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.

Fall Crappies

yoppdk
 Share

Recommended Posts

yoppdk Community Regular

yoppdk

Posted
Posted

I'm hoping to get some advice on where to search for crappies this time of year (fall). I've found crappies in some lakes suspended in deeper water.

I'm hoping to find some nice-sized crappies in Grand Rapids area ... any advice on which lakes to key on?

Was on Cutfoot and Little Cutfoot this past weekend and did not find a single crappie ... we searched deep and shallow. Only schools we found were perch.

Also was on Splithand this weekend and also only found perch ... though they were good sized! Didn't see a single crappie landed.

Thanks in advance for your advice ...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators
Rick Grand Master

Rick

Posted
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators
Posted

I don't claim to be an expert on the Grand Rapids area lakes, but I do have some general advice for you.

Look for the deeper holes in the lakes. Once these are located, look for the points that extend into these holes and inside turns of them.

You will generally find the crappies suspended at spewcific depth ranges out in front of the points or inside turns. They will normally have a tendency to move shallower towards dusk and hold the same depth they were suspended at earlier.

An example would be the are suspended at 28' over 48' of water in front of a point during the day. As sunset approaches they start moving towards the point. They may be suspended at 28' in 32' of water. Typically they will be suspended within a range rather than a precise depth.

This should help get your search time down a bit. You may even get a few bonus gills this way. Check the lower depths below the crappies and you may be surprised to find walleyes down there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
yoppdk Community Regular

yoppdk

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks Rick ... I've found crappies in the deepest holes of a couple lakes in the area, but I've never related their location to points or otherwise. Looking in the vicinity of those points will indeed be a good place to start a search, particularly on any new lakes. I've heard that there are some excellent lakes in this vicinity for crappies, yet so far all I've located are "average" lakes. A comment somebody made last year on one of the forums said something like you don't need to drive all the way to Red to get loads of slab crappies ... they're right here in GR. Man, I'd love to figure out where. I understand why folks don't want to divulge that info, though. But it's always worth asking.

thanks again ...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 3 weeks later...
Gordon Fothergill Enthusiast

Gordon Fothergill

Posted
Posted

Some other waters in the immediate area that should be checked out include Sylvan Bay, and under the 63 bridge.

Other good fall waters include Sand, Bowstring, Little Turtle, Jessie, and Little Moose. Many others exist but this should get you started.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 4 weeks later...
Guest

Guest

Posted
Posted

ive heard good reports coming from splithand upto this weekend sylvan bay is always hot on 1rst ice thats about it for big crappies trout lak in coleraine is hotwhen we get the ice for it. i could put u on alot of smaller crappies

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      Big Kandiyohi

      By mulefarm · Posted

      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      Big Traverse Ice Free

      By LakeofthewoodsMN · Posted

      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~~
      St Cloud Fishing Reports

      By leech~~ · Posted

      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      St Cloud Fishing Reports

      By Rick G · Posted

      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
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By smurfy · Posted

      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
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      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.

  I accept