Lake Edward

[bobncay]

Does anyone have or would anyone be willing to share info on Lake Edward? I've taken my 10 year old out for the last 3 days looking for panfish and have not found a single one. Needless to say he doesn't want to go out this weekend. I'm not looking for GPS coordinates, just a gentle push in the right direction.

[theiceman]

Go to middle cullen around the group of Fishhouse's fish waxies,crappie minnows. If you have locator it will help.

[IL Res]

I'd would also recommend Jone's Bay. I fished there last week until Monday. Steady blugill and crappie bite in 20fow on red spikes all day. Fish a couple foot off bottom. My daughter also scored a 27" 'eye right before dark on a fathead minnow in 16fow nearer the channel away from the houses.

[bobncay]

I get it. Nobody wants to give out there secrets. Thanks for the advice but I'm trying to stick real close to home. That's why I was asking about Edward. We fished Middle Cullen last year and had a lot of fun, but that's not in the cards this year.

[Todd Caswell]

Your not getting any replies because Edwards isn't and has never been a good winter panfish lake. Iv'e lived here alll my life and can't ever recall any hot winter panfish bites on edwards. I can count 8 lakes off the top of my head within 10 minutes of edwards that would be well worth checking out, a well worth 10 minutes if it's going to keep you kids interested in fishing.

Cullen All 3

Gladstone

North long merrifield and 371 bays

Pelican Jones bay

Hubert

mission

Nisswa lake

Rice lake

And many more worth exploring..

[smartguy]

I lived on the lake approx 15 years and never did well panfishing out there in the middle of winter. LAte ice sometimes has pannies come to the north side of the lake, but that's the best I've done. Caught a fluke crappie ot two at times, but not enough to spend time going after. The sunken islands in the bay sometimes yield pannies but it is hit or miss.

Never could find a reliable spot to consistently catch pannies out there. I nwonder if the saturation of pike is driving them into deeper water than most lakes?

[bobncay]

Sent you a PM. Thanks!

[bobncay]

Thanks Smartguy. That was helpful! Appreciate the heads-up. I've tried Edward on and off over the years and other than slimers and walleyes, and like you say, the occasional fluke crappie, I've never been able to figure it out in the winter. In the summer, DIFFERENT STORY! I've had many trips in the summer where we've done extremely well, even in mid-summer, catching crappies...and they typically push the 12+" range. Just wish I could find them in the winter!

[hart0670]

hey guys, I'm considering renting a cabin on Edward this winter for some ice fishing. When you guys say the pan fish bite is slow, is it non-existent? We'd be looking to fish for pike with tip ups and also try and catch a few sunnies for the frying pan. Thanks!

[centralmnguy]

You won't have any problem finding pike out there...I always do good off the first break just left from the access. Lots of hammer handles though! This fall was out there trolling & I bet we caught over 20 of them within a hour & only 2 eyes. Catch as many as you can so the walleyes stand a chance in the future.

[panfishpounder00]

Yup..lots of small pike!.a good time on tip ups and some fish for pickling!.I've never did any good for panfish out there. A few walleyes can be caught but you'll be movin a lot to stay on em..

[Sportland_Bait]

I second everything Todd said. The fish are there, but it is very tough to figure out come winter. Smaller lakes and bays of the other lakes in the area are better choices. A wise man once said "Choose your battles". Words to live by when it comes to fishing and hunting.

Jason Erlandson

[JP Z]

Hart,

The pannie bite is pretty much nonexistent in the winter on Edward. The nice thing is your are right down the road from North Long - Merrifield Bay so that is a decent option for panfish. But as Central said, you will have Hammer Handles galore.

[efgh]

I fished Edward for years in the winter, try cozy bay, NW part of the bay in front of the resort.

[hart0670]

Thanks guys!