Tonka panfish 1/7

[markkstanley]

Did my best Matt Johnson imitation. Gave up on walleyes and chased panfish. Great decision. First hole we drilled had a solid 4ft of fish on the graph. We never moved. Blue gills ran from small to medium sized with an occasional large one but it was non stop. About 4pm the crappies kicked in and we switched to minnows. Iced about 2 dozen and most were around 10 to 11". Had to leave around 5:30 because some (Contact US Regarding This Word) forgot to bring a lantern or even a flashlight. Bite was slowing by then anyway. Inside turn main lake basin 17ft depths. Also got one dandy northern on a tipup. Ice was 7" thick but only 2" of clear solid ice.

[Tony Holland]

Thanks for the report. I am getting ready to go out and try to do what you did yesterday on Minnetonka. I hope i have as much luck as you. Dont know where to go but I am going to try. I will report back tonight.

[Matt Johnson]

LOL Mark, you crack me up!

Glad to hear you got on a few pannies. Watch out though, it can get addicting

We'll chase a few more in a few weeks out there...

[markkstanley]

Yep my new buzz phrase is WWMD.. what would Matt do Just reread your posts got out the map and bingo. Love it when the plan actually works. By the way the iFinder with the lakemaster map is just the greatest tool. Walked right to the spot.

[CALVINIST]

How big were your biggest gills?

[Matt Johnson]

Yep, those iFinders rock! I run the H2O with the LakeMaster chip and I wouldn't have it any other way. Very accurate and if you spend a lot of time on a lake like Tonka its a must have in my opinion. How's the ice out there right now? How are we looking for the 28th?

[markkstanley]

Cal about 20 8" and 9" gills. Pretty good for Tonka. Matt, the ice was about 8". Lots of 4wheelers and snowmobiles running around but if the forecast stays like it is now we won't be driving vehicles this winter on Tonka. About 3 inches of clear ice with 5" of milky crud.

[MJR]

So that is the I finder H20 for around 270 and you can get the lakemstr mmc chip for that? I have been looking for a handheld that is reasonably priced.

[fishnutbob]

Hey FM'ers,

Some might think no way 8" and 9" sunnies in Tonka, There are, once you get a pattern going.

I had a Bait Store In St. Bonifacius, and I would fish every morning on Tonka for sunnies and catch fish that size.

I had a deep water pattern going for my best luck on the sunnies, that year. I go every year and check those areas last time deep water only small fish, but the weeds in the west basin are good. I just like to fish deep as the school was bigger and I didnt have to sort much.

[Matt Johnson]

Quote:

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So that is the I finder H20 for around 270 and you can get the lakemstr mmc chip for that? I have been looking for a handheld that is reasonably priced.

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Yep, that's the one. There is a color version and a non-color version, both will work just about the same. I use the non-color version and I like it a lot. A great handheld GPS and for a great price...

[markkstanley]

If you want the color unit Jolly Ann marine was selling them to FMers around Christmas with the Lakemaster chip for $315 all in. He sold out quick. Contact Wade and he might give you the same deal.

[MJR]

Ok so you have the Ifinder H20 that is blueish and I see that they are not doing the indiviual lakes so they have this chip that has like 273 lakes with 50 some of them the 1 or 3ft contours. Is that what you are using. The lakemaster web site has this for like 279 for the gps & chip.

[markkstanley]

That's it but it is $269 for the GPS plus $99 for the chip at Lakemaster. The Lakemaster chip is the a better option than Navonics. More detail and you can really zoom in. I have found it to be spot on for the Metro thus far.

[SouthSider]

Gander has both color and B/W. Color is $269, BW is $169. The chip works the same in both.

[MJR]

Just bought them from the Lakemaster website for 279 for both. They have the Black & White GPS on sale for 169. Those crappies on Tonka are going to have sore lips now. Thanks for the info.