Crappie Boomers – part 1

I first met Steve Danna 40 years ago when I wrote a fishing column about him fishing on Cheniere Lake in West Monroe. Steve said he still has that article framed in his man cave!  I’m touched! Over the years, we crossed paths at bass tournaments, events like the BASS Fishing Seminars founder Ray Scott and his crew used to put on across the south and various boat & outdoor shows.

Then after YEARS between visits, I ran into Steve again last week. He was the guest instructor at the Crappie Fishing Class hosted by Stephanie Herrmann with the Union Parish Library with Bill Breed of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. They all did a great job. As I sat in the wall-to-wall

Steve Danna helps Stephanie Herrmann finish her blackened crappie

audience of about 70-80 folks, I had a private laugh thinking about what we would have said 40 years ago if somebody would have told us we’d be in a crappie fishing class. As die-hard bass fishermen, we would have scoffed at the thought. Times change. And I am glad to bring you the first of a four-part series this week on  crappie class and tips from Steve, who is a fishing guide on Lake D’Arbonne.

Before we get to the meat of this information, I have to share a couple of general observations.  First,  without checking drivers’  licenses, I’d guess that only one of the packed house at crappie school was under 30 years old and since there were a handful of ladies there that I’m sure were under 40, I’ll say only a “few” were under 50.  Steve even noticed it and said it looked like crappie was the fish of the Baby Boomers. I think I’ll call them — I mean us — the crappie boomers!

Bill Breed frying crappie filets

Second, I must report on the on-going cooking duel between Bill and Stephanie that is a regular part of the continuing Wild Connections Series at the Library. Bill fried crappie in cornmeal the traditional way. Stephanie fixed spicy blackened crappie with pineapple salsa. The vote was a tie!  Seeing that Bill has never won, I told him to consider that a victory.  Third, it was nice to be in a room of people who turned off their cell phones, listened to the speakers and got up to offer chairs to the ladies. It was especially nice to meet several lakedarbonnelife.com readers for the first time. Thanks for reading & for your positive comments.

Now that that’s out of the way, tomorrow we’ll talk about Steve’s crappie fishing tips. And a tip of the hat to his important sponsors, Evinrude E-TEC; War Eagle Boats (Mike and Roger Ward) and local dealer Ludwig Marine.  Stay tuned.