Lake Marion --Lakeville

[MuleShack]

Just wanted to see if anyone does any amount of fishing on this lake? I know it has ample amounts of shallow water on the north side and was wondering who has fished it early spring in the past and what was your results?

I had done a little summer fishing on it about 10 years ago, but never in the spring for pannies.

Any insight would be appreciated.

[Beef46]

I wouldn't bother with panfish in this lake. You'll only run across little nuggets. Not much for anything to take home. Drive the extra bit down to Spring Lake. I think you'd be better served there.

Just my opinion.

[Beef46]

PS. I see you're in Prior, why not fish that lake? I believe it's much better for crappies than Marion.

[joeyquicksand*]

What about orchard, thats where i'm going today with a friend in his boat. I fished it once before, but i dont know much about the lake... anyone know about that?

[Beef46]

Orchard is my "Home" lake. There aren't any crappies over 4" in there.....don't fish it....

On the serious side.....too early for Orchard. Wait about a week or so then give it a crack.

Wish I could share more but....I just can't do it.

PS. Watch out for the 6.5+ lb bass that like to eat 32nd oz. jigs and crappie minnows!!!!!

Had one last year 6.75lbs on Ultralight with 4lb test. What a gas!!!!

[fisherman-andy]

Yeap most pannies are potato chips in Marion. The Crappies are few in between and looks like recent stocking just the last year or two. All in all still fairly small.

There is some good bass fishing to be done. The Walleyes however are tricky but you can have success if your figure out their patterns. I recommend fishing in the late afternoon to sunset.

There are many bodies of water in the Dakota, Rice, & Scott Counties that hold good fishing.

[joeyquicksand*]

Ended up going to orchard, got no crappies, bit off once, and using a a jig and minnow hooked on to a 30+ inch musky... bent my crappie rod in half, got it to just outside of net reach when the musky shook off the hook... oh well.

[MuleShack]

I do try to hit Prior, but on the weekend it is a zoo with limited parking. I usually try to go south or to the BIG pond.

[walleyeJoe]

i actually have gotten into large crappies in marion. the key is to get out early in the morning or right before sun down when the traffic is low and troll or anchor in the bay in the big part of the lake or get up by the floatin decks or trampolines. they sit up there in the shade and away from the predators. not huge but in the 9-11 inch range mainly. thick backs though....