🌧️ Rain’s Backing Off—Crappie Are Coming On

Looks like the rainy season is finally breaking, and not a moment too soon. I’ve been keeping an eye on what’s happening up at Lake Shelbyville—one of my guide buddies up there has been posting solid photos all week. That’s always the first sign.

If you’ve been around long, you know the pattern: whatever happens at Shelbyville hits Carlyle and Rend about a week later. So if they’re bouncing back from the flooding and the fish are turning on up there, it’s just about our turn. Water’s settling, temps are climbing, and May is when things start locking in.

This is one of my favorite times of year. The woods are thickening up, the food’s coming back in, and the critters are fattening up. Turkey season’s wrapped—tags are filled, birds are cleaned, and the forests finally get to breathe again.

We’ve got a packed schedule this month with guide trips, and conditions are shaping up just in time. No Southern 6 tournament this month, so if you’ve been thinking about booking a trip, now’s the time to grab a spot while the calendar's still got room.

The AmVets Outdoors All-Female Veteran Fishing Event is happening May 16–18 at Crab Orchard. I may not make it down there myself, but I want to see this thing grow into an annual tradition. It’s an awesome opportunity to get more women veterans out on the water doing something they deserve. If you know someone who qualifies, get them signed up and get them fishing.

Crappie USA will be at Carlyle the last weekend of May for anyone wanting to keep an eye on the weigh-ins or see how the lake's fishing on the big stage.

And of course, Miley’s real fired up about the Missouri squirrel opener on May 24. She’s been bouncing off the walls all week. I guess everyone’s got something to look forward to.

See y’all out there