Pan fish

[ice-man/vexilar-king]

I got out this weekend the weather was tuff, but did manage to get some great early season action. 4 sunfish over a pound. Checked alot of the local lakes and saw action in almost all of my early spots from Wash to Shields the action was on. Crappies were also hitting but were darn tuff to pattern, any suggetstions for a jig/lure? Fish were in 1-6 foot of water.

[Team Otter]

Hair jigs.

[harvey lee]

I would also try and throw some smaller profile plastics if the hair jigs dont produce.

Good luck.

[delmuts]

at times i've had good luck with the plastic shrimpo bodies or a wedgee instead of hair.

[Flamefox]

try this one, 1/16th chart, jighead, with a blue and white crappie tube, on a fixed pencil bobber, and fish it, set the depth to 1/2 ways from the bottom, no live bait attched, here on fountain lake in 8 hrs of fishing, last weekend i avg about 60 crappies an hr to many small one, 1 really nice crappies every 30 mins of fighting off little 6 " crappies, u can get sunnies this way also. that day i took home 10 really nice crappies.

[harvey lee]

You have it down Flamefox. Those plastics casn be deadly on panfish. You can also drift or troll without a bobber with the same effect.Thats about all I ever use anymore.

[The Grebe]

I've used plastics in the past, mostly for walleyes and crappies Twister tails to be exact.

Last winter I started using other plastics and I started catching larger sunnies. The bites were fewer and further between, but when a fish did hit, it was a solid whack for the most part.

Was out to JR's today and picked up some jig heads and some plastics to do more 'Spearmentin' besides that, I like the pretty colors!

[ice-man/vexilar-king]

I tried some of the plastics, Mainly the shimpo's and twister tails. Slow to no success. I went to the store and dropped $20 on a few new jigs. What kind of hair jigs were you guys talking about? And do you cast and reel back, hop, bobber, or three way them? With the blue and white tube jig, were you reeling in slow and watching your line or was it still. I would asume to have that kind of action you were covering water quickly.

I miss the ice already!

[Flamefox]

i found a few other colors that work really well to. glitter red and white, glitter blue and white, during the day use glitter red/white, late day blue and white, and right before dark use all chart crappie jig. in july use white head with the glitter red/white combo with a bobber and watch the action get hot. becarefull not to get burned to death by the sun, sunburns stink.

[The Grebe]

Flame....guess what the craps were biting on the other day? Blue and white! Good observation. I almost bought some of thos glitters the other day but I thought "Nah" I have to much junk the way it is...I'm gonna sink, or swim with my present collection of stuff.

[ice-man/vexilar-king]

I checked out hair jigs on the net. I saw there are so many differn't types even Fox hair. What would be the pro's/con's of each of those types? Do you have a favorite? I thought BLK would be a good one to try.

[Team Otter]

I like Flu-Flu's and small Fuzz-E-Grubs.

[Muddog]

A Black ghost, Mickey finn, Black Nose Dance or a Clouser Deep Minnow. In that order.

WOW. This weather has to break soon. I've got to get away from my fly tying vice.

[Team Otter]

1 thing is for sure; a person can very simply tell when the ice fishing season is over and the open water season is right around the corner...

When Muddog starts posting again. Great to have you back.

[ice-man/vexilar-king]

Thanks Guys the info is awsome it is great to get some usefull advice!

[Flamefox]

heres another one to try, red glitter/white tube, with a chart 1/16th jig head, 2 days ago took home 11 sunnies, 10 crappies in 6 hrs, fishing the sticks along the shoreline, about 12" deep, it didnt take long to pound the stuffin's outta of the fish, as soon as it hit the water bam, gone.

[ice-man/vexilar-king]

Otter was that you I talked to at Scheels by the bait tank with your little girl (mentioned a new boat). Never introduced myself, wasn't sure.

[Team Otter]

Yes, that was me. Certainly, you should have introduced yourself.

[ice-man/vexilar-king]

Next time.

Did you catch some fish? Our guys that went to Red wing found that the water went down a couple feet and the water temp went up 10% and the fish moved out.

[Team Otter]

The bite out West was sub-par. Eater fish were there but I could not find any pre-spawn piggies, which is what I was hoping for.

[Flamefox]

how's the crappie hunt going over your way. its slowed down a bit. still getting a few really nice bluky one between 10 to 12" long right around 6pm till 30 mins after dark.

[Team Otter]

Quite a few fish holding in deeper water yet but there are fish in shallow during low light. Look for the warmer temperatures this weekend to really get the migration going into shallower water.

[ice-man/vexilar-king]

How do the crappies move up? Do they follow current, moon phase, water temp, bait fish, oxygen what. I see them in current alot but what draws them to a certain area when that factor is taken out? Or is one just a stronger draw like current and they all play a part? Oh I got it, maybe they swim towards a constalation in the sky like orion. (never know )

[zepman]

Food is the main draw to these fish heading in to the shallows right now. The lakes are comming alive and the shallows is where it all starts. The fish are just following their natural instincts.

[Rozman]

Caught about 12 crappies last night, best time was between 6:30 and 7:45.

[Team Otter]

Yes, in most cases food, but there are also times when they are looking for light and/or a place to get away from the light (i.e. first vegetation).

[ice-man/vexilar-king]

Great info thanks