Anyone head out to Prior, Fish, Spring for Panfish?

[rangerforme]

I was out on Spring Sunday and didn't do all that well, bunch of 4-5 inch sunfish, nothing bigger.

Anyone heading out in the next few days, I want to head out but really don't have anyone to go with and with the ice conditions being iffy I best not go by myself.

[picksbigwagon]

R4me, I am itching to get out there as well. what kind of ice conditions are you running into out there. I am leary since I am bigger than most people. (i.e., over 250) and then throw in my voyager and stuff, I usually don't get out the big stuff until x-mas. Where are you located? I usually get out on Friday and Saturday nights after my kids go to sleep, 9-??

[hunting4walleyes]

Hey Ranger,

I was out on Prior last Thursday and did pretty good until the crowd came out at 5:00 pm. I know the lake is not anyones property but when you come out at 5:00 pm and start turning the ice into swiss cheese there is something wrong with you. I have a guy drill about 3 dozen holes, all within 20 yards of my fishhouse. The last one being about 10 yards away. Until there is some people with a little etiquette out there, I think I will stay away and hit some of the smaller lakes.

Good Luck

[toonfish]

i have been out on prior a few times in the last week...I have been going out on paradise bay and the fishing has been pretty good....the ice hasn't made me to nervous and I am usually fishing alongside my brother and we both go about 265lbs....the only thing I have found is the ice isn't very uniform....we have a 8x8 canvas shack and on sunday the ice on my brothers side was 6 inches and on my side barely 5....does that mean it could be 2 or 3 in some spots besides the known bad spots???? But if you guys go out to paradise bay there is usually at least a few out there, and that should calm your nerves a bit..but generally I think the ice is pretty safe in the right areas....Any experts want to chime in on how this snow could affect the ice, will it stay the same as long as we have sub freezing temps, does the snow only affect future snow???? Have fun and be safe....Stop by the green canvas if you are out this weekend...might make it out thursday night

[Alagnak]

I was out the last two nights on upper prior. Monday night did well and caught about 15-20 crappies and two eyes between 4-6:30. 5 of the crappies where very nice and I kept em for din-din and the walleyes were each 16 and put em back. Last night went back at dark and fished till 7:30 and only iced 2 crappies of course! They were down there but too finicky, I thought they'ld bite before the storm but nope. Oh well. I live close and go out a few nights a week usually if anyone wants to go some time. Purple Otter Mag/Tan sled/ 04 F150. If you hear a guy grunting- thats me at the landing causing myself a hernia loading that heavy shack up!

My prediction with the ice is a bunch of water and slush in many areas after this snow and of course the very bad spots we have now aren't going to get any better, BE CAREFULL! We will need another DEEP FREEZE.

Hamswank at hot mail

[full force five]

Do you guys think any of these lakes will be drive-able this year? With this snow, I doubt it. I'm sure some (Contact US Regarding This Word) will try it and their new 'burban will be some new structure.

[JDZWART]

Was out on Saturday between sand point and the island in the morning (10-12). It took a little while to find the panfish, but we filled out with most of the sunfish 6-7", with few larger, plus some perch, all on wax worms in about 11 FOW. We had the best luck when it started to snow and then it slowed when the wind picked up. Ice conditions were 3-4 inches.

Also, the first vehicle of the year went through around the corner at the end of sand point last Thursday. My father-in-law said they were not native to MN.

[khrhth]

went out to Prior both Mon. and Tues. on Mon. caught around 15 gills no crappies though then on Tues. cught about 30 fish all gills and one crappie the crappie was tiny but the bluegills were around the 5-9 in. mark very light bite though i was in Paradise bay there was about 5 in. of ice

[dougger222]

Are you guys fishing on the South access on Upper Prior? Not sure the names of the points and islands.

Heard last weekent there was still 2 inches in some spots out in that area.

[walterman]

Was out at Fish earlier in the week and got some gills and a couple crapps. Nothing to brag about, was wondering if anyone has hit it in the last day or so?

[JDZWART]

I was on lower prior lake, and used the sand point winter access, which is actually through the park/beach adjacent to the boat launch.

[FLWRube]

This Zwart kid is not to be trusted. He is soley a power fisherman. Put him on a finesse bite, and its like taking a three-year-old fishing. He does work a mean jiggle-stick though.