Best DL lake for a rookie?

[tonkabach]

I am new to the Fargo area. Are there any lakes in the DL area that are easier to learn than others? I am looking for a lake with a good early morning or late afternoon/early night bite. Thanks for the help.

[eyeshole]

What are you fishing for? If you want easy fun action then target sunfish and perch. Start on small lakes with little structure to search and hunt for them. If you are a rookie go to most any lake and find a group of houses. They are not all in one spot for the best reception on their tv,s. Plunk down by them. Not too close. You will tick them off. Fish and see whats goin on. If you have electronics simply fish where the fish are. If you are marking fish and not catching try different variables like size, color, presentation, and line size I think is overlooked by many fisherman. The lightest line you can get away with the better. If you are marking fish and not getting action and have tried changing most of the things you can then move. Remember this one thing 90% of the fish are in 10% of the lake, and of those 90% maybe only 10-20% are actively feeding. If all else fails go knocking on doors and politely ask how they are doing and what are they bitin on and at what depth. You will find that as a good rule any guy sittin in a fish house is a good guy and usually willing to give up atleast a little information. Good luck to ya.

[ScottND]

Welcome to the Fargo/Moorhead area. Most people use the MN DNR web site lake finder to get free topo maps of all the lakes and here's a link if the admin. will leave it. MN DNR Lake Finder . Talk with the bait shops you find on the way and the local Scheels, Gander Mtn., Sportsmans Warehouse and so on. Spend as much time out there as you can getting to know the area and bait shops. The local DNR headquarters is on Lake Sallie and they stock nearly every little pond or large lake in the atea. Good luck and happy hunting! Also check the fishing report link on the top of this web page.

[tonkabach]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I kinda sounded like I didn't have much experience fishing. I just meant that I was a DL rookie. I ended up going out to Pelican for a few hours this afternoon. Caught two eyes and a northern. The eyes were in a negative biting mood, but active. Maybe if I would have stayed till after dark they would have started biting. Had about 8 inches of ice in 28' of water.

Are there any lakes that have decent spots close to the landings? I do not have a 4-wheeler and it sucked dragging the portable out there. Maybe we will be able to drive next week.