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Posted

I know of some small ponds thoughtout the cities that have no fishing pressure currently.. Just wondering if anyone has ever caught any decent sized crappies on a dinky pond? Would be pretty sweet to catch a couple keepers on a dinky little pond.

Posted

I've had some success finding nice crappies and bluegills on small bodies of water. Most of the time it's not the case, so if you find one that does don't post the location. Just enjoy it while you can. I seen a post on here before about a small pond that had nice panfish and there was so many people out there for the rest of the season. Needless to say its not the same anymore. I even have second thoughts about bringing friends to these places because they will tell someone who tells someone...

It can be a lot of work but when you find a good one its rewarding.

Good luck and good fishing!

Posted

The only thing more dangerous to a small pond than winter kill is loose lips.

Posted

^ +1

Posted

That's for sure

Posted

Out of sheer curiosity, no specific lakes needed, but just speaking from a very general standpoint, how small is too small for a lake/pond to hold decent fishable panfish (7-8"+ gills, 9"+ crappies)?

I'm always looking at google earth and the dnr lakefinder for new, interesting, and sort of unique places to fish and I'm always curious about some of the really small lakes and ponds that pop up. I know a 60 acre lake can hold nice fish.. what about something half that size around 30? Or even half that size around 15?

What's the smallest lake/pond you've caught decent fish out of in Minnesota?

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

hockey rink size I have caught big gills and some ok crappies out of

Posted

My first time on the ice this yr (Nov 26th) me and a buddy hit a 30 acre lake I found on the lakefinder and we hammered the crappies all day and big ones.... Most were 12-13.75, it was the best crappie fishing i've had as far as size goes...I only kept the pike I caught (so they wouldn't eat the crappies:D)

Posted

Fished a pond that was less than 10 acres that had 9" gills and a few decent crappies up to 10.5". Less than 12' of water. So they can be very small.

Posted

Don't bother fishing small lakes. 90% of them are worthless. Big lakes big fish.

Posted

AA is 90% right-If you do not mind long walks pulling gear-PM me about the other 10%.

Posted

14.0" crappie. 17 acres. 8 ft max. Metro lake.

Posted

Devil is in the details as usual-Most small lakes less than 30' deep froze out a few years ago and would not have slab crappies-A strong inlet or aerator could keep those fish alive so look for something like that B4 you waste an afternoon on a small shallow lake.

Good Luck

Posted

What's the "magic" number of acres where you would consider it capable of producing slabs then?

Posted

Depth is a bigger deal-Like to see 20ft or good flow from an inlet or aerator-in the summer the lake should be bigger than my boat!

Posted

Good stuff guys, this thread has been an interesting read smile

I'd love to check out smaller lakes/ponds, the problem is so many of them have a) zero info on them and B) no public access.

Posted

People will talk about doing well on Tonka because it is thousands of acres you may as well just say you did well in Hennepin Co. I know someone who grew up in Iowa and moved to Baudette, he said Lake of The Woods has more acres of water than all of Iowa-the whole state! To say a 25 acre lake is hot and the lake has one deep whole-you are really naming a spot not just a lake. On small lakes I try several B4 I get a good one. I got PMs asking for names of lakes I gave people names of solid prospects, they probably wanted proven winners-sorry---I do not fault you for asking, may as well.

Posted

Caught pumpkinseeds in the 8 to 9 inch range in a pond by my old workplace in Eagan that was the size of a basketball court. This was in summer though. Saw some bigger ones.

Posted

Good thing there are a ton of tiny ponds in Eagan! I caught a 19" bass out of a pond in Eagan a few years back that was maybe 5 acres...then spent a week on the Whitefish Chain & only caught one more that big!

The guy who posted above is right. 90% of small ponds are going to be a waste of time, but when you find that little gem, it's a fine moment. And they sometimes don't last. I haven't caught a bass in 'my pond' in three years now, pretty sure it froze.

Posted

Havnt ice fished a pond yet but real tempted if things get slow.I got a nifty pond in sartell that believe it or not held large mouth and Sunnies.I don't think ppl believe me when I tell this tale but I had a lot of fun in the summer with them.I was looking for a carp and thought it was until large mouth hit it .One of my favorite places to go are ponds.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  Ice fishing remains strong across the south shore of Lake of the Woods out on Big Traverse Bay.  Resorts and outfitters on some parts of the lake have ice roads extending over 16 miles staying on nice schools of walleyes and saugers.  Many fish houses are over deep mud.  Some are on structure.  It is always fishing of course, but overall, February has been very productive for most anglers.   Extensions are being used on ice augers as the ice continues to thicken.  The thick ice this year will be good for the extended ice fishing season Lake of the Woods enjoys with fish houses out through March 31st, walleyes and saugers open through April 14th and a pike season that never closes. Most fishing activity is taking place in 26-32 feet of water.  Anglers are finding a healthy mix of walleyes and saugers, with a good number of jumbo perch in the mix this year.  Some big eelpout are also showing up.  Anglers are reporting plenty of fish for fresh fish frys and usually extra fish to bring home.   The one-two punch of a jigging line and deadstick is the way to go.  On the jigging line, jigging spoons with rattles tipped with a minnow head have been consistent.  Lipless crankbaits and jigging rap style lures also doing well.     Lures with a light have been working well in the stained water.  Please remember, in MN, lures with a light or water activated light can be used as long as the battery is mercury free and the hook is attached directly to the lure and not as a dropper line.     On the deadstick, a plain hook or a small jig with a live minnow 6 inches to a foot off of the bottom.    Some days, mornings are better, other days, it's the afternoons.  There is no distinct pattern, they could come through at any time. On the Rainy River...  The start of the day and end of the day have been best for those targeting walleyes on the river. A jig and minnow or a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head is also producing some fish. Some big sturgeon being iced by ice anglers targeting them.  It is a catch-and-release sturgeon season currently.   Although ice conditions on the river are good, they can vary significantly due to the current, so anglers should always consult local resorts or outfitters for the most up-to-date safety information and fishing advice. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing has been strong in the islands area of Lake of the Woods. Resorts continue to move their fish houses around, staying on the best schools of walleyes.     Anglers are catching a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, and jumbo perch with an occasional pike or tullibee as well.     Big crappies are still being caught just over the border.  Fish houses are available, check with a NW Angle resort for info on crappie fishing.   Lake of the Woods enjoys an extended ice fishing season with fish houses on the ice through March 31st and walleye and sauger seasons open through April 14th. Perch, crappie, and pike seasons remain open year-round.    
    • leech~~
      Maybe you should put rattle wheels down, if your going to sleep for 6hrs! 🤭 😆
    • JerkinLips
      Monday was my worst day of winter fishing on Vermilion in the last 4 years.  Caught only one 14" walleye in nearly 8 hours of fishing.  Missed two other bites and was marking very few fish.  Maybe the fish were taking Monday off after a big weekend.   No more water came up on the ice under my house.  Think it was because I haven't banked snow around it for a couple of weeks so the bare ice around the house is getting very thick.  I measured 38" of ice under my house and the Ion barely made it through even with the extension installed.  Needless to say I banked around the house this time.  Another lesson I learned today is don't drill holes if ice is frozen on your blades.  I did that on one hole and it didn't center properly and drilled at an angle on the edge of the opening.  Hope I can correct the location and angle on my next trip up.   Not much change in the surface lake surface conditions.  The drifts may be a little higher and are definitely harder.  There are still a few bare ice spots on the lake.  Very little activity on the lake today.  There are about 3 dozen houses from McKinley Park out to Birch Island.  Another person pulled there house off today, and I am sure many more will pull theirs off this coming weekend.  Only 13 days left of walleye season.    
    • leech~~
      A good start for never picking up a bow!   IMG_1910.mp4
    • leech~~
      Um, #metoo   leech~~ Author 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders Posted January 26 My whole goal for the rest of this season.  Is to watch KC lose and Taylor cry!  🥳
    • smurfy
    • Wanderer
      Smurfy is happy.
    • Dash 1
      Great looking food. So far not much of a game and I thought the halftime show was worse I've seen. 
    • leech~~
      Oh is there a Superbowl game? 😋😋
    • Kettle
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