Cromwell Area

[nice2th]

I'm new to this forum and glad to see that there is actually McGregor area coverage. We have a place on Eagle Lake, just south of Cromwell. Would like to hear from others about the lakes in this area, (Eagle,Island, Prairie) as I haven't had much time to fish, and must live through the stories of others.

[united jigsticker]

Welcome to Fishing Minnesota nice2th! Glad to have ya' aboard!

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Good fishing,
UJ
[email protected]

[Granny]

Well since you put a reply to my post I will return the favor. Do you live on Eagle now or just a cabin? What species are you looking for? Wondering about any lakes in particular? I am not an expert but I have fished almost all the lakes in the area.

[nice2th]

Hi Granny,
We have a cabin on Eagle. For starters, I haven't been able to find decent sized walleyes out there, just minnows. Also, I have heard rumors of crappies in the lake, but have yet to catch one. To be honest, I haven't spent a whole lot of time trying either. In fact, we do more ice fishing than open water and do well on perch, but not decent walleye. Had any luck on Eagle?

[Granny]

Eagle is a nice lake for eyes but i haven't heard of that many big ones caught out of there. I don't know what size you are looking for, eaters or mounters? The perch are pretty decent with some nice 10-12". Have you tried the reeds for crappies?

Prarie also has some decent eyes along with many other species of fish...Pike, bass, eyes, and panfish. I think there is still a size limit on the pike though. Personally I would rather eat a dog fish j/k.

Island is good for panfish in the winter. Summer is usually good for a few eyes, crappies, and a bunch of small pike.

Hope this helps.

[nice2th]

Hey thanks,
I haven't tried the reeds for the crappies, but I will. I'd just like to catch a few eaters on occasion. I'm heading up this Thursday evening and I'm going to force myself to fish. I'm not going to learn the lake by sitting in my Lay-Z-Boy.

[Guest]

If your looking for eyes try the NE side of the lake with a lindy rig. Blue or Purple. I had some luck trolling in about 12-15 feet of water the other week. There is a sand point that runs out from the point that's NE of the landing. I caught most of mine right at dark.

I do well on eyes in the winter on this lake so I know the bigger ones are in there. For crappies try the reeds straight across from the access as well as the weed edge on the other side of the point right next to the landing.

[lakevet]

nice2th
My family has been on Eagle lake since homesteading in the 1880's. Eagle has always been mainly a numbers lake for eye's not a trophy lake. A few fish over 5-6# but not many and no 10# plus fish (even when it was legal to spear and gill-net many many moons ago). My Grandma remembers catching eyes as a kid in the middle of the day from shore with black string and a bent safety pin for a hook. Some whopper 20#+ Northerns but they have become fewer. Water quality has decreased tremendously even since I was a kid in the late 60's early seventies. See the DNR's comments about this in the lakefinder section of their website. Please care for Eagle and keep your septics up to code and don't fertilize your lawns. I have three boys who will inherit the old home place and may your kids and them enjoy a cleaner Eagle lake. Enjoy it, it's one of my favorite lakes!

lakevet

[nice2th]

Thanks for the replies. I have been out catching a few small eyes and perch. We really enjoy the lake too, and can see that the water quality is in decline. I have heard that it is a combination of poor septic, lawn fertilizing, no buffer zone (due to mowing to the lakeshore), and runoff from nearby farms.

We are doing our best. We have a new septic, don't mow to the lakeshore and don't fertilize. However, we are probably having an effect just by being there.

Not sure what the answer is but may get involved with the watershed program at some point.