Prior Lake Fishing Reports

[Fish_Stalker]

Stringers of nice bass? Really? Who keeps stringers of nice bass? C&R, that's how lakes have nice bass.

[arrow]

You would be really surprised by the number of people who keep bass. I will usually just keep a couple crappies or sunfish to eat but I see many folks keeping limits of bass. When you think of the fishing pressure our lakes get it only takes a small percentage of people keeping numbers of bass each time out to really put a dent in the number of larger fish. I'm not preaching here I don't have any answers just recognize we have a problem at least here on Prior.

[fish_eat_sleep]

I think its about time we put up the "all largemouth bass must be released back into the water" sign at the landing. At least for a couple years..

[BassFisherman]

+1

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

+2

[fishdaddy]

Same story on prior again, lots of 9 to 11 inch bass. We did get some nicer ones with the biggest being 3 1/4 lbs. most the bigger fish came off deep side of the weed line, 8-15 feet on cranks. Some others between 12"-15" came from the shaded side of docks(or under) that were near 8-10 fow, texas rigging. Top water in slop and thick cover did not produce more than a couple small ones.

[BDawg23]

Fishing a tournament out there next Saturday so I did a little pre-fishing today. Same story..... Ended up catching 5 over 12" with a 16 & 17" but the other 3 barely made the cut. Caught a bunch of bass under 10" and it's just hard for me to believe there aren't some decent fish swimming around those weedlines...

[Craigums]

I really struggled out there today. my biggest was probably only 14". Spoke with the dnr kid inspecting boats and he said prior had a virus outbreak a few years back that effected only bass. Nearly wiped out the population, hence why you see so many small fish. Give iia couple years and prior could become a helluva good bass fishery.

Way to many pleasure boaters or there!

[arrow]

I had not heard about the virus but that is interesting. Prior on a nice weekend is really tough to fish as are most metro lakes. Up to around 10am its not too bad but after that its tough.

[rangerforme]

Ya its a shame out there, 6-7 years ago it was hands down the top bass fishing lake in the state.

Something surely happened to wipe them out. But whats weird is all those 9-12 inch bass aren't growning, they've been 9-12 inch bass for the last 3 years.

[Mr2slim]

Has anyone got a chance to get out on Prior for ice fishing? My buddy and I are trying there this weekend and would like to know what's up.

[Suomi]

Fished Prior on Friday evening near Lower public access. 5-28 fow. Crappie, fatheads, shiners, jigged, and set lines. Few marks. Few perch at sunset. rest of the evening was barren. May want to check with bait shop or try on the east side of lower in deeper water for crappies.

[DrJuice1980]

Headed out to Lower Prior this weekend, have not been out there for a few weeks and would like to know how patterns have changed if they have changed at all. Found eyes up shallow, mid lake structures then. I am not wanting your GPS cord. just an idea if things have changed. Would like to target eyes and crappies. Thank you for your input.