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Crappies - any shorefishing opportunities around here in the spring?


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I grew up down in St. Cloud MN and when I was a kid one of my favorite activities was to chase after when they came shallow after ice out. Are there some opportunities to do that around here? I was thinking about trying the Pike Chain over by Iron River, but I'm not sure. Any community holes? BTW - I'll be taking the little ones, 5 and 2.

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Back bays of the St.Louis on the Wi. side have shore crappie areas but I wouldnt take kids that young its quite a treck.

Also some spots up river on the Mn side by perch lake you can try but its really hit n miss in the spring. Seems better in late fall.

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I too grew up in an area where as soon as the ice was off the lakes you could hop in the car and drive to many different lakes with shallow bays and shore fishing access. but around here it seams that the bays the fish head to early are not accessable from shore and you really do need a boat. Yesterday I had to barrow a friends canoe to get to the craps because my boat is still in the shop frown.gif As for the pike lake chain, It would be a decent place to try and there are spots to fish from shore but I dont think those lakes will be ready for another week. The fish are just starting to move into shallow water near Minong/ Hayward area. I dont even know if pike chain has lost all of its ice yet. Northlander is right about the bays in the St. Louis being good places but most spots are a long walk in and the water is so low that everything near shore is a muddy mess. I dont know much about north of duluth if you wanted to try some MN lakes but I think it would be a little early for them too.

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I just thought of the Island Lake Bridge. Try around the pilings. There are crappies in there at times.

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island lake bridge, fish lake dam has some nice bluegills and a couple crappies...once when i was little my dad caught the biggest sunfish i've ever seen there.

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Ive fished off of the fish lake dam on the river side of it and you can get some panfish as well as an occasional walleye or northern.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • smurfy
      thats great to hear regarding the lake levels!!!!!!
    • Kettle
      On an off light precipitation today. Hoping the weather this weekend will be nice so I can get out and crappie fish and check the weather. My yard has standing water and the driveway is a mess. Lot of lakes are near standard water levels which is good. Heard they are done stripping eggs on cut foot. Shaping up to be a good opener. Last year fished open water 60+ days and 28 different lakes. Hopefully bump both those numbers up this year
    • rundrave
      I don't think its 100% accurate, you are just relying on other average joes to report precipitation. But I think most numbers there are right in the ball park, especially when you see consistency among multiple reports in a general area.   It's probably more accurate than what the weather terrorists say on the news  which usually only reports metro areas. cocorahs is good for getting rural area reports you just might not have as many reports to go off of
    • smurfy
      i like this site!!!!!  👍 thanks rundave......its in my favorites!!!!!!
    • leech~~
      Thanks Mike.  I've been looking at bags of it for years but never wanted to chance wasting good meat on it.  I have a gas and charcoal grills, but really love the flavor of charcoal over gas. Most of the time it's if we have time to use one or the other.  
    • leech~~
    • rundrave
      Leech is missed
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big open water, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  The bays and tributaries of LOW such as Zippel Bay, Bostic Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  The lake is in good shape for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. The many bays and backwaters of the lake have been receiving attention from spring pike anglers.  Some pike have already entered the bays, spawned and gone back out to the lake, but there are still a pile of fish to be had.   The pike season on LOW is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one fish allowed more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. On the Rainy River...  Another great week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  The bite has been very good and lots of fish of all sizes are being boated.     Sturgeon are being caught from Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River all the way to Birchdale, about 42 miles.  There are many boat ramps along the river to make life easy.  Starting from the east going west...   -Nelson Park at Birchdale (About 30 miles east of Baudette) -Frontier (9 miles west of Birchdale) -Vidas (Near Clementson Rapids) -Timbermill Park (East Baudette) -Peace Park (International Drive, Baudette) -Wheeler's Point (mouth of Rainy River)  The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Up at the NW Angle...  The Angle is ice free.  Resorts are gearing up for the fishing opener which is expected to be excellent.  The late ice bite was very good and the walleyes are in good numbers amongst the islands area of the NW Angle.  
    • smurfy
      oh you know where i mean..........where all your friends are!!!!!!!🤗
    • Mike89
      Charcoal Briquettes are great for low and slow cooking as they produce long-lasting heat. Lump Charcoal burns hotter and adds more flavour to your food; therefore is great for hot and fast cooking.
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