[Crappie Chaser]

I have this happen on deep crappie, especially in the colder months. The fish will float up, curl it's tail and lay there with it's mouth open and the swim bladder in it's throat. Unhook the fish and throw it back straight down. You want it's head to enter the water first, like a dive. It's mouth will be open and the force of the water pushes the swim bladder back where it is supposed to be. The fish will burb out some bubbles and take off like a shot. If it doesn't work it will struggle down a ways and pop back up. Sometimes it takes 3 or 4 drops to do the job. The drop also helps jump start the fish from the lactic acid build up from the stress of the fight.This seems to work about 80% of the time.
Today I was catching slabs so deep they would float up the last 10 feet. If they pulled loose 3/4 of the way up there was a chance they would free float up and lay on the surface while they were netted.

 

[Crappie Chaser]

Nothing huge but lots of real good ones. Solid, thick fish 11" - 14". Now is the right time to catch a monster. They are feeding heavy on crappie fry. I have been catching huge perch each trip lately. Doing some cast & blast trips (crappie/chukar). Fishing is usually secondary on those.

 

[Crappie Chaser]

I will be fishing as long as there is a good chance of catching them. Glad I'm not out there today. That cold wind is brutal.