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Hey y’all from the Excel 230 Elite.

As we move toward November and cooler weather, I recently took the time just before a soaking cloudburst to admire, then photograph, God’s colorful tree creations. We were watching the radar as a red blob approached our fishing location. I looked up from digging out rain gear to a beautiful early morning rainbow. Just as I started clicking my phone camera, the clouds opened up! As much as the rain put a damper on three fishermen, it was much needed and appreciated.

The crappie are following the Shad and minnow baitballs into shallower areas. Find the bait and you’ll find the crappie. Finding them then catching them can be challenging at times. This past week our best depths have been 10-15 feet. While many fish are tight to cover, others are roaming with the huge schools of minnows.

We have been using both medium and deep running cranks and relying heavily on the Precision Trolling Data phone app to get the baits at the exact depth. I’ll soon be switching over to longline jigs and maybe even minnows.

Having learned many minnow tricks from Tim Howell on our recent Mississippi trip, I see they are still very productive at times. Tim says crappie don’t grow big eating plastic minnows.

East and north winds were on tap in the later part of the week and it seemed to slow fishing almost as much as it made us fishermen uncomfortable. Dressing for foggy 40 degree mornings giving way to high 70 degree afternoons can be a challenge.

Speaking of foggy mornings, I’ve witnessed several boats running much too fast with no sign of running lights in the fog. Just because that GPS unit can help you navigate in fog, it is of no use preventing you from running up on another boat. Radar is the only thing that will let you see what is ahead in fog and I know of very few fishing boats I see locally that run radar.

Slow down in foggy conditions. Keep your running lights on even when fishing in fog. The butt you save may be mine!

Weather is looking tough for later in the week so I’ll probably be enjoying some down time. The surface temps are fluctuating daily but staying in the mid to low 60s. This is the time of year that many deer hunters put their rods up and get out the orange clothing. There are still lots of days coming that you will have the chance to put some fat and sassy crappie in the freezer.

The catfish and yellow bass are not to be outdone. They are hitting as well.

Be careful out there. Carry rain gear as well as some dry clothes. More clothes means a harder time getting back in the boat after an accidental dunking. As we get older, a fold-up boarding ladder can save your life. A PFD will only help you if you are wearing it.

Welcome to our fall-colored slice of Heaven.