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I going to hit Shields in the AM and French on Sunday with my father-in-law. I have not fished French in a very long time. I look forward to getting out there.

Simple1

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Where are you going on Shields?

Thinking about going out today and giving it a try, not sure where I am going.

Thinking about Mazaska, Kelly/Dudley, French, Roberds and French.

Me bigger issue is the ice, not sure what shape it is in.

Normallly do not like the crowds, but thinking I may fish the crowds, just to have some help near by if things go wrong.

Definately waiting on the sun to be up, before venturing out.

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Chimp...I might be. I'll be on a lake with this threads topic on it. wink

Clam Base Camp (if I even set it up) or Ill be wearing a gray/black IA suit with a kid or 2.

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Bite was good this morning early. Caught 3 crappies over 11 inches. One was over 12 inches. They are there but you need to sort through them.

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Just got off the ice. Crappie were hitting well for us until about 3. Still there but bite slowed down. No problem finding them, they were in every hole we drilled.

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Just spent 5 hours on French marking fish, getting interest, but catching only two fish. Tried everything I had...just couldn't tease a strike out of those fishies today.

Oh yeah, and there is still open water on the south end, 1/2 mile west of the boat ramp. Some idiots on snow mobiles were skipping it as evidenced by the multiple tracks going right through it. Otherwise, all holes proved 6-8" although the pucker factor was high with all the cracking noises!

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Fished French and Shields today. Very rough going for us. Lots of fish marked, very few caught.

Simple1

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Where are you going on Shields?

Thinking about going out today and giving it a try, not sure where I am going.

Thinking about Mazaska, Kelly/Dudley, French, Roberds and French.

Me bigger issue is the ice, not sure what shape it is in.

Normallly do not like the crowds, but thinking I may fish the crowds, just to have some help near by if things go wrong.

Definately waiting on the sun to be up, before venturing out.

Sorry, i forgot to respond to you. I have never fished Shields during ice season. But when we went out the first time Sunday I hit the areas around the 2 islands and tried a lot of different depths. I also tried a few areas I knew to have weeds submerged. No luck, but we hit French Sunday also with little luck. Fish were in observer mode all day for us.

Simple1

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Where were you at on French simple1? I was off the Northeast bar towards the hole, 35-37ft or so, single man clam pro using the 18th century single bar jiffy. I was going to say the same thing, they showed a lot of interest but then would just stare at it. I really need to get a vexilar, tired of my Showdown, I need color! The Vex is so much easier to use.

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Will anyone be out tomorrow? Planning on coming down for my first outing this ice season. Will be walking out from Hoys around noon. Black frabill flip over (if needed) and a black lab that acts tough then runs from you if you get too close. Stop by and say hi, maybe fish a while.

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I moved all over French with my father-in-law, hitting the 28 to 30 FOW water range. I have a black Frabill popup. But we only put it up just before we left. I will be going to French or Kelly today with my daughter. Hoping for better luck.

Simple1

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Just got off French and the bigger crappie seem to be biting very well. I even lost a very nice fish, I'm guessing a large northern, but I tell myself it was my PB walleye. smile If you have time I would be on French taking in the nice weather and great fishing.

Simple1

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I was out there last night, overall the fish size was small, caught 5 crappies >=9" and one nice bluegill. Released at least 40 dink crappies. How did you do FishinCT, I'm pretty sure we were set up in the same area.

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Caught some fish, not much for size. One 10" and a handful more just over 9 I couldn't bring myself to keep. Speaking of that...is it just me, or is a 10 inch crappie out of french noticeably smaller than one out of other lakes in the area?

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Anyone have any luck out there at night? I can't seem to make it out in the daylight.

I may try the night bite tonight, now that I am back to a normal 7 to 5 work schedule.

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I would like to take my 9 yr. old out to French this sat. Or sun. Haven't fished it before. How's the ice and where should we go? Thanks in advance.

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Follow the gypsie caravan. by 9am there is usually a fairly good portable village. was one out when we started and 13 when we left.

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I would like to take my 9 yr. old out to French this sat. Or sun. Haven't fished it before. How's the ice and where should we go? Thanks in advance.

Slim Pickens, here are my GPS coordinates to my hot spot: 12.34.56.789N 12.34.56.789W smile

Just giving you a hard time. I was out there last night and will be out there again. Last night was the dead sea for me. I was not too brave with the wind and colder than Im used to weather so I did not move around a lot. I have had good luck in the past in about 30FOW straight from the Hoys launch. Good Luck and hope your 9yo get a big one. I will post my results tonight.

Simple1

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FYI, the ice was still 6 to 8 inches. If I don't get anything tonight, you may want to think about Kelly Dudley. Its a good lake for kids.

Simple1

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i have heard people talking about an access on the north side of the lake..... where is this and is it open to the public or are there fees? i have always used the south DNR landing in the summers but have never been on this lake in the winter. Had our first kid this past november and have a new ice house that i am itching to use(only took me 4 weeks to put it together between dipers). I am planning on taking my brothers out sunday and am willing to hike across the lake but if there is an easier access i would love to know where it was!

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Went out to French yesterday morning for three hours. Got to experience everything from major fear to excitement to boredom. I walked straight out at Hoys and about halfway to the 30 foot water there was a pressure ridge running parallel to the shore. I walked over the slight hump of snow and heard ice cracking and water bubbling up when I stepped down. Scared the heck out of me as I scooted across. After getting set up in about 25 feet of water I realized I wasn't quite where I wanted to be but would give it a shot. Caughht a few small crappies right off the bat. Short time larder I caught a decent 10.5 incher. About 10 minutes later I caught the biggest crappie of my life. A little over 13 inches! Man was that cool to see coming up through the ice. Then.....nothing. Spent the next two hours switching up lures and presentation and not so much as a nibble. I'm sure with these temps the ice is solid by now, but be careful just in case walking out of Hoys.

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