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Heartlander Abroad: Grenada Lake, MS
Back abroad, where I belong, chasing adventure and fish and game across this magnificent country. That's right, I said magnificent. It is very easy to become utterly disgusted and pessimistic about our nation and its direction, especially if you indulge in watching every news broadcast and clicking on every facebook post referencing the next horrible pandemic that's about to show up on our collective doorstep, however, if you'd like to help yourself feel less downtrodden and distraught about whatever it is you deem to be the next unavoidable plague upon society, the solution is simple. Turn off every piece of electronics you own and insert yourself into the great outdoors, and be amazed at how quickly your half-empty glass begins to appear fuller.
That mini-rant was inspired by my latest adventure, which found myself and a friend many miles away from the intrusion of politics, personal woes, and pretty much any type of negativity imaginable.
As anyone who follows this column knows all too well, my absolute favorite game to pursue is the wild crappie. And as anyone who follows crappie fishing at all knows, there is one lake that stands head and shoulders above every other body of water in the country when it comes to trophy sized fish, and that of course is Grenada Lake, MS.
Tournament fishing, writing, videoing, and so on has led me to become friends with a ton of great outdoorsmen across the country. Brandon Fulgham and I met 3 or 4 years ago on Lake Washington, and we hit it off immediately. He showed me around some new waters that I'd never been on, and that he was quite familiar with, and I was fishing next to him when he hauled in a mammoth 3 ½-pound crappie, which has since appeared in a few magazines.
So, when I found out that my travels would result in a layover in mid-Mississippi, the first person I thought of was my old buddy Brandon, who is now the head guide for Grenada Lake Charters. He gave me a solid report, that the crappie were jumping in the boat via crankbaits, and we made plans to hit the water Tuesday afternoon.
I also managed to book a night at Grenada Lake Charter's cabin/lodge overlooking the lake. This is the quintessential luxury log cabin fully equipped with vaulted ceilings, stone fireplace, deluxe appliances, and every other amenity you wish you had at home.
We hit the water around 2:30 pm, and before getting all 6 poles in the rod racks, I was already reeling in a 14-inch slab for the cooler. It didn't take long to figure out that this would not be a wasted trip, if there is such a thing, and that catching fish on board Brandon's boat was not going to be a problem, even though it was 100+ degrees outside and the water temp. was 94!
Being a full-time guide, Brandon is set up as well as anyone could be set up, and with a 101-pound MinnKota Terrova with I-pilot, maintaining the correct speed and direction was a breeze. The 300 Series (3-inch) Bandits in Bluegill and Black and Bubblegum, let out between 100 and 115 feet behind the boat and pulled between 1.5 and 2.2 mph with 8-foot, 12-foot, and 16-foot B'n'M Pro Staff Trollers was literally the perfect setup.
Within 3 hours, we boated around 40 crappie and 10 catfish, with 5 of them well over 2-pounds, including one 17-inch monster, that would have weighed 3 1/2+ in March, but was still enormous at 2 3/4 -- pounds.
For a legitimate crappie fishing trip of a lifetime, and in a lodge that will make you regret returning your own home, look up Brandon Fulgham and Grenada Lake Charters at www.grenadalakecharters.com or call Brandon at (662) 417-9117, and make sure and bring your camera!
Josh M. Gowan
Outdoors Writer, Crappie Angler Magazine