metro area Metro Area Minnesota Fishing Reports & Ice Conditions

[carverfshrmn]

Muskie Maniac, shoot me an email, [email protected]

[mrfish1991]

Fished prior today from 330-5 forgot the heater or we would have stayed oyt longer..marked a few but they would not take it at all

[fishingsfinest]

Just got back from Minnetonka. Fished from about 4:30 till 9:00 out on Phelps, slightly east of the large group of houses in the middle of the bay. Caught quite a few sunnies till just after dark, and shortly there after started to catch crappies in about 22 feet of water. Fish were really finicky tonight, almost all the fish came from the bottom to bite, not too many suspended fish would bite what I was offering. They were still biting when I left, but it was time to go. All in all a fun night of fishing!

[tracker x-2]

I just got in from Carls lake this morning, the fish completly shut off where i was at least. They would come up to the hook and look for a minn. and they swim away only had four takers.

[deadeyedave]

Carls lake is that Carlson (Quigley)? I am new to the metro fishing thing. Grew up and do most my fishing in the Brainerd Lakes area. Trying to find some places down here to get out and try. I ordered Minnesota Sportsmen and have been reading about lakes in the Metro. Kind of disappointed at the reports on here compared to all the hype some of the lakes in the magazine are getting. Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[tracker x-2]

I think quigly is a differnt lake in the book it is probably listed as Mcmahon????

[deadeyedave]

You are correct. I found it now. McMahon (aka Carl's Lake). Thank you!

[MuskieJunkie]

Just got off Prior and wow was it slow. Granted I was out there right after this cold front and mid day (wife and children restirictions). I had my aqua vu down the whole time and it was all tiny sunnies and 1 lone perch, they would come and go in waves, not a crappie or walleye in sight.

I threw everything I had down the hole, minnows, larva, waxies, plastics, glowing, natural colors, red, chartruse, pink, white........ they were not interested in anything.

[AceintheHole]

I'm headed out to the shanty in the morning, Last cold front we had was some of the best fishing I have had out there all winter. One never knows what the fish will do on any given day. I have been having very good success using gill pills and mud bugs with red euros, fishing in the mud. Will report on the day catch, hopeing for a fish fry when i get home.

[bdafisher]

I fished Waconia on Friday in that bitter cold, caught a dozen or so 7-8 inch crappies in 3 hours. All went back down the hole. But people were out all over on the lakes along Hwy 5, so somebody must be catching something.

[green_guy]

fished on minnetonka today from 1-6pm. moved 5 times drilled lots of holes and there was always fish there just couldn't get them to bite fished between 24-32 ft looking for crappies. that was the first time this year i got skunked fishing crappies on tonka. i guess it was bound to happen sooner or later

[mrfish1991]

fished crystal today...very slow..

got out around 130 drilled my holes and set up my portable...

I dont have a vex so i couldnt tell when fish were there...but bites were very slow...picked up 6 or 7 crappies, a tiny sunnie, and a perch...

biggest crappie of the day was about 9". I was fishing by the red perm on the boatlaunch side of the lake in about 22 feet of water. used horizontal jigs tipped with plastic to catch the fish

[AceintheHole]

Made it out around 5 this morning started catching fishing right away till around 9am then things shut down. Most fish were caught on a gill pill or mud bug with a couple of euros. Seems the smaller the jig the better. Most fish were taken with a foot off the bottom. Ended up with 8 crappies and 7 sunnies. Very nice morning to be out on the lake.

[ZachT]

Went out last night in the bitter cold figured the crappies would be in deeper water since its mid season found them in about 35 fow caught all my fish caught were suspended up to 15ft off the bottom. The bite was decently consistent used glow jigs had more success with the bigger minnows which was usually opposite from what Im used to. Ended up with 20 crappies all over 8in biggest being 12 all C&R since bite wasnt crazy figured play it safe and throw the fish I caught all back. All in all pretty fun night!

[MNfishtrapper]

Moderate panfish action this weekend. No eye's. Many 6-7 inch sunnies between noon and 5pm in mntka's phelps bayin 16FOW. 7" crappies and 6" sunnies in the morning on Mntka's Carsons bay in 20 FOW. Moderate crappie action on tonka in the east bay on the south side of big island in 22 FOW around sundown. Many fish on the screen but acting negative. Larger sunnies in 12 FOW on Waconia's Andersons reef at about 4:00pm.

[pikeguy2003]

Fished Carson's Bay last night, 20 feet of water. Lot's of fish coming up to take a look and then going right back down. Very frustrating 3 hours of fishing. Ended up with 6 crappies between 8.5 and 10.5 inches between me and my father in law. Thru back 1 little one.

MNFishtrapper, I might be going out on Phelps at sunrise on Saturday with the father in law. Don't know if you are going out, but shoot me an email if you want to get together? I sent one to your personal email, but hadn't heard back from you yet. I am going out this afternoon to do a little scouting before I make my final decision on where I am dropping the big house on wheels Saturday morning.

[MNfishtrapper]

Pikeguy, Hmmm. I'll check my email again. I get sooo much junk that it's hard for me to sort through sometimes! Sorry.

[djt311]

Heading out to Tonka tomorrow for some crappie action, any tips on what depths and where they are hanging around at now? Haven't been out for a week or two could use a few tips. Was thinking in the North Arm or west side of tonka somewhere. Any help would be aprreciated.

[archeral566]

cant help with tonka, but have been limiting out on Independence, Bald Eagle, and Eagle

[AllDayFisherMan]

Nothing but 6-7" crappies on Independence!

[Coach]

All day on Minnetonka with tip-ups, not a flag, 7-14 feet.

[MNfishtrapper]

If your looking for crappies on the west end I might be able to help ya. shoot me an email at mnfishtrapper@yahoo. I was out there all day today!

[MinnetonkaMan]

Just got back from Waconia. Crappies bitting along the 15 foot breaks, really finiky but got 20 9 inch or bigger. Used plain red hook and crappie minnow.

[Where's Walter?]

Fished Browns last night 30 FOW, bottom of break. Didn't mark a single fish. Historically I'd catch little perch until sunset and then get a shot at a couple of Walters. I'll blame the weather.

[djt311]

Fished over in Phelps all day yesterday was very slow all day. Only caught a couple small crappies and a few gills. Sure was a nice day out on the lake though.

[logger]

Some buddies and I fished all day on tonka, moving all over Spring Park and Phelps Bay and came up with nothing. Aquaview showed many schools of small perch and sunnies and nothing hit. Will probably try Waconia next weekend.

[CrowRiverRat83]

Probably gonna hit Waconia soon for the first time this year. What is travel like for an ATV out there. I assume with the warmer weather it should be pretty easy going. Thanks.

[MinnetonkaMan]

Travel on waconia is perfect no snow and alot of ice. Where I was over 20 ft of water . There was about two feet of ice. Crappies and sunnies were pretty neutral sat and sun. but should pick up with warmer weather.

[unclebruce]

Does anyone know what time the Big Island General Store in Long Lake is open till? Thank you!

[magic_minnow]

Fished tonka this past wknd and did fairly well. Was on plastics the whole time. I'd catch a few with a certain plastic, then they would turn off. Switch to another and BAM! Did this about 10 times throughout the whole day. Caught approximately 50+ crops for 4 hours of fishing. All released.