CHisago question

[Luck e 1]

I am heading out tomorrow with a buddy, but have never fished it. We are targeting crappies, but bonus gills would be welcome.

From everything I have read, it looks like guys targeting crappies put in on the south bay...Is this what we should be thinking? Or is the north bay better?

Thanks guys.

[eurolarva]

Stop at frankies in Chisago. They will point you the right direction. I fished the channel and south center at sunset point and did not do well. Lots of lookers but not many takers. South side you will catch fish however you may have to look around to find some with size.

[metrojoe]

Head south on 24 from Frankie's to 83 and turn left. You can access the lake from 83. Like posted above, stop and talk to Brad at Frankie's and he'll point you in the right direction.

[Luck e 1]

Thanks guys for the info.

[Luck e 1]

We ended up going out on south bay. Had some fun with a bunch of gills...not very big, but some keepers mixed in. ALso a few nice crappies mixed in to cap off the evening.

[Lights]

How much ice was there luck e 1?

[Chris_the_Cow]

I was also out yesterday. It was slow compared to normal but still some action.

[Luv2angle]

Above is the reason that there will never be any crappie holes close to the cities, those are far too small to be keeping!

[fishhawk1750]

Why is it that every lake needs to have a trophy fishery? Although I believe in quality management, I also think it is important for people to be able to go out and catch fish to eat. This is just a guess, but if they showed 10 huge crappies dead on the ice someone would have said see thats why there are no big fish near the city. Good job guys, enjoy a community lake like chisago and lets eat some fish.

[johnsen22]

Nicely stated Fishhawk. I believe in quailty managment to, but if you want to have a fish fry and you want to put a nife to a few small ones nothing wrong with that. Why be so critical on them at least they had a nice smile on there faces looks like the had a fun day of fishing and thats what I thought it was all about.

[john.wells]

I'll third that! Those fish eat just as good or better than the bigger ones, and what good are gigantic crappies if all you do is throw them back? They only live 6 to 8 years or so anyway. Nice fish fellas, it looks like you had a great time

[Deitz Dittrich]

Chisago does have good numbers.. and I would rather someone take out some smaller yet fillet size fish than have them take the larger more successfull spawners... Selecitve harvest helps lakes like chisago.

[Dan Brelje]

I like to see the smaller keepers taken out more so than the larger fish also. I also think that the smaller fish are better eating. I don't know why but for some reason i don't like larger crappies .

[FL SNIPER]

I agree 100% with you Dan. I like small crappies...but big crappies just don't taste that great to me. I kept enough for a meal from south lindstrom the other day...not the biggest fish but very good tasting. Makes the whole experience of catching them even better. FL

[Luv2angle]

WOW...!

[South_Metro_Slayer]

you can catch crappies like that in every lake in that area, thats why i love it up there, i too have been fishin the south bay i was one of the first ones out there i have not kept a fish..............but will in january to eat a couple meals...... but really i like to watch them swim away.

[brittman]

Chisago chain is fertile and productive. The fish grow fast in those waters - compared to other lakes in MN.

I say if you eat the fish you bring home = great. If you are slowly filling the freezer each time you go out - then thing again and let 'em swim away.

We release fish all the time with my kids, but they also have learned there is absolutely nothing wrong with eating fish too.

[john.wells]

I wholeheartedly agree about only keeping what you can use. Nothing breaks my heart more than when I have to throw away a package of fish/game that has gone bad. A true sportsman knows this and lives by it.