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Hit the lake again tonight, found fish to be very tightly schooled. A few friends were out the entire day (Darn jobs always getting in the way) and hadn't done well at all. Staying mobile was the key, once I located some fish they were very agressive but also were only in one hole. When compared to the weekend these fish were moved farther off of the points and more into the main basin. Larger crappies were suspended about 6' off the bottom while the little guys were hanging out much lower.

Diamond jigs and Gulp Alive! Fish Fry's were the ticket tonight.

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Ventured over to French lake last night. First time I have ever been to the lake. Tried the north side for a while with no success, moved down to the south end of the lake near the public landing. In 20ft of water I found the crappies. They were suspended up to 6ft off the bottom, but they weren't in a very hungary mood. Ended up taking 9 home, with two 12+ inchers. The ones that hit on the jigging stick, (using a thumper spoon) were pounding it. Caught a few on the deadstick (jighead and minnow). Most would just look at the bait and go away. I would go back to the lake, but where is the best area of the lake to look for solid crappie action? Oh yeah talked to a guy that said he lost a big muskie in the hole.

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Ended up taking 9 home, with two 12+ inchers. I would go back to the lake, but where is the best area of the lake to look for solid crappie action?

That is solid crappie action.... confused

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I would go back to the lake, but where is the best area of the lake to look for solid crappie action?

That sounds like a pretty good bite to me, I'd stick with it if you found fish, change up the presentation maybe. Try something smaller and see if that will trigger the non aggressive fish to bite.

Welcome to HSO by the way!

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Fished Madison about two weeks ago right before that small city moved out and caught a ton of Crappies in about 10' of water on small green JB Ants tipped with wax worms, also Gulp worked very good for them.

Moved to Ballantyne when the crowds came in, and haven't had any success there. Landed a few baby Sunfish and Crappies but still waiting to see the bigger ones. Fish are being marked anywhere from 7-9' off the bottom and and I'm sitting on 19' on the north end of the NE 37' hole.

Ventured around the lake yesterday, or should I say tried to venture out around the lake.....lots of snow. Not recommended unless you have a wheeler the snow is deep and thick. I was in a Cummins Dodge and got stuck two times trying to get to the 58' hole to see if there were any fish over that way.

Anyone else have input on local lakes and where you've been, what you've caught? email me [email protected] and I'll share some more stories if you have stories

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I'm thinking about hitting french this evening. Judging from bryan121's post it might pay to move a little shallower. How has the size been in the deeper holes?

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French: I Started out in 30+ feet of water and marked very little. Like I said I found the crappies in 20 ft up to 16ft (from the bottom of the ice). What seemed to work for me was changing baits and colors often. It seemed that one or two would like one thing, others wanted something else.

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got out yesterday afternoon with my dad, uncle, cousin, and some other friends for my old man's b-day and got them into the panfish. it was awesome watching people who'd never seen a vex learn how to use that thing. couldn't get it back from them once they got the hang of it. 30' of water with plastics was the ticket.

Finally figured out the pics on the new computer so i'll post a few for crappiekid that i took when he and i got into them one day a few weeks back. some very nice gills were taken in a hurry that afternoon!

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bwack let me know if you want company i live in new prague and i could drive if you want company..... i fish french alot so i know some decent spots...

EK

you can email me at [email protected]

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Fished Cedar yesterday and caught 5-inch crappies and sunnies in three entirely different locations (10 ft, 15 ft, and 35 ft). I was out of ideas so I moved to French. My spot "away from the crowd" was apparently pretty crowded before the houses came off, because it was beaten down like a cow pasture! Oh well, made walking around and drilling holes a little easier. Didn't mark any fish though.

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Got out last night for a couple hours to catch the sunset and ended up putting the hurt on some gills. Tried a spot we had the perm on all year and couldn't get a fish to bite. Had a few others move in around and it didn't look like they were pounding them either. Decided to move and found the gills in 32' of water about 15'-25' off the bottom. they were inhaling the plastics on the drop every time almost. caught fish one after another for over an hour before it was to dark to keep an eye on my spring bobber. ended up with 5 nice ones i ate for dinner last night and the rest are waiting for whomever can find them.

on a side note, the lake was extremely peaceful last night with all the houses gone. Been looking forward to this kind of fishing all year. best bite of the season is going to get started very soon!

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No bait. if you don't mind me asking what lake you hittin em on. I got a couple of buddies coming down and we just wanna catch some fish. not looking for the lunkers.

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i was out on a small lake around mankato with drummer and did a lot of looking but then we found them fished for 5 houres and cought all the fish in 25 minnets of that lol they where really really schooled up !!!!! very hit and miss there where more fish there to be cought but this was all we wanted to take home with us no point in keeping morn then you need

IMG00322.jpg

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lol nice, ya I do "occasionaly" catch "small" fish and throw em back . smile I only keep everything on German! lol jk

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Ok so after Two weeks of not being able to get out i was finally able to escape to a local lake tonight. i was excited to try out my homemade variation of the Thorne brothers power noodle. and let me tell you both rods got a workout tonight. the crappies and gills were putting the feed bags on. i was fishing 9 feet of water with fish throughout the water column and getting them all the way up to the ice. the fish wanted a fat boy with some CJ&S finesse plastic. this trip was fun i was able to partake in some sight fishing as well, i normally don’t get the chance to sight fish but after tonight i have got to remember to give shallow clear water a try! Tight lines guys

EK

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Tourney where you been hittin em. Buddy and me were up in Mazaska and we did alright....kind of hit and miss and a lot of moving around. Got on top of them a couple of times but and got a good amount of small ones and one nice crappie. If you don't mind sharing shoot me an email. [email protected]

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How has the action been out in the French Lake area? If any action, how deep are they? Heading out this Sunday. Thanks.

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teewook sent you an email where you out on mazaska today? i drove by and saw quite a few people out there...

EK

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got out today from 12-6 and got into the crappies and gills. caught many fish between my bro in law and I and kept a few for the pan tonight. Plastics and spikes were the ticket today with a few nice crappies coming on the deadstick with a minnow. Fished 20'-24' with most fish suspended. here's a few pics of some slabs and some nice gills

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