Crystal Lake - Dakota County

[bobbers_down]

I am looking at giving this lake a shot next Monday, I will be taking a kid that has never been on the ice, it would be nice to put him on some fish (size isn't that important, he just wants to catch fish through the ice).

I have only fished this lake from shore during open water, I was wondering if anyone had some pointers as to where to start. The main hole in the middle of the lake and the sunken islands to the east of that seem like decent places to try.

Any info/advice would be greatly appreciated.

[fishdaddy]

I am looking at giving this lake a shot next Monday, I will be taking a kid that has never been on the ice, it would be nice to put him on some fish (size isn't that important, he just wants to catch fish through the ice).

I have only fished this lake from shore during open water, I was wondering if anyone had some pointers as to where to start. The main hole in the middle of the lake and the sunken islands to the east of that seem like decent places to try.

Any info/advice would be greatly appreciated.

There is a 18'-19' spot between the beach and island. It is closer to the island than the beach. There should be all the small sunfish one can handle. This lake is loaded with small sunfish, it might be harder to find a spot with no sun fish than with them. I have icefished between the island and that sunken island in 15'. I have not fished the top of the sunken island but I'd bet you'd find sunnies there too. Lots of people fish the north side where the fishing pier is in the summer, gets deep close to shore over there. There is some crappie in there but they tend to bite later, around sundown and after dark. The numbers are not great but they are there. The sunfish should bite all day and slow after dark.

[popriveter]

I took some kids out there a few years back and had trouble hooking the sunnies because they were so small. Bring very small ice jigs or they'll have trouble hooking the little nibblers.

There are two ponds off Southcross in the drainage chain that connect to Crystal. I've ice fished the southerly one several times over the years and had good action. The average fish is usually an inch or two longer than Crystal, and it is small enough that you really can't fish the wrong spot. Also, a max depth of 10'-ish makes it easier to get the kids' lines back in the water between unhooking.

[mrfish1991]

If action is what you are looking for, pick up some euro larva (spikes), and some tiny jigs and fish where the fishing dock is in the summer. Find about 20fow and there should be sunnies there. They will be tiny but there are LOTS of them.

[bobbers_down]

Thanks for all of the info! I think we may stick to Crystal for the benefit of being able to drive out and not hauling hundreds of pounds of gear across the lake (I'm pretty sure that I would be the one doing the hualing.)

Is it worth it to try a couple of tip-ups for some of the toothy critters in Crystal?

[BronzeBrother]

Thanks for all of the info! I think we may stick to Crystal for the benefit of being able to drive out and not hauling hundreds of pounds of gear across the lake (I'm pretty sure that I would be the one doing the hualing.)

Is it worth it to try a couple of tip-ups for some of the toothy critters in Crystal?

Bobbers I will be heading out there Saturday and will let you know how we did and on what presentation. We plan on hitting the area out front of the fishing pier...

[mrfish1991]

Hey bronze, what will you be fishing out of, I might stop by

[fishinben351]

My buddy who fishes crystal has had luck with pike using tip ups, so i guess it wouldnt hurt setting up some tip ups, There also is Tiger muskie in crystal...

[BronzeBrother]

Hey bronze, what will you be fishing out of, I might stop by

Sorry I just got this message. I have a red eskimo 3 with a maroon chevy astrovan. We got into some crappies but the bite ended before sunset though. Caught a dozen. Two keepers...

I used the Q fish 3 for the 1st time and it was quite comical. I am sure that was the comments out on the lake when a gust of wind came up and had me chasing the shelter for about 20 yards... LOL!!! I will make sure to use the anchors from now on... LOL!

[BronzeBrother]

Thanks for all of the info! I think we may stick to Crystal for the benefit of being able to drive out and not hauling hundreds of pounds of gear across the lake (I'm pretty sure that I would be the one doing the hualing.)

Is it worth it to try a couple of tip-ups for some of the toothy critters in Crystal?

Bobbers... We got into the crappies about 30 yards out from the fishing pier. We were using orange bug jigs tipped with (one) wax worm. They would not hit it with two on the hook. We were hitting them about two feet off the bottom and the bite stopped before sunset. We got out there around 2 pm and got a dozen crappies with two being kept... The little sunnies did not bite at all to that was nice. All crappie bites

[bobbers_down]

Thanks again for all of the input, I will post back tomorrow with the results of his first time on the ice.

[BronzeBrother]

Thanks again for all of the input, I will post back tomorrow with the results of his first time on the ice.

I will be back out there today as well. Look for the red Eskimo Quickfish with no vehicle out by the pier, stop by and say Hi and warm up if you need to.....

[bobbers_down]

Quote:

I will be back out there today as well. Look for the red Eskimo Quickfish with no vehicle out by the pier, stop by and say Hi and warm up if you need to.....

Sorry Bronze, I was already out of the house before I saw your message. I was pretty close to you today, the blue tahoe with the big green portable. Thanks again for the input, it made for a great first time on the ice for one kid. He had more fun than I could imagine, we got into some small sunnies and a few decent crappies (it took all day, but we got enough for a small meal!).

The fish that we got into were in 23-25 fow, suspended about 3-7 feet off the bottom, our best bet was orange/glow jigs tipped with a crappie minnow.

Thanks again everyone, I'm pretty sure that there is a new 14 year old ice fishing addict in the south metro after today!

[BronzeBrother]

Yep we were neighbors.. LOL! Glad to hear the kid had a good time as that is what it is all about... The fishing was REALLY slow for me. Only a few small crappies but thats ok, beats the alternative of having to shop at the Mall of America where my wife and kids were... Shivers up spine!!!!

I will try and get back out this week sometime, not sure when right now...

[BronzeBrother]

Anyone planning on hitting Crystal on Sunday? I think I am going to hit it again Sunday...

[ogrejce]

Wish I lived closer, deffinatly like tip-ups in the 20' fow between the beach and island. I used to catch really nice crapies (but not a lot) off the north tip of the island.

[mrfish1991]

Hit crystal lake again today for a few hours. Set up in about 15fow where there should have been a weed line (I fish the lake a lot in the summer and pay attention to the weed lines and put my house out from memory). Got a lot of the typical small sunnies and a few that may have touched 6". I think that I may have set my personal best for smallest fish but I didnt put the tape to it.

About an hour after I got there I hooked into a 8.5" crappie which was the highlight of the outing. Just another typical day on crystal.

Fish came on small red glow jigs tipped with euro. If anyone is going out on crystal again soon just put up a post and maybe Ill meet ya out there.

[bobbers_down]

Tried last night from 4-7:30 in 15 fow, had limited luck with glow jigs and crappie minnows as well plain red hook and minnows. The bite was slow and the fish were definitely not the biggest.

[BronzeBrother]

I have been spending time on this lake due to the fact that it is only ten minutes away from my house. I have been hitting the area over by the fishing pier and getting a few crappies, nothing to keep. Also tired of driving over a million fishing holes in that area, its been hit hard. Anyone have any other suggestions regarding where on Crystal to get into a few more crappies?

[BronzeBrother]

I have been spending time on this lake due to the fact that it is only ten minutes away from my house. I have been hitting the area over by the fishing pier and getting a few crappies, nothing to keep. Also tired of driving over a million fishing holes in that area, its been hit hard. Anyone have any other suggestions regarding where on Crystal to get into a few more crappies?

Also looking to hit it tonight after dark. I will be in my QF3 with my maroon chevy astro. If anyone is out stop by... I will have room for a person

[BronzeBrother]

Seat taken

[mrfish1991]

fished crystal today with this being the fish

Taped out at 13"...not the biggest bass in the world, but lots of fun on ultra-light gear

[BronzeBrother]

fished crystal today with this being the fish

Taped out at 13"...not the biggest bass in the world, but lots of fun on ultra-light gear

Is this the only fish you caught? I will be out there tonight pending nothing comes up of coarse. Gonna try for the night bite on crappies.

[mrfish1991]

Is this the only fish you caught? I will be out there tonight pending nothing comes up of coarse. Gonna try for the night bite on crappies.

nah I caught a few more, just more small sunnies, but had fun none the less.

Caught this pig in the same hole I was in yesterday

measured just about 19" and the rough weight calculation was 4lbs. Once again I caught it on ultra light gear.

sorry for the crappy pictures, hard to take good ones when you are by yourself and only have a camera phone.

[BronzeBrother]

The crappies were hungry last night but nothing worth keeping though, but fun anyways. Most fish hit between 6 pm and 730 pm. Good time

[BronzeBrother]

You've got yourself a nice little bass spot there. Very nice bass!!!

[BassFisherman]

Were u just out from the access Bronze?

[BronzeBrother]

Were u just out from the access Bronze?

I was out in front of the fishing pier. Stayed out till 9 pm. I have the red QF 3 and driving a Maroon Chevy astrovan.

[mrfish1991]

I headed out yesterday to the same spot that has been recently producing bass. Didn't catch any bass this time around, but did manage some sunnies that hit the 7" mark...and for crystal thats a trophy. Of course I caught a lot of the dinks too. It was a good two hours out that showed me that there are decent sun fish in the lake.

I guess its all about knowing when, where, and how to fish.

[mrfish1991]

May be heading out to crystal today. I will be fishing off to the right of the boat launch by the 4 houses clumped together...I believe one of them has an american flag flying on it.

I will be driving a tan/silvery tahoe and fishing out of a clam nanook

if you see me feel free to stop over and say hi.