Crappie Fishing Near Lake Miltona

[MNUser]

My in-laws just bought a house and moved to Lake Miltona. We will be in that area over Christmas Break and were wondering if anybody would be willing to share some info on crappie fishing. I will have a 6 and 8 year old with me so action would be fun for them.

Thanks!

[s10tom]

in the past we have done well on the east end out to the north west of the east access for kids it should be alot of fun you have to pick through a few little ones but there is some real nice ones to you will also be able to catch blue gills it is not very deep there 6-8 feet try to find a open spot in the weeds and you should find fish good luck i hope it helps

[Woodland]

One of the best spots on the lake for winter panfish has been right out from the public access at the North East corner of the lake... won't be hard to find, look for the spot with about 100 Ice Houses on top of eachother. Lots of Guys will spear there too, but the blue gill and crappies should be there.

There are lots of spots on the lake, though, and you don't need to drive 5 miles to fish with everyone else, if you have a hole right out front at the in laws. What part of the lake will you be on? I will fish 100 yards from home, and stay away from the small cities that pop up on Miltona.

You might also want to consider a guide placed house for your first time on the lake. If interested I will recommend one!

Checked tonight and had 4 inches of Ice!

[MNUser]

Thanks for the info. Here is a quick map I put together to show where they are on the lake. I do know that they have a rather large flat that extends for quite a ways out into the lake. The flat ends with a quick drop into deeper water.

Would it be possible to rent a fish house on the lake for a day? We will be down there for a couple of days and it may be a good starting point. We have a Fish Trap Guide that we wil be pulling around with a snowmobile.

Are there places on the lake that typically have strange or questionable ice? I will have a 6 and 8 year old with me and I don't want to get them into a dangerous situation since I do not know the area.

How about other lakes in the area? Are there others that might be better for panfish? Staying on Miltona would be our first choice.

Thanks for the help.

[ghotierman]

Ahh..they're right at the edge of the flats. further to the east is the Sandy Beach access...usually prett good straight out from there, you'll see a few houses out on the breaklines by then. down in the corner is Tamarack Bay...another good spot for crappies. Actually right out in front of your place, on the breakline could be nice for walleyes. For panfish close to home, you might want to try the shallows along the point just west of you...if you can find any weeds, or remember where the rushes and cabbage were, try to set up close to that.

As for tricky ice...there are a couple of inlets, and one outlet that provide current that could make some inconsistencies near shore. you can see them on the map...east end, west end, northwest end, and the outlet to Ida on the south shore. Really you shouldn't have to go too far from your place.

Alternatives close by would be Irene, Betsy Ross area of Ida, or Charlie. Not sure how ice or the bite is yet...things are just starting to thicken up.

Will be up at the inlaws on Miltona about that time...in the bay, west end....most likely will have the rink up and running and the kids and cousins playing hockey and warming up in the fishhouse...eyes come in about dark....

If you cruise down to that end...just south of the access....wave and say hi...

good luck and good fishing...