Nearest Baits hop

[woody1975]

I was wondering where the nearest bait shop to Crystal Lake?

Thanks,

DL

[RK]

Woody -

Lakeland and the Co-op in Pelican are the closest probably, and it's probably a horse a piece on which one's closer. Generally speaking the Co-op has better bait. There's also a place off of CR 31 (on the right hand side over 59 just before you get to the Pelican Lake access) that has pretty good bait.

Be nice to those walleyes on Crystal - they're friends of mine

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[woody1975]

Thanks Rob.

First year up here, so we have a lot to learn yet.

DL

[shooter_mcgavin]

Hey Rob - How did you become friends with the walleyes in that lake? I've become acquainted with them a few times here and there, but its pretty hit and miss.

[RK]

Hey shooter -

My family's had a cabin on the lake since the '60s (grandparents' place, which I know own), and I'm from Pelican Rapids. My grandfather was a teacher at Concordia, and spent all summer at the cabin. When I was 5 my mom went back to work, and since my dad didn't really have time to run a dairy farm AND keep me from killing myself, I pretty much got shipped off with grandma and grandpa to the lake all summer. I basically grew up on the lake.

Crystal's kind of a tough nut for walleyes. It doesn't have a high population overall, and it's almost all natural reproduction - the stocking they do is pretty minimal - so it's real year class dependant. It's not a lake where you're going to go catch 30 or 40 a day. A handful is a good trip. Plus they just do different stuff in that lake than the do on some nearby lakes.

I kind of worry about the lake these days frankly. It's REALLY overrun with small pike right now, and the perch have virtually disappeared, probably because of the pike. Catching perch while you walleye fished was a pretty common occurance in the past, but I can't remember the last time it happened. I think I marked one school of perch while I was walleye fishing last fall. Used to see clouds of them. Plus I'm seeing fewer and fewer shiners every spring. High pike numbers probably add to that too, and the bait dealers seigning the bejeezes out of the creek between Crystal and Franklin doesn't help either. It's a lake where I'd dearly love to see special regs on pike...

cheers,

Rob Kimm

[ellroy2]

I usually get my bait in Vergas on the east end of town since we are closer to Vergas. Is the bait in Pelican Rapids better usually(as far as shiners go)? Is that "Co-Op" in Pelican on the intersection when you are coming into town from the west(by that big gun)?

[shooter_mcgavin]

Rob -

I agree 100% on the snakes and the need for special regs. Also, I think they need to start shutting down the northeast bay in the spring like they use to. I know the lake is capable of producing huge crappies (i got into a school of 16"+ fish about 12 years ago). I've never been in that bay in the spring, but I hear it gets pretty crowded when the crappies start biting.

My extended family has one of the first cabins on that lake, on the east end. Maybe you know them? I won't post their last name on here; shoot me an email if you want. [email protected]

[Prairiefire]

RK,

I also grew up fishing Lizzie, Crystal, and Rush as my parents had a cabin on Lizzie. We used to do really well on Crystal from time to time, but as you say it can be spotty. It is one of the best summer crappie lakes I know of though. Your not the guy that trolls around with a ski mask and gloves on in the middle of the summer are you?

[shooter_mcgavin]

Ski mask and gloves in the middle of summer......sounds like a good way to keep people from crowding you.

To answer an earlier question, the co-op in pelican with bait is at the northwest corner when you come into town from the west. Good bait shop.

Now that we've got a few people who grew up fishing that chain of lakes.....has anybody noticed the influx of north dakotans in the past decade? Those lakes have become pretty popular, and I can't help but notice all the north dakota license plates! Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[RK]

Prairiefire - Hahah - that's not me in the ski mask, but I know who you mean. See him out there now and then. I have to think it's some kind of medical issue with the sun or something...

Yeah, Crystal is a good crappie lake at times, but since they quit posting the bay in the spring the size average in there has really declined. The locals used to call that bay "Loudmouth Bay," because as soon as word got out they were biting in there, Ray Jensen, the old game warden, would come and post it. I wish they still did.

Shooter - might not know your folks but I'm sure I'd know the cabin.

Yeah - North Dakotans.... I don't mind really, but my neighbor on the other hand...he's a big duck and pheasant hunter, and took the non-resident hunting rules over there pretty personally.

If some of you guys that fish the lake would be up for helping me get the ball rolling on asking the DNR to put pike regs on that lake, I'd love to hear from you, because I think it really needs it. I'm really concerned abotu the perch decline and the explosion in pike numbers with fish under 20". That lake is getting a lot more pressure now with the slot limits on Lida, and between the pike, the perch numbers, the pressure, and the fact that the lake is almost totally reliant on natural reproduction, the walleye situation there scares me a little.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[Prairiefire]

I figured the same thing; Must have a skin condition or something. You know he's a diehard though because it can be 85 degrees out, I'm sweating just wearing swimtrunks, and he's all bundled up and out there fishin.

[huntnfish]

RK, I am all for any kind of regs that will help take care of the hammer handles. I have seen what special regs can do after fishing Melissa and Sallie. Feel free to email me. huntnfishmn at yahoo

[shooter_mcgavin]

RK - Has there been any contact with the DNR on this? feel free to shoot me an email and let me know if I can help. [email protected]

I'll be on the lake saturday.....have you been out lately? Any idea what the water temp is?