I practiced shooting docks around Clarks Bridge on Friday for the first time, and was able to put one slab in the boat on a red/chart 1/32 popeye jig under a dock with a 30 ft depth. I fished the one part of the dock that had a single piece of styrofoam under it. I shot the jig roughly 7 feet back under the dock and it was nailed hard. The fish was pulling hard and dove straight to the brush and broke me off. It was either a 3lb slab or a bass. I was so excited about getting my 1st bite of 2010 that it didn’t matter. I shot the jig back into the same spot and brought a 3/4 slab into the boat and released him. I couldn’t believe how excited I was about catching a fish. It was the only one for the day. I just couldn’t find the right color or dock to produce multiple strikes. Water was 59 degrees.

Saturday I took the kids crappie fishing in Toto creek. Water temp was 57. I brought minnows to float under a bobber, but I could not locate any good brush piles and the wind was blowing hard until 6pm. So my 11 yr old asked me if he could learn to shoot docks because he knew I wanted to come to Toto and learn how to do it. I told him we could try, but the wind would create some difficulties with positioning the boat and shooting the jig far enough under the docks. We gave it a shot and for 2 hrs we practiced together. My 7 year old was in charge of the minnow watch and keeping the boat away from the docks. That kept him pretty busy. My oldest became very surgical with shooting that jig under those docks. Never hooked himself or lost a jig and I bet he shot it at least 200 times. I shot my jig under a pontoon and got bit. This crappie took me under the motor and wrapped around it. I fought with him carefully and was able to free him and then I gave the rod to my 7 year old and he reeled him into the boat. It was the only fish of the day and I learned a lot about shooting docks. I just need to figure out how to pull more than 1 fish from a dock. I'm still kind of shocked that we were not able to get bit at least twice. Maybe next time. We had a blast and I will let the picture speak for itself.

Great picture, good report. Congratulations guys.

At a way to put a smile the kids faces!

Man, I just love your attitude, and that of your kids!! Way to go! That's just the way to both learn and teach, and it will pay off in the future. Great picture, and a nice crappie.

I'm hoping to take my 3-year-old pond fishing this Friday, just me and him. He's never been fishing. Assuming the bream or catfish (maybe bass) want worms, it will be his first fish ever, and I'm excited to see his reaction. The camera will be handy.

Great to hear.

I am glad you finally got one.It will all come together for you soon

They've got the hang of it. The only way I could catch one is with a cast net. Crappie do make great striper bait so while you're fishing the docks put one back behind the boat on a balloon.

Congrats on catching some fish. I bet your kids were starting to think there were not any fish in lanier. Now that the skunks off you can fill up some livewells.

Thanks for the kind words guys.

Good luck on Friday with your son Charles. Look forward to a pic of his first catch.

David, I was the one who thought there were no fish in Lanier, my kids just wondered why I couldn't catch any. They have seen the photos of the fish you guys catch

Way to go! Looking at the smiles on your boys' faces, that fish was quite a trophy!