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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Now that the eye and pike season is over some of your are turning your efforts to crappies and gills. I've been hearing reports the pannies are starting to turn on good.

This time of year I like trying new, small lakes along with the old reliables. We should have good ice for at least a couple weeks and with temps in the balmy 30-40 degrees, its perfect for taking the kids out.

So don't put the ice rods away yet because the best it yet to come.

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I hit a lake for pannies on Sat here in WI. Had to go alone, everyone was busy or not behaving themselves (kids). The panfish were on a feed frenzy for me. After just a couple of hours of fishing I had a limit on the ice of gills and crappies. All the gills were over 7" and 4 crappies were between 12" to 13".

I was set up in 10ft of water just off a edge. Armed with a vexilar and spring bobbers. They pretty much hammered every jig I tried- demons, ants, ratsos. Its still fun catching panfish on ultra lights. They also make a tasty meal in shore lunch. smile.gif

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Hey Frank - We have been having some "ok" luck on Fish for the gills the past couple of weeks. Nothing hot and heavy, but we've been picking a few up here and there. Going to try to take the wife out on Sat. if it's not raining. She hasn't been fishing for awhile and she has been asking to go. Any lake suggestions for crappies? Not looking for exact "hot spots" or anything, just wondering if anybody has heard of a crappie bite anywhere.

Thanks,

ML

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One thing about fishing this time of year is most days you can fish without the shack so you can hole hop easy. If I don't hit a fish in 15 min. I will move, even a very short move can make all the difference in the world.

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Spring break is next week for me so I plan to be fishing as much as possible for crappies. I bought a Vexilar on ebay and I'm itching to use it. smile.gif

Hopefully this semi-warm weather will continue and melt some snow. My favorite lake, Chub, wasn't plowed last time I was out and I don't have a four wheel drive vehicle. Needless to say we drove straight home. Does anyone know of some local lakes that are plowed or have little snow left?

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

outdoor ran, I have a WI license, hint, hint, wink.gifwink.gif

Mudlaker, I sent your fishin buddy BD a couple small lakes to hit.

Jorgie, your going to wonder why you've fished this long without sonar. With this warm weather the snow is pretty heavy and will be a while before its melted. Fish lake should have a plowed road.

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Thanks Frank! Now let's just hope the thunderstorms they are calling for on Saturday hold off for awile!!

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Frank, you have any problems wearing a blind fold grin.gif I might not make it back there unless I skip work tomorrow and go. Sat, I'm going to the LK Superior semiar and Sunday looks like I'm heading to Cheq. bay. the following week end is full and then its off to the rainy if it works out. You interested in seeing the shop next week in the evening sometime.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Randy, actually I've got quit a few lakes I want to hit before the ice is gone. I'd love to come over and check out the shop. Drop me a email when.

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Hey Randy, glad to hear of your pannie success, I know its been slow on the river for ya this year. Gimme' a call on Sat.- if you want to- I am trying to wiggle a lil' fishin room on the bay Sunday myself.

May-hap a get-to-gather!

Later, CLoma

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Frank you got mail.

Greg, hows it going buddy? Sunday sounds good for some fishing, I will call you Sat. afternoon. We'll put a plan together.

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Things are going well, she's a gettin' closer, what the heck did you talk me into?? confused.gifshocked.giflaugh.gif... Till' Sat.

Later -CLoma

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I hit up Chub Lake this afternoon for a few hours. A couple tiny perch and a decent bluegill. But it was a beautiful day out and it was just fun to get out. Plus I got to play with my new Vexilar. I don't know how I fished without one before. I plan on heading to Fish Lake within the next few days. Anyone heard how the bite is there? I'd like to park at the public access and not have to walk too far. Are there some decent spots near the access? I checked the DNR map it looks like there are some good depths off of the point south west of the dam.

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Any ice reports for fish lake? Last time I was out there was almost 30 inches of ice out there but that was before one of the big warmups. I know there is still ice but just looking to see if there are big holes developing or if the ice is softening much.

Heading out Friday afternoon.

Pro37

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Pro37, ice should still be in good shape on Fish lake but like always stay away from the damm and bridge.

edited to say, temp this morning in Twig was 3 degrees. Any slush from last weekend should be gone.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Going for broke Saturday and looking for those Island lake slabs tomorrow. Anyone making it out this weekend.

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I got home from Chub about an hour ago. I caught 6 or 7 sunnies and one crappie. Wasn't a huge crappie, probably should have tossed it back, but boy was it tasty.

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Frank Ill be Looper fishing tomorrow A.M. and have Sunday open. Let me know.

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How much tension did ya git out on Island franzwa? last week at fis lake gots me a couple of nine+ gills at around 5 down so make sure ya got at least 1 line up midway, spring bob, was a blast! Watch yur graph, GO TO THE FISH.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Ice & travel conditions are good on Island lake. With all the deep water and structure Island has, I wanted to narrow down likely areas that might hold crappies and eliminate the huge areas to roam. I tried a 30' hole that that was within a large expanse of 10-15'. After we figured out what they wanted that plan payed off. All our crappies came from 2' of the bottom on Ratsos and waxies. Not wanting much movement and being that close to the bottom, I felt those crappies were not all that turned on, can't wait to hit it again when they are.

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Just got back from Vining. The boy caught two nice large mouth. One was at 5 lb's. I got pictures. Lot's of small sunnies. Really had to sort through them. A few crappies, nice size, but low numbers. Call me tomorrow Frank, I'm off. BC

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Surface Tension, are you familiar with the public access landings on Island? I'm a little confused. From looking at the DNR information page and lake maps, I can see one access at the dam. The map also shows one on the the thin strip of land the bridge is on, but its not listed on the DNR information page. Is there one there? The DNR also says there is one on county road 4 on the north side of the east basin, but I don't see it marked on the map. Is there one there too?

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Theres three public accesses to launch a boat. The dam, Abbott rd which is before the bridge, and the Hideaway access on the north side east end of the lake. I know the DNR map shows one by the bridge and you can fish there but you couldn't get a launch a boat there.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

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