Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

grassy bay crappies


Recommended Posts

I am curious if anyone has been finding any crappies in the Grassy Bay area yet. With the goofy weather we have been having, the crappies have been starting to get active in other places. I am also curious about the condition of the over-land trails between Crane & Grassy. I haven't been in there since Mr. Green Jeans cited us for using 4-wheelers in April on frozen trails with no snow. We wanted to fish without damaging the snowmobiles. We did not want to break any park laws or damage the trails but that is another story...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mike, we were upthere last weekend and got a few crappies but we had to sort to get some keepers. As for the condition of the land trail you can get by but they need some more snow as the dirt really came through after last weekends warm temp. This weekend is Hyper Viper Races so I am sure they will get beat up even more.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Neiko. We chose to go west instead of north this weekend because of the races. I may ping this one again later this month to check conditions.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I talked wit ha guy that lives up there and they are gettting fished already, how they are doing not sure but man if the pace keeps up from the last couple years there are not going ro be any left soon. I have already noticed over the last year they are getting smaller and smaller. We talked about it last night and if half the people went home with their limit there was around 150 fish a day leaving the water not to mention the ones that die from the pressure change. I hope people so some conservation and don't keep all the larger ones or all there will be is a bunch of 5-6 inchers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That spot like most others has gone through cycles for years. It will get pounded for a year or two, the fishing dies off or they get smaller and people leave it alone. Like I posted earlier, I haven't been to the park for about 10 years since a bad experiance we had and I was curious how the fishing has been. Folks must be keeping it hushed up if we haven't heard anything about Grassy Bay for a while.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was down there this past weekend. Some people fishing but very few being caught from what I saw. You guys are right the average size has gone down over the years probably from all the pressure. Don't forget they also get fished in the spring and fall pretty heavily too, which doesn't help either. Hopefully the limit going down from 30 to 10 will help reduce the harvest some.

Duckster

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 Originally Posted By: magnum mike
Folks must be keeping it hushed up if we haven't heard anything about Grassy Bay for a while.

Yeah Mike that is trend big time for a Minnesotan, especially for up north. If you do find some nice crappies or bluegills by yourself you keep it hush. Otherwise plan on having a crew sitting next to you the next time you go out there. IMO to many small lakes (1200 acres or smaller) are posted in weekly reports in the Outdoor News, Outdoors Weekly, Minnesota Sportsman and various other imformation venues (radio, internet). Word of mouth doesn't help either but thats how it goes, you watch who you give your information out to then. But there are still plenty other big panfish out there, just gotta put your time in and find em.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree that "information" gets around too fast. It used be that someone would spout off in the bar and it took a few weeks to see the crowds on these smaller lakes. By then, the bite had slowed down on its own and no big deal. Now with all the outdoor venues you mentioned, 1000's of people are exposed to the information almost instantly.

A prime example is based on the FM sites. I have a friend in the sporting goods business. He said "What is the big deal with Berkley Power Minnows and Chubby Darters lately? I can't keep them on the shelf." I told him about the Red Lake and LOW forums and he got a big kick out of it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Thought I would bump this once. The word is the crappies are starting to get active in the area. How are the over-land trails to get into Grassy? Reports from either direction (Crane or Ash River) would be welcome. I like to catch fish but not at the expense of tearing up my sled.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you check out the webcam there were a few sleds parked out in front of Voyageuraire. They are suppose to get 1-2 inches of snow tonight.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The sleds in the front are rental sleds. The portages are starting to get pretty beat up. Really muddy in the spots where the sun shines. The bit has been marginal. Lots of small ones.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was up there today...burned up a fairly new set of slides on the way there. Snow is really hard unless you go right up to shore. Crappies were not biting, fished from 7:30 - Noon and picked up 3 between 2 guys. Portages are BAD! 85% bare ground and mud on the way back. I wouldn't take a sled up there that you care about alot. 2 other partys out there, they didn't do any better than we did.

Take it easy- Erik

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah the portages are getting pretty beat up and dirt coming throung fast. I went last weekend and did ok but the average size was about 8inches pretty small. A few more warm days and the trails will be nothing but dirt.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Chadnev,

You that local guy whos dad is a fishing guide?

We had some snow last night and it made going a little better. We will probably have good going through this weekend unless we get some warm weather. They are catching a few crappies in Grassy Bay but most of what I have seen are little dinks, hardly worth all the effort. I think there is just too much pressure on that population to maintain any quality size.

duckster

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree with the pressure being just to much for the population to hold up, the size is down and I havn't heard of many pounding them like the days of old. Was up two weeks ago and we did alright but it was tons of fun just getting out wit hthe squad and then the airplanes came. There where 12 of them parked all in a row on the ice something not a lot of people get to see. They where buzzing the tower so it was fun inbetween fish. Good luck ont the ice and watch out driving to close to the edge to find snow because that is the ice that goes first. Good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The planes where flying back and forth about 30 feet up "buzzing the tower" the tower being us and everyone else out on grassy that day. It was really cool and quite the change from a usual day fishing where I try to stay away from noise and others.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jeff,

OK got it. Glad I missed it. I go out for peace and quiet and a bunch of airplanes buzzing around would be irritating.Good luck fishing.

Duckster

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.