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USA Crappies!!!


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There are those that honor themselves with supposed Rainy Lake Crappie catches, but these guys get it done.

Brad and Steve Lange spent time with me on Rainy Lake the last few days and we had a great time. I am sure they will be back after icing some "American slabs". RABC not required. We iced walleyes and crappies, but not without hard work in chilly temps and waking to sore backs each morning.

This is yet another example of why you should be here ice fishing on beautiful Rainy Lake. Thanks guys for fishing so hard. It makes all the effort and prep work worth while. See you again soon!

Crappies, Smallies, Walleyes and monster pike in a month??? You should be asking yourself why haven't you booked your trip. Special thanks to Dizzy Dog for helping out.

Check out the pictures of these slab Crappies on our Facebook page at Paradise Outfitters Inc.

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Hi Meilertson,

I thought I knew almost all guides on Rainy, however you are one I guess maybe I don't know. Do you live here in the Falls? I see you have 11 posts so I guess that might be why. I have been fishing Rainy for 30+ years and I can count less then 20 crappies I have caught on the American side of Rainy during the winter months. Canadian side of Rainy can be outstanding during the winter when you hit it right. We know that walleyes travel up to 40 miles on the lake as that has been proven thru tagging. It is possible that Crappies also travel long distances to winter & return in the spring. There is only 1 individual that I know who has actually caught limits of crappies in American waters and that is Bob Piekarski who is maybe the best crappie fisherman in our area. He knows of buried structure, but even Bob has to hit the spot at the right time. I know there a numerous bodies of waters near Rainy (American side) that hold crappies during the winter.

I have been catching some dandy walleyes in 18 foot of water the last week. Also some nice walleyes on reef edges 18 to 32 feet. I have been using a 18" vanish transition line leader, a glow white 1/8 oz. jig or a glow red flyer...tip w/ minnows. Sincerely,

Fishmeister

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Fishmeister,

Meilertson is Matt who works at the One Stop. He is a nice young man. His dad is Deron who runs Paradise Outfitters and is a hell of a great guide and good guy. Matt edited the post from Derons Lakestate fishing site post (no doubt on his own). No where did he say he got his limit of crappies on the US side but that they caught a few with hard work drilling many holes along with catching walleyes. I had my first guide trip at age 13...40 years ago. I have caught crappies through the ice on the US side (not as many as I would like all the time but have caught limits) but there are those that don't broadcast what their catches are. Personnally, I would like to see this site more positive and I might start supporting it more with an ad.

Sincerely,

Woody

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Was thinking bout fishing end of march, from what I understand that is the best time, thru the ice, to try and target crappies and still be on the US side? any help would be appreciated.

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Jacob,

Now we're talkin! That's what it's all about. You really should come up to experience Rainy and Voyageurs National Park.

Thanks Woody. Well said. I am excited to be a part of the HSO Staff and really want to focus on promoting HSO as the best place to get helpful and up to date information. Not specific fishing hot spots or making fishing some kind of a numbers contest. That was not my intent. Certain "patterns" are certainly appropriate and kind of fun to read and hear about.

Sorry about the 20 crappies Fishmeister. I do live up the lake and I am here full time and am fired up to make a living in the fishing business, like my dad. That only comes with time, experience, and a lot of hard work as you well know I suspect. Enough about me though. I am simply honored to be able to share my experiences through HSO and thank them for the opportunity!

I know my dad has been able to find crappies at certain times during the winter right here on the US side of Rainy. Woody has too it sounds like. Obviously, you don't go get 'em every day, but it sure is fun to try! These fish are MONSTERS and deserve the all secrecy and respect we as anglers can give them. My dad has said he doesn't even like to post about the crappies. People really get fired up about getting after them! To me it's more about the challenge and learning some exciting new things along the way. I fish with him through Paradise as often as I can and I can tell you is one of those fish tickled the 16 inch mark the other day.

Jacob - I would look to come in February. These fish move often and it seems like they are able to pull a bit of a disappearing act as the classic "late ice" time approaches. This such an awesome place to live, work, and fish that you can't go wrong no matter when you come. Consider coming up and fishing with us here at Paradise.

Thanks again HSO and let's keep people coming up to Rainy and VNP! See you soon.

Matt

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I'll 2nd that Woody! Got to meet Deron when we were up last year. One heck of a nice guy and not afraid to give a guy a point in the right direction. Also it would be really nice to see you on here more Woody. I understand your reasonings for not saying much so if a more positive approach by everyone on here will get you on here more i'm all for that!

As for you Matt, haven't had the chance to meet you but maybe in the near future. Also would like to thank you Matt for your reports and info you take the time to post on here. Its nice to see a young man that is so excited about fishing and willing to share it with others. For guys like me its almost as exciting being able to read about whats going on up there as it is making my couple fishing trips up there every year! Be safe everyone and tight lines!

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Hey Big T!

Good to hear from you. I will try to post more often and without a doubt

LeeAnne and i look forward to seeing you again...soon!

Sincerely,

Woody

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Hi,

We have tried talking the DNR in transmitting those crappies in the spring so we have a idea where they go in the winter...more in a joking way, as Kevin Peterson (DNR fisheries mgr) just smiled. I agree we need more young folks showing a interest in fishing and it sounds like Matt may have a good start.

Fished today in 18 feet of water with 4 guys...it wasn't fast but we caught around a dozen eyes up to 25", about 30 perch & 5 pike. Afternoon was much better then the morning.

Sincerely,

Fishmeister

Welcome hot spot outdoors Matt!!!

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Fishmeister,

Were the perch nice size? I have noticed the last few years we seem to be getting consistently bigger perch without the worms. Even in the summer while catching the weed walleyes!

Sincerely,

Woody

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Hey Woody,

Have saved some of the bigger perch & they were clean. Also been catching some sauger up to 17" & on Rainy those are big saugers.

Sincerely,

Fishmesiter

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • chaffmj
      I have gone into Basswood from Fall Lake. From Fall the first portage takes you into Newton and that is the easier of the two. The portage from Newton into Pipestone is the one with a hill. It is definitely harder! You also have to be careful when you go down the hill because the boat will pick up speed and can get away from you. Yes, you can get to Jackfish without going into Canada and there are signs letting you know where Canada is.
    • gimruis
    • TenthousandLakes
      I must be real lucky, caught another healthy one, 30"  in the shallows tonight less than 6 FOW.    
    • leech~~
      Dude, I already trolled that spot, nothing but slimmers!  😄 Glad I saved money by stopping smoking a while ago. It's free most of the summer now! Been calm and yellow out for days! 🤧
    • leech~~
      Bet you would enjoy a nice paddle down the Cahulawassee River, too then. 😏
    • delcecchi
      Talked to my neighbor is getting ready for a trip via fall lake.    They use small boats with like 10 to 25 hp outboards and portage wheels.   There are two portages to get into pipestone bay, with the second one being over a hill.   From pipestone they can go around to Jackfish? bay,   There is a big sign to warn about where the no motors area is.    
    • Wanderer
      Don’t go!!!   I mean, that’s what they say anyway.
    • Kettle
    • leech~~
      Seems like a long way to climb, to sight in a gun! 😐
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South End... The walleye and sauger bite continues to be very good with anglers enjoying consistent action.  As we transition into fall, fish are being found at various depths, but 25 - 32 feet of water has been consistent. Jigging continues to pick up as the waters cool.  Water temps this week are down to 64.  Top jig colors this week include gold, orange, chartreuse, and pink.  For some anglers, big numbers caught this week jigging with frozen emerald shiners on the lake.   Some anglers are jigging on or adjacent to structure.  Others are finding schools of walleyes and saugers out over deep mud.  Using sonar to find fish is helpful.     Spinners and trolling crankbaits continue to produce fish as well.  This is a transition time where multiple presentations are working.  As the season progresses, jigging will take over as the top technique.     For those pulling spinners, gold, pink, orange, glow red, or glow white has been successful. Adjust your weights to 2 - 3 ounces to match the depth and speed you are drifting / trolling. Trolling crankbaits is still producing nice walleyes.  Some goto colors are gold, chrome / blue, pink UV firetiger, and chartreuse.     More and more walleyes are showing up along the south shore.  It seems things are gravitating towards fall patterns where good numbers of the fish are both chasing shiners and moving closer to shorelines.  The bite has been excellent and is really shaping up nicely for the fall jig bite both on the lake and in the Rainy River. On the Rainy River... A variety of species continue to be caught on the Rainy River.  Nice current flow is providing fall anglers some optimism for this year's fall shiner and walleye run being a banner year.  Some reports of nice walleyes being caught in the river already this week.   There are reports of shiners in the river all the way up to Birchdale.  Things seem to be setting up nice for a great fall on the river.  Mother Nature will have the final say of course. Sturgeon fishing is picking up with cooling waters.  Anglers anchor up and use a combination of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig with a flat no roll sinker.     Find a hole in the river or simply mark these big fish in an area, anchor up and soak some crawlers! Up at the NW Angle... Walleye fishing up at the NW Angle remains really good. Fish are being found in many areas.  Structure, neck down areas as well as on the flats.   Some good fish are still holding in the deep mud east and northeast of Little Oak Island in the mud.  Areas around Four Blocks, and north of Garden Island producing fish as well.    As on the south end, jigging, spinners / crawlers and trolling crankbaits are all producing walleyes.   Smallmouth bass, pike and muskies are also being caught, both by unsuspecting walleye anglers and when targeted.  As the waters cool, crappies and jumbo perch are also showing up nicely for anglers.    
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