Fishmiester

[crappie king]

Hey fishmiester,

Do you remember me, i talked to you several times a few years ago and talked to you at the bait shop. I fished out of Dales

out 7 miles near 3 Sisters, is that buy chance you guys are getting the Crappie. If not please let me know i would like to come up, its been a few years since i have been up to the most beautifull lake in the five state area, its worth the breath taking beauty just to be there. Any help would be appreciated, i spose there is no driving trucks, how about a Dales.

[fishmeister_86]

HI C.K.,

NOPE, NOT FISHING DALES, HOWEVER THOSE KINDA OF CRAPPIES ARE VERY COMMON THERE. THE ONLY WAY I WOULD TRAVEL ON RAINY IS BY SLED OR WHEELIE.

SINCERELY,

FISHMEISTER

[crappie king]

Hey Dave,

Have you heard if they are hitting at Dales, also i would like to get into the Crappie fishing where you guys are, probably

to your surprize i don't own a four wheeler, even with all the fishing i do, i used to have a Honda 3 wheeler, but sold it.

Buy the way excellent point you made about the 2 Lb Crappies

most people think they are catching them when actually they are a pound or pound and a half. I GET I KICK AT ALL THE STORIES PEOPLE POST ABOUT ALL THE 2 LB CRAPPIE THEY ARE GETTING AT RED LAKE nad nothing under 15 inches. We all know

Rainy is the king Crappie producer and Red is second. Please

let me know what it will take to find out and to get to this

spot you are fishing, i would even be willing to pay if its not to spendy. Do i go through Woody or you.

Thanks,

Sincerely,

Steve C.

[fishmeister_86]

HI STEVE,

I'M VERY CAREFUL ABOUT GIVING OUT EXACT LOCATIONS. THE REASON WHY, IS ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO, I CAME INTO THE LANDING WITH 2 OF MY BUDDIES AND WAS SPLITING UP 3 LIMITS OF WALLEYES. 3 GUYS FROM ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORING STATES, CAME UP TO THE BOAT & SAID THEY HAD BEEN FISHING RAINY FOR 3 DAYS & HAD NOT CAUGHT 1 WALLEYE(DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS POSSIBLE) ONE GUY ASKED IF I WOULD SHOW THEM A SPOT, SO I DID. NEXT DAY WHEN I WENT OUT, I WATCHED THEM WITH BINOCULARS, THEY WERE CATCHING WALLEYES LIKE CRAZY...MANY IN THE SLOT, KEEPING WAY OVER THE LIMIT...SO GUESS WHAT, FROM THAT DAY FORWARD., THE ONLY WAY I MAY GIVE OUT A SPOT IS IN PERSON, AND KNOW I CAN TRUST THE PERSON.

SINCERELY,

FISHMEISTER

[crappie king]

Dave,

Here is my Email if you wish to contact me. give me a email

and we can discuss this further.

Thanks,

Steve C. [email protected]

[NELS-BELLS]

Dave - (I think you are the same Dave)

Not sure if you remember me. I fished with you and Scott S. (Skiffer) about 15 years ago. I was up with a couple of friends who are Chiropractors (Yorty and Hiel). We used to come up every year and fish with the Skiffer for those huge crappies up in Canada. I'm not going to say where but it was a long hike, made much easier when you brought your 3 wheeler and snowmachine. We fished out of a couple of dome shaped Hurritents.

The crappies and the scenery were unbelievable. Have you been back to that honey hole lately and if so are they still as big as they used to be?

Also, is Skiff still up at the Falls?

Nels

[fishmeister_86]

HI NELS,

THIS WOULD BE THE SAME GUY!!! I SEE FROM YOUR POSTS YOUR ON F.M. QUITE A BIT. YOU ARE CORRECT, WHERE WE HAVE BEEN CATCHING THEM. SO FAR I HAVE SAW OR HEARD OR CAUGHT A 2.2/2.7/2.9, BUT THE NUMBERS ARE LIKE IT USE TO BE, BUT IT IS FUN TO GET INTO THOSE 2 LB. CRAPPIES(TRUE 2LBS)

SKIFF IS STILL HERE & DOING WELL, WORKING FOR WELLS FARGO., AND HIS WIFE WORKS IN REAL ESTATE.

NICE CHATTING WITH YOU AGAIN.

SINCERELY,

FISHMEISTER

[JAK]

Quote:

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SO FAR I HAVE SAW OR HEARD OR CAUGHT A 2.2/2.7/2.9, BUT THE NUMBERS ARE LIKE IT USE TO BE, BUT IT IS FUN TO GET INTO THOSE 2 LB. CRAPPIES(TRUE 2LBS)

---

Wow! Huge fish, what an understatment!!! Well at least of some of us can dream about fish like that. Maybe someday ... I can earn enough trust and be allowed to garner some info from the masters.

Just how long is a true 2.7 or 2.9?

[fishmeister_86]

HI NELS,

CORRECTION, I PUT NUMBERS ARE LIKE THEY USED TO BE, WRONG, NUMBERS ARE NOT WHAT THEY USE TO BE. WE USE TO CATCH ALOT MORE, AND ALOT MORE CONSISTANTLY BIG FISH., IT HAS BEEN FISHED DOWN, BUT YOUR STILL ABLE TO CATCH THAT OCASSIONAL 2LBER.

2 LB FISH IS AROUND 16", BUT ALSO AS THEY GET THAT BIG, THEY DEVELOP LINEBACKER SHOULDERS, SO THEY VARY.

SINCERELY,

FISHMEISTER

[rod-man]

Hay Dave say "Hi" to Wes for me next time you see him

[JAK]

Quote:

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HI NELS,

CORRECTION, I PUT NUMBERS ARE LIKE THEY USED TO BE, WRONG, NUMBERS ARE NOT WHAT THEY USE TO BE. WE USE TO CATCH ALOT MORE, AND ALOT MORE CONSISTANTLY BIG FISH., IT HAS BEEN FISHED DOWN

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Thanks for the answer on the length!

Your statement above reiterates how important practicing selective harvest is! don't get me wrong, I like to eat a meal or two of fish just like everyone else. However is is very important to put back the big fish for their genetics.

I have only ever caught one crappie over 15". That was two years ago and as far as I know it is still swimming. I normally keep the fish that are around 12" for eating.

Now if only I could catch a few more ...that would be

[NELS-BELLS]

Dave - Its good to hear from you. Its been a long time. I have great memories of those trips. I might have to gather up the old gang for a trip up next year. We always did better the earlier we went up, so maybe Dec. or early Jan.

I didn't think the quality could be as good as it was. I noticed the pressure on that area getting heavier every year. Its good to hear that a few of those pigs are still there. To this day those are the biggest crappies I have ever seen in my life and I've caught big crappies all over the state. Those things were freaks of nature.

Have you ever fished that spot for crappies in a boat?

Say hi to Skiff and his wife for me. Hopefully we can all get together for a return trip soon.

Nels

[16inchcrappie]

Quote:

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Have you ever fished that spot for crappies in a boat?

Nels

---

I can tell you that i have spent HUNDREDS of hours fishing that area for crappies both thru the ice and in a boat. And nothing compares to the ice fishing. You can pick up the odd few crappies in the boat. But for some reason i think they either have too much to eat in there in the summer or they move out. Part of the reason you see the numbers dropping dramaticaly is because there is a commercial fisherman that nets that area all spring long for nothing but crappies. Very frustrating when you see the quality of fish that come from there. I know that there is a 17" + fish that is lurking there, and my goal is to get him someday. If you really wanna try that spot that you are talking about in the summer, Go throw some big spoons and plugs, or speed troll some big raps. YOU WON'T be dissappointed if you like big GATORS. I got one this winter with dave there and i got a rough measurement from my picture (buy counting my hands long in the picture and then measuring my hand) and i come with a rough measurement of 47" and it bearly fit thru an 8" hole! I know there is bigger in there too cuz i have been bit off by a few next to the boat that will go 53"+. So if you fish that area, have fun and remember to save some for the future. I am sure i will see you out there, because i am one of about 3 people that regularily fish that area.

[rainy dude]

I have pounded them in Little Black Sturgeon from a boat many times. Spring can be great just before dark when the fish move into the shallows. I have also pounded them in the middle of summer over the bog and near the brush pile. One time we dragged out a piece of floating bog and fished around it all day. Slayed em.

Long before everybody found out about the place, fish bigger than 17 inches were common.

There are a few other lakes that produce giant crappies like Little Black Sturgeon does, but these have been stocked by a few locals and kept very quiet and only fished in the open water season. Over time as people spread the crappies around there will be many lakes that are similar to little black sturgeon.

R_D

[Cheers]

The best way to make shure we will not get any more is tell the world the name of the lake. Waaaaay to much info! Thanks!

[fishmeister_86]

RAINY LAKE DUDE & CHEERS,

CHEERS IS CORRECT...WAY TO MUCH INFOMATION!!! WHILE SOME FISHERMAN MAY HAVE DUMPED A FEW CRAPPIES IN THERE, WHICH IS NOT LEGAL!!! THOSE CRAPPIES ARE NATURALLY REPRODUCED. AND MOST OF THOSE HUGE CRAPPIES ARE ONLY 5 YEARS OLD, WHICH I KNOW FOR A FACT, SENDING IN SCALE SAMPLES. THEY GET MASSIVE FROM THE FRESH WATER SHRIMP(HELGAMITES)(SPELLING) AS CHEERS SAID, SOMETHINGS ARE BETTER LEFT ON SAID.

SINCERELY,

FISHMEISTER

[rainy dude]

Not mentioning any lake names will be fine. I hope not to find posts and directions of my favorite walleye lake posted here next June then. The lake is a chain of four lakes and is accessed mostly from an access road up the 502. Directions and fish locations are continually posted here. I figured whats good for the gander is .........blah, blah blah.

Fish stocked into other lakes by individuals is indeed illegal. Camp owners and out fitters have been doing this for many years with impunity from the law (MNR). In fact they have a massive campain to stock large mouth bass everywhere like they did to the smallmouth. Bass are spreading like wild fire and it is entirely because people are moving them around.

The locals have taken upon themselves to spread some crappies around because the MNR will not listen to their calls to do it legally. Most of the places I know about that now have them, are logical places where high conductivity ( fresh water shrimp, daphnia) supports crappie well. Legal or not, fish are moving around up here quite fast.

There are some species that alarm biologists, bluegill, smelt, zebra muscles, and rusty crayfish. Not good at all.

R_D