Diamond Lake Fishing Reports

[bustin lips]

How was the bite last weekend in the bitter cold?

[nsn]

Was out there before the cold snap and got 8 crappies and missed 6 bites, didn't keap anything even though they were nice size

[fishintime]

Does anyone have any tips on what time of day the bite is best??? Tried during the day and got a few perch, that's about it

[Fishtale]

As the days get longer the bite is getting later. In December they bit best from 3:30-5:30. January 4:30-6:30 but now last weekend it seemed to be between 5 and 8. They were not biting real fast caught a few nice crappies and a very small walleye. I haven't stayed out past 8 but my son did and only caught maybe one or two crappies after 8 until midnight. At least that is when they bit were I am at. Here's a tip from an old fisherman: If they don't bite before 5:00 they must be somewhere else at that time! Just find where the fish are at during the time you can get out and fish!

[sparcebag]

Looking at how many houses have left the lake in the last two weeks,the bite either slowed a lot or shut down.The last two winters the lake has been hit HARD no wonder everyones leaving!

[bustin lips]

They can still be caught, but it takes more work than years past and also I haven't seen such light biting pannies for a few years

[gr8icefishinmind]

Was out on diamond last tuesday night. Didn't get on the lake til around 5:30.....didn't catch a fish, actually I didn't get a bite til 7ish.....had 10 crappes 10"-11" by 8:30! They would not bite on set lines, just jigging lines!! That lake has had the @#$% fished out of it the past few years, but, I have heard that the amount of fish taken is just a speck of the crappie population in that lake!! Still, it would be good for people to watch how many they take out of the lake!!!

[riverrat56]

I too have noticed in the past that the crappie bite really picks up after everyone heads in on Diamond, even open water in fall we did best after 7:00 PM, I think the fish may be conditioned to angling preasure and feed accoordingly.

[skinman]

Just left the lake. A lot of people. It seems if you move away from people they find you. Seen em on the camera and vexilar. They just came through without even looking at the larvie or minnow. We think the bottom is turning, and there feeding on the bottom. we have been studying there patterns the last 2 weeks. The big bull sunfish seem like they are in the same state of the crapps., feeding on the bottom.

Skinman

[riverrat56]

I have also witnessed crappies out there on the underwater camera that are rooting around the bottom like perch. I think there is a very large mayfly population in Diamond and the panfish are looking for larva?

[crothmeier]

Hows the east access and driving after the rains and thaw? Might run up there 2nite and try for some crappies. Still driveable? How much water is on top yet. thanks in advance for any info.

[riverrat56]

1-2" of water on top, West access is fine, not sure about the east.

[crothmeier]

Anyone going out tonight? im gonna head up after work. How has the bite been.

[lovetheice]

slow, got a 13 inch eye on sat. and some small perch

[EYEHUNTER10]

terribly slow crappies were biting till about 200 fisherman tryed to set up on top of the school, very crowded and noisy and few if any fish being caught, i fished about 2 blocks away from the crowd , and just managed a few perch and a few dinky eyes which were very picky bottom huggers. perch were coughing up mayfly larva by the mouthful.

[bustin lips]

any new reports? I haven't been out that way for several weeks.

[slabbin@thecabin]

It's picking up a little.

[fishhunter08]

I have been trying to find them for the past month and still no luck in all the places i caught them in earlier. Only a few perch that are small before dark.

[steelersfan]

i fish this lake for the first time in my life. had a ball alot of dinks for perch and couple 10in blue gills. future for this lake looks great in a couple of years for perch if people would not keep 7in perch.

[mt1017]

is there anything going on on diamond now and how much snow fell in the area on tue thinking of heading that way on Sat. wondering if it worth my time or not

[hardwaterfishing]

I was out there today. There are some drifts out there but with a 4x4 you’ll be fine. I know the east access had a lot of snow on it because all the snow blew that way it would be nice if that got plowed out before it gets hard. As for fishing, last night was pretty slow for me only 5 crappies. Before this snow storm came it was pretty good though. Hopefully it picks up by the weekend.

[mt1017]

thanks for the info

[herringbone]

did anyone see the article in saturday,s willmar paper on the perch in diamond, 14" I don't know but it would be fun

[balsa]

The perch bite has been real good have made three trips in the last 2 weeks. I would say the average is about 8 1/2 to 9 with an occasional 10. Fish in about 17 feet of water with a small sunfish jig and waxie. The bigger fish we are catching are 4 to 6 feet off the bottom.

[riverrat56]

balso, I have found the same pattern all winter on Diamond, focus on trasition areas from mud/gravel or on any rocks and there will be perch around. Bigger jigging spoons also help to weed out some smaller perch.

While I haven't iced any over 11" out there this year, and the average is those 8 1/2 to 9 1/2, it is possible a 14" was lurking around someplace.

[slabbin@thecabin]

is it 4-wheeler access only now?

[riverrat56]

There were vehicals out yesterday, I wouldn't recommend it though, if you've got a wheeler take it.

[skinman]

can you still get on diamond with a 4-wheler to fish?

Zero Degree

[fl-20]

was out there saturday , walked out but 6 to 8 wheelers were out there got 7 crappies

[riverrat56]

I haven't seen it personally, but a friend who lives on the lake had a canoe out there by shore yesterday, I'd go with a no.