me, there is a public launch, and the crappie population has always been very good there. I've bassed that lake for countless years, loving its seclustion and how quiet it is there, far off the main road, with no homes directly on the lake. Nothing but lilly pads. If you did go to a private home, you kept going straight once you were off Hiway 7. There is a right turn, then a left turn which goes straight down to the public launch.

If you go to "Lake Gallery" there are two pictures of Rapjohn Lake. The first one is looking right at the boatlaunch. If you pull up a map on Mapquest and follow hyway 7, you will see where you turned toward the lake, then you will see a right turn, followed by a left turn. It shows that road going straight to the lake. That's the launch. It is a gravel launch, and very shallow when the lake is high.

Xwisconyfisherman, yea these Crappie did have the Gold all over there underside never seen one in this state with such color, I'm guessing because the tint of the water it was really dark, even the Bass were very dark on top with color on the bottom the Bass had the turquiose color under their chins that they get in certain colors of water as oppossed to like a Alder lake Bass which is almost clear with green and the black Lateral line, on these Bass you did not see the Dark spotted lines going down the side just a solid dark color on top and sides then the white with torquiose around the chin, but the Crappie with the gold chin and underbelly was something I've only seen in this lake. Rickydbasser: It is not Rapjohn forgot to post the report on Secret Lakes so had to pick a lake from the list in order to get this report posted, it is close to Rapjohn, it doesn't have a name, heard it was called Cranberry Lake or Lake 23 it is on Google Earth about 1/4 mile North of Silver Lake, on the same side of Hwy. 7, guy charges 25.00 dollars during the week and 50 on weekends, not bad on weekdays don't think I'll do weekends though. He has boats down there, you'll have to bring the rest, and you are going to have to talk to him yourself as I was told not to give out his phone number. Rapjohn I guarantee does not have the Crappie in it like this lake, it is a no brainer, Sorry I posted my report under Rapjohn but that is the only spot I could put it on once I got started. Hawaiiboy396 he will probably let you fish there just have to go there and get permission and his phone number and your in. It is off 390th St Ct. E. off Hwy 7 before Silver Lake must warn you'll though owner does not allow you to keep the Crappie for cooking just the Bass, I don't think he knows the size of some of the Crappie in his lake but I'm pretty sure my buddy threw back the State record of 4.5 pds, these are bigger than they look and are thick about 2 inches on the shoulders lots of meat, sure would be some good eating if you could take em home and fry em up. Thought if we keep the little ones the owner would let us take some home but when we got back to shore he greeted us there and asked that we put them back. Thanks for the comments hope you'll have as I did if you'll go. Cheap Thrills Dudes and Babes and Tight Lines.

Okay, that explains that. There is several little private lakes in that area. I used to go to one called Krager Lake off Hyway 7. Had to rent a wooden row boat from the owner to fish it. You were also supplied with a coffee can, inthat the boats left something to be desired as far as keeping the water out. I don't know if thats the same lake or not. I remember the farm house sat on a hill and you had to walk down to the lake. I remember the lake was pretty shallow and weedy too. But it had huge bass in it.

what color frog?

Bassmaster6, The frogs I use are on discounttackle.com they are called SIZMIC Toads and I use the ones that do not float cause I think they work well when dragged through lillies or let sink off weeds twitch twitch and a pull and the Bass just can't resist and there weedless so you can toss them into the thickest you want, I use braid cause you never know when they hit where they go usually it is down and dirty into the weeds so the braid just cuts it up like butter and must say use glue on the tip close to the eye cause that is what gets torn up first and if you forget and the head gets worn out I've just tore off the bad spot and hook into it again and keep on going. Unlike the ones that just work on the surface these will sink down slow, add a split shot 4" inches up and it sinks down to get the ones in deeper water, or hold rod tip up and u can work it just as well on the surface, bouncing of pads, cat tails, scum floating, weeds, and in overhangs it is tough bait that seems to get the strikes from Bass regularly and even an occasional Crappie it you let it sink down some twitch twitch, pull twitch and hold on. I bought the green, yellow, with the little black flakes in it, they vary darker green and yellow mix but for the most part are consistent with the color scheme. Hope this helps u out, Have Fun Fishing cause I know if the Bass u fishing for see it most likely its gonna eat it.

Sir, you are some kind of stupid. This report is absolutely appalling, it's unbelievable that you could disrespect the land owners wishes by attempting to keep Crappie, which he specifically told you not to. Your actions are the epitome of ignorance and why person such as myself and other rule/law abiding anglers are seldomly allowed access to private waters as you have ruined Land Owners trust in the angling community. I only hope for everyone else's sake that you and your friend are never again allowed to mess up another fishery with your ignorant and disrespectful actions.