Jeff Sullivan

Jeff Sullivan in Bristol hit the big time with crappies last week at Cook Pond in Massachusetts and Johnsons Pond and Simmons Mill Pond in Coventry and Little Compton, Rhode Island, respectively. Fishing during the day from shore, he popped a load of slabs including giants in the 18-to-19-inch bracket, most on NLBN 3- and 3.75-inch shads and a Strike King spinnerbait. He said connecting with the big calicoes was chiefly a matter of knowing where big crappies can be found in a given waterbody and patiently working through smaller specimens until a monster bites. Jeff also put in time hunting chain pickerel and largemouth bass in the same ponds, adding bucketyaps to 6.5 pounds to his already impressive 2026 total of lunker largemouths along with many nice chains on a black Berkley Choppa. Cook Pond, he said, is a chain pickerel factory.

Jeff Sullivan in Bristol continues to enjoy grand sport with panfish—white perch and crappies last week—at various sites. He has also been experiencing an excellent nighttime bite with lunker largemouth bass, many on a bladed jig. His largest last week scaled 7.25 pounds. Cook Pond in Massachusetts, and Barbers Pond and Carbuncle Pond, both in Rhode Island, were among the more productive venues. Asked if he had witnessed bass on beds anywhere in Rhody, Jeff answered in the affirmative. Bedding has just begun but could be well underway by now provided water continues to warm steadily.