Crappies at Bayport

[oil painter]

Anything doing on the crappies yet? I know it has been a terrible year so far but was wondering if they had started yet. I have fished tonka most of the season and have yet to manage anything over 8". My buddy has been on so.center and been in the same boat. another buddy on prior same thing what gives? we have never encontered this b/4 in 30+ years of ice fishing!!! hope others are doing better, wish we will too.

[SLAYDOG]

Oil Painter. I was on Prior also up until about a week or so ago(long way to go from here) and last year we would do great all the time, but that's if you like 7"crappies. Last year we caught about the same each time out but they were alot better in size.Like I said I was there up until a week ago and have now been going out on the Croix and I'm glad I've made the change. Not as many but the size has been alot better, even a couple the size I use to remember catching out there, plus a couple of bonus eyes. All very light biters,see them on the graph and most will disappear when approached, but the few that follow will hit it hard.Beats driving 50 miles each way to fish.

[LuckyNorm07]

How much ice is in the bayport area.. is there people driving trucks out there?

[Roughfisher]

Was out there today. Drove out in my S-10, there were big suburbans and full-size trucks all over the place. They're driving almost all the way to Stillwater! Tons of ice, two feet by my estimation. My brother caught two crappies and I got skunked. At least he gave me the crappies. Pretty slow, lots of lookers but few takers.

[bgreen82]

ive been looking to try the croix out by bayport for crappies. never river fished on ice though. where is everyone going out of? and do you change techniques at all?

[hondavxr]

Crappies have been really slow this year, it might be that the NSP plant is not discharing water. Most access through Bayport park and walk across to the Wis. side. I usually tell people to not follow the crowds, but on this one, follow the crowd across river. You should be in about 40 ft of water. Crappie minnows with plain hooks or little jigheads use to work for me. The crappies are usually hugged close to the bottom. If you do run into some, you are slabbers in the 14-16 inch range. Good luck

[rosspj59]

How is the ice looking with all the snow on top now? Is it pretty slushy underneath?