Open Water Updates & Crappie Reports!

[Sportland_Bait]

We are really making some headway now on getting rid of that ice. All of the smaller lakes in the area are now open. Gull is about 20% open, North Long 50% open, Round 70%, Hubert 80% and so on. By the end of today Gull and the Whitefish chain may be the only lakes in the area with ice, the forcast is for 66 degrees.

Over the weekend I tried a couple of my early season hotspots but the crappies weren't there just yet. I expect a few crappies to start moving into the small channels and boat canals in the next few days. I'm going to hit the water this morning yet I'll report later on the crappie action.

Jason Erlandson

[Sportland_Bait]

Well the open water season is starting out with a bang. Morning was better than the afternoon, the wind pick up later. There are lots of fish being caught in a few locations. One area that is really starting to produce some fish is the Bar Harbor docks, the lake fishing was really good today as well. Cabbage weeds are holding the most fish right now. The crappies are tucked down in the weeds, in 5-8 feet of water. Puddle Jumpers are producing the best results in. Look for this great fishing to get even better from here on out.

C & R Twin 14 Inchers

"Puddle Jumpers"

Jason Erlandson

[JP Z]

Nice Fish Jason!!! Hmmmmm, I may just have to try for some Craps this evening or maybe tomorrow.........

Thanks for the update.

You know if the Channels are starting?

[Sportland_Bait]

Sorry for the late response JPZ, I was swamped in the bait shop yesterday. The channels are starting to turn on. Seems a little early compared to previous years, but the reports have been favorable so far.

Also all of our lakes are now ice free! As far as I could see last night Gull was wide open. We are about 6-7 days ahead of schedule on Gull. Time to go out and chase the slabs.

Jason Erlandson

[bear204]

just wondering if anybody was out this week, Thinking of coming up this weekend. What is the water temps in some of the shallows

[Toad]

Water temps remain in the mid to upper 40s in most bays, maybe into the low 50s by late afternoon. At the real extreme back ends of cattail lined banks, you'll find bluegills. Crappies are layed off the first breaklines leading into bays, while a few fish have started to move up in the late afternoon / early evening. Remember, we're still in April, still pretty early no matter how much the weather lately has tried to fool us!

[tonyjor]

How is this cold front going to affect the fishing over the next couple days? I was hoping to catch a few. Also, what does a puddle jumper look like? Is it like a small popper?

[walleye4_life]

Where can you find puddle jumpers? I have been looking to try these and am having a hard time finding them. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

[JP Z]

I know Sportland Bait, Koep's and Reed's carry them. Puddle Jumpers are a soft plastic tail.

[EYEHUNTER10]

Hi i am coming up this weekend to the mille lacs grand casino with the wife for our anniversary, we were wondering where would be a good spot to hide from the cold and catch some slabs from shore? Maybe a nearby marina or something?? I am from lake minnewaska area, and we have done pretty good around here lately, just looking for some friendly advice as we dont know that area. Any lakes within driving distance of the grand casino would be an option. Thanks in advance -- Eyehunter10

[walleyedan]

I would say to stop at Garrison Sports and ask for the low down. They are up on what is up on the BIG lake. They are located just north of the Holiday gas station on 169.

Walleyedan

p.s. There are some monster crappies in Mille Lacs and I'm sure they are in the marinas and bays on the south end right now.

[Matt Breuer]

eyehunter10, Mille Lacs has many fishing ops from shore, you just have to be polite and ask. The marinas provide some decent fishing, if you can get away from people and be sneaky.

I hit the big pond for crappies while I was down there this week and did quite well. I also spoke with several fisherman who didn't even see a fish.

Try some of the resorts and marinas, there are also several creeks with moving water where you can find a fish or two...

On a seperate note, I made it out Tues., Wed., Thurs., and Friday while I was in the area. Caught numerous crappies ranging from 7-14.5". JP Z even came out and hit some slabbers! Thanks for the company JP!

All of the fish I caught and saw taken were in 5' of water or less. Small jigs and a small crappie minnow was the bait of choice!

Good luck, and as usual, it was great being back!

[koeps]

AS OF THIS COOL MORNING FISHING HAS STILL BEEN VERY GOOD ON THE AREA LAKES-HAD GOOD REPORTS OF CRAPPIES IN AS SHALLOW AS 1 FOOT ON MARGARET CHANNEL AND THE OTHER CHANNELS ON GULL CHAIN TOWARDS NISSWA LAKE AND ROY LAKE-WE WERE SELLING MOSTLY WHITE PUDDLEJUMPERS BUT THE SMOKE AND PINK WERE CLOSE BEHIND-ALSO ALOT OF FLU-FLUS ARE STARTING TO GO IN THE 1/32 OUNCE

[fishin magician]

I was on the Whitefish Chain all weekend. The crappies are in the shallows. Caught tons of fish in multpile lakes and areas. If you find warm water the crappies will be there. Bigger females in a little bit deeper water

[Sportland_Bait]

The crappies have been on and off with the unseasonal cold bump we're experiencing. The bright spot has been the bluegill bite has started to really pick up. We are catching some very nice gills in the shallow water bays and shorelines. Wax worms on a small flu flu has worked well. The crappies have been biting good in the early morning and then again in the afternoon. Puddle Jumpers are still the go to crappie lure for the Brainerd area. But when the crappies are a little off it may be wise to use a few crappie minnows. We been finding them in the bays and shallows now, 6 feet or less. Look for the warmest water you can find, that is where they are.

If you are looking for Puddle Jumpers, we have the largest selection in the area, 25,000 in stock. Stop in or email us if you have any questions. We've been using them for the last 10 years, so we know these baits fairly well. I'll try to help you out in any way.

As far as Mille Lacs, I second Garrison Sports more info on the crappies. Talk to Kerry, he is a straight shooter. He provides the best info when it comes to the Mille Lacs area.

Jason Erlandson

[EYEHUNTER10]

Went to garrison sports and they had a sign on there windows saying they were closed until spring or something in that order so I went to the other bait shop in town and he was helpful in selling me some puddle jumpers but useles as far as steering me in the right direction. I didnt feel like driving around the entire lake looking for fisherman so I stayed at the casino where it was warm and drank beer, I hope I can return to mille lacs area someday and pound some slabs and of course some eyes. I dont want to pull my piece of **** boat that far so I will have to try again next year from shore, or maybe this fall from shore for the eyes. If anyone has any specific marinas or shore opprotunities I can try next spring for crappies or for eyes it would be helpful if you dont want the whole world to know email me at [email protected] Thanks in advance, and thanks for your help I'm back home now and found the fishing slowed alot why I was gone. I live right by minnewaska, so I dont venture to far from home as the fishing here can be really great too, but I have never fished mille lacs yet and am just dying to give it a try. We did try bay lake from shore without even a nibble. I hate tackle shops that are more concerned about what they sell than the poor guy that just drove 100 miles plus to get there and has no clue where to go. Oh well beatifull drive, and from the seventh floor of the casino I could see the fullmoon lighted up the lake it was such a awesome sight, oh by the way I noticed a huge rock sticking out of the water what would that be called?? Is it a sunken island or part of a reef or something looks fishy I tell ya I hope next time I get there I'm out there in that full moon fishing for some eyes, Instead of window shopping, It was great to visit the area Just amazed at all the woods around there, I hope you guys know how good you got it!!

[Sportland_Bait]

Finally another beautiful day in Nisswa. It's been a while but I think we are back on track. We had some guide trips for crappies this week out of Maddens Resort and I think the crappies are getting back into their normal routine. Where we found a little warmer water the crappies were there pretty thick. The sunfish were also very aggressive. We found some active biters in the shallows, as soon as that bite slowed we just moved a little deeper and found some more active fish. With the sunshine we've had the last day or so look for the crappies to move up into the shallows in full force. Some of the better spots to try on Gull are Love Lake, Margaret Lake, and down in Wilson Bay. Pink and white was the color of choice for the better sized fish.

Jason Erlandson