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Planning on going out this weekend looking for some good crappie action! Has any one been out yet? I hear that they are just starting to pick up. One more question do you prefer live bait or plastic?

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I also heard they are going. Plan to get out too -- the dang wife is in Vegas so I might have to wait till next week.

Always real -- never plastic.

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I almost prefer gulp to live bait some times specially when the bite is on. You dont have to change you bait as much. you can catch 2-3 fish on one gulp minnow or maggot.

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Live bait for me, they never hold the fake stuff long enough for me to get a hook in them. The bite was decent today with males up shallow and the bigger ones still out deeper.

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I was getting low qunatity, nice quality crappies this past week. Fishing from shore, bobber about two feet above the jig witha crappie minnow. last night though, only caught largemouth bass (about a dozen in the two pound range.) I was going to get the boat out Wednesday but when I went in my basement to get the batteries, I found that I had about 3" of water in the basement. Switch on the sump pump was failing. Thought about trying it today but one of the brothers thinks I need golf lessons over at Barnesville. Always fun to show him up here and there.

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Water in the basement -- that is one of my big fears. When we built the house I put a second sump hole and have a backup on a deep cycle on it. Thing is -- it may not work when you really need it, but it does help you sleep a little better at night.

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Caught our first crappie of the open water season last night. Although it was small it was fun seeing it being reeled in by my better half. We caught a few bluegills and my daughter reeled in a 2 lb. northern which she had fun reeling in. We didn't stay until dark though.

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Cicada, is that at your super duper secret night spot? Mine hasn't been producing worth a cra_. It's been a slow, disappointing spring slab search for me. It seems like I always should have been there yesterday confused.gif.

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Didn't intend on bugging you at work the other day, but couldn't remember my password at work either. Going to be a busy week coming up. Guess I got a different boat so I have to get the old boat ready and try to sell it. Feels strange. We bought the old boat brand spanking new in Cooperstown in 1979. Not sure why I needed a different boat, it still floats. Folks will feel better in a little bigger boat.

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Congrats on the new boat. Weren't bugging me, I had to get some stuff right away, sorry you felt like your were bugging me cause I didn't mean to make you feel that way. Stop in any time.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • JerkinLips
      27 inches of ice on Burntside Lake and a lot of snow cover, even before getting 4 inches more Tuesday night.  I am sticking with my May 14th guess.
    • smurfy
      ???? little early for that isnt it????   nice fish though!!!!!!1
    • Rick G
      Made it out for while on Monday.  Bite was crazy good, had fish suspended right below the ice.  
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end... Lake of the Woods ice fishing is still going strong.  Ice trails and ice roads are doing well.  Some anglers report slush when going off of the roads and creating their own trails.  Good idea to work through your favorite resort and outfitter this time of year.  Ice fishing is still readily available if you want to get out. Both day houses and sleeper houses are out and can be through March 31st.  The forecast ahead has high 30's during the day and teens at night.  Work through a resort or outfitter as they monitor conditions closely on their ice roads. The walleye and sauger season extends through April 14 and the pike season never closes.  Perch, eelpout, tullibees and crappies are also in season. A good week of fishing for some, mixed for others.  Walleyes seem to be moving this time of year.  If you are on them, it is normally good.  The combo of the jigging line and deadstick is working well.  One day they want it moving, the other, the deadstick is the ticket.   Huge pike continue to be active with good reports this week.  Setting up in 5 - 15 feet of water is the depth most anglers are targeting. On the Rainy River...   The morning / evening bite has been best for walleye anglers.  This time of year, extra caution is needed if fishing around moving water.     No open water fishing to report as of yet.  On the Rainy River, ice can go out quickly, only Mother Nature knows.  We will keep you posted. Remember, on Four Mile Bay and the Rainy River, catch and release only for walleyes and saugers through April 14th.  The big lake is still open for harvesting walleyes and saugers through April 14th.  Up at the NW Angle... Good walleye and pike reports by anglers this week up at the Angle.   Like the south end, a plain hook or small glow jig with a live minnow has been working well.  Walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, big pike and eelpout in the mix. Crappies continue being caught on the Ontario side of the lake amongst the islands.  We recommend using a guide as ice conditions amongst the islands with current and neck down areas, etc.   For those looking to access the NW Angle while avoiding customs, snowmobiling across the lake on the marked trails are in good shape or utilizing the Lake of the Woods Passenger (bombardier) Service keeps you in Minnesota.  During the open water months, boating across or charter boat service is available keeps you out of Canada.  
    • Hookmaster
      Drove out again on Tonka yesterday late afternoon and fished sundown. Six other vehicles on the bay. Ice in great shape. Lost a lot of snow since last Wednesday. Snow melt starting to drain down the access so that'll go first. My hot spot was  still hot but not as many bigger crappie. Had to coax them a little to bite. Still got a 12 (inhaled the jigging spoon), a couple 11s and several 9-10. They were 80-90 feet away from where I caught them last week in 20-22' instead of 18-20' maybe because of the bright sun. Gotta love LiveScope for helping to find them. At 4:24 pm (spring solstice) I thought the fish might start jumping out of the holes or at least go on a ravenous bite, but nothing changed. When all that bit were little bluegill I went looking for the crappie and didn't find them. I did find 2 schools of sunfish. One in 15' that had 7" fish and one in 18' on a ridge between shoreline and a hump that separates 2 deeper holes. Those were 8" average.
    • Wanderer
      I rarely buy live bait in the summer also, with the exception of leeches.  But all of it needs to be kept cool and oxygenated so the bait coolers do prove their value.   You might want to shop around for bait prices though.  Maybe out of the 7 county metro you could call ahead.  I found decoy suckers for $3 each over the winter.
    • gimruis
      Part of my issue with live bait is that it generally results in a higher hooking mortality than artificial does, especially in the heat of summer.  95% of what I catch is intended to be released, so in order to maximize that, it helps to avoid using live bait.  I'm not saying you can't accidentally kill a fish with artificial that is deep hooked, because you certainly can.  But as a general rule, they are more often hooked in the mouth with artificial.   The cost is also ridiculous for some live bait too.  Crappie minnows and waxies aren't bad, but when you start talking shiners, jumbo leeches, and decoy suckers...it gets out of hand quickly.  The last time I bought a big decoy sucker for muskie fishing years ago, they were $14 each.  15 bucks for a dozen shiners and half of them are dead by the time you get to the lake?  Take my left arm too why don't ya.
    • Bloatlord
      End of April is my guess for lakes along the I90 corridor.
    • Rick
      A weekly list of news briefs about fish, wildlife, and habitat management.Discuss below - to view set the hook here.
    • leech~~
      Great.  Have to swing by soon to see what they have, then over to Petti Bros for some jerky and sticks!  
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