Set out at approx 1845 aiming for some bass/crappie action on the shady side of the lake. Hadn't fished Sutton Bay in a long time, headed that direction right from the start. Arrived, set trolling motor out and began hitting the water near the older docks/piers with a 1/8 oz green jig using Berkeley Power Grubs (they've never let me down). Within the frst five casts I had a couple of Large mouth's landed. Each about 2 lbs.

As I continued to drift past the boat ramp there, towards the north my sonar indicated an elevated weed bed with about a hundred fish. Not species specific. So,instead of casting out across the top of the weed bed, I turned off the prop of the trolling motor and dropped the jig off the side and withing 15 seconds had a significant tug and shoulder shake to which I was sure was a really nice bass. Not so. Instead, it was a real nice crappie. Mind you, I was using a light action ugly stick with 4lb test on my Shimano Sedona reel.

After a short but valiant fight, the very respectable spiny ray slab gave in and allowed me to hoist it over the gunnels and into my boat, just as the line broke. It hit the deck floor of my Lund Alaskan, and awaited what was sure was its awful fate with finality. Instead, I lifted it up and laid atop of the livewell, and measured it at 15 1/2 inches, weighed it right at 2lbs, had my young fishing partner of the evening take the obligatory photo, and released it back the weedy depths of what is Sutton Bay.

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