Taking kids ice fishing

[Daniel Hayes]

Looking for a decent lake in central mn that will be active enough to keep my 6 and 4 yo interested. I am going out Saturday to try and find something, but figured maybe someone on here has a tip I wouldnt have thought of.

[IceHawk]

Daniel Not sure what are you are looking at but Becker over my way on Horseshoe chain of lakes is always a good one with enough action for kids another one is Marie (stump) over by South Haven plenty of smaller gills to keep kids interested. 

[Daniel Hayes]

Was thinking north of st cloud. St.cloud to sauk centre, long prairie,randall little falls and between.

[eyeguy 54]

South of St. Cloud by fair haven is Marie. Smaller gills but tons of them for kids. 

[Wanderer]

7 hours ago, Daniel Hayes said:

Was thinking north of st cloud. St.cloud to sauk centre, long prairie,randall little falls and between.

I haven’t spent a lot of time fishing in that triangle even though I’m on the edge of it.  I would check some of the lakes around Avon though and then Big Swan over by LP.  Swan is the one hear the most about but I think it can also be a little spotty. 

[Wanderer]

@Daniel Hayes Did you get out and find some fishes?

[DonkeyHodey]

I know a few lakes in the area if you are going to try again.

Mound lake is a beauty that sounds like it's in your triangle.--has a diverse fish population and some interesting depth structure. 

Mary is nice (good crappie lake).  Pine is a great sunny lake (and bass, but they aren't reliable in winter unless you are Bryan P (check out his video)).   Moose is nice.  Buck is tiny but a nice little pan lake.

All these have nice public fishing accesses so there's easy walking to a decent spot (provided the access is plowed;  at some of these lakes you'll probably encounter a little plowing out on the lakes too...)

 

Fishing Pressure tends to be hit or miss with these but probably a lot less than some of the bigger lakes like Swan or Big Birch.

[Daniel Hayes]

On 2/3/2020 at 6:41 PM, Wanderer said:

@Daniel Hayes Did you get out and find some fishes?

We got out..had no problem marking fish but was unable to get to bite..caught 5 crappies and a nursing northern.

 

[Daniel Hayes]

On 2/4/2020 at 1:32 PM, DonkeyHodey said:

I know a few lakes in the area if you are going to try again.

Mound lake is a beauty that sounds like it's in your triangle.--has a diverse fish population and some interesting depth structure. 

Mary is nice (good crappie lake).  Pine is a great sunny lake (and bass, but they aren't reliable in winter unless you are Bryan P (check out his video)).   Moose is nice.  Buck is tiny but a nice little pan lake.

All these have nice public fishing accesses so there's easy walking to a decent spot (provided the access is plowed;  at some of these lakes you'll probably encounter a little plowing out on the lakes too...)

 

Fishing Pressure tends to be hit or miss with these but probably a lot less than some of the bigger lakes like Swan or Big Birch.

We tried moose, no luck, ended up taking them to green prairie..

[Daniel Hayes]

On 2/4/2020 at 1:32 PM, DonkeyHodey said:

I know a few lakes in the area if you are going to try again.

Mound lake is a beauty that sounds like it's in your triangle.--has a diverse fish population and some interesting depth structure. 

Mary is nice (good crappie lake).  Pine is a great sunny lake (and bass, but they aren't reliable in winter unless you are Bryan P (check out his video)).   Moose is nice.  Buck is tiny but a nice little pan lake.

All these have nice public fishing accesses so there's easy walking to a decent spot (provided the access is plowed;  at some of these lakes you'll probably encounter a little plowing out on the lakes too...)

 

Fishing Pressure tends to be hit or miss with these but probably a lot less than some of the bigger lakes like Swan or Big Birch.

On buck, are their any secrets to know about? Says it's a clear lake, any chance panfish might bite at night?

[DonkeyHodey]

On ‎2‎/‎16‎/‎2020 at 6:38 PM, Daniel Hayes said:

any chance panfish might bite at night?

I don't think there's much to tell about Buck--just have a contour map with you (or look one over before you go).  The lake has a much steeper dropoff on the East side (closer to Burtrum) than on the West.  (for good or for bad.  I'd personally try the south or west side...)

 

"So yer saying there's a chance!"--Lloyd Christmas.

Only one way to find out if those pans are biting!  drill some holes and find the weedline.  I wish you the best.  post your results!

(I suspect dusk will be productive.)

[Rick]

On 2/16/2020 at 6:38 PM, Daniel Hayes said:

On buck, are their any secrets to know about? Says it's a clear lake, any chance panfish might bite at night?

Crappies will definitely bite at night. Get some glow jigs. Gills will as well but slow way way down. Perch not so much.

[eyeguy 54]

Been a while since I went after crappies at night. When I did a glow skandia pelkie   or moon jig tipped with one or two euros got the job done. Good luck out there. 

[Tom Sawyer]

On 2/16/2020 at 6:38 PM, Daniel Hayes said:

Says it's a clear lake, any chance panfish might bite at night?

Crappies are notorious night feeders. I've always been a fan of small (1/16 or 1/8 oz) spoons that glow. They fish fast and have a big profile, which helps slabs see from a distance. Tip them with plastics, or meat. Minnow heads, spikes, or wax worms all work to sweeten your presentation. Glow preference can very night to night, and lake to lake. Alter glow red, green, and even blue. All have their place and time.

Favs include the Clam Flutter Spoon, Northland Forage and Macho Minnow, Lindy Frostee along with Custom Jigs & Spins Demon.

YEP, that Demon is deadly tipped with a small crappie minnow fished on a deadstick, or under a slip bobber. 

 

 

Edited February 18, 2020 by Tom Sawyer