Big Muskies, big pike, big cats, big sturgeon, big walleyes, what angler doesn’t want big fish? Many of us hit the ice with the thought that today I’m finally going to get the big one. That one big fish that will make us complete. The movie “Grumpy Old Men” summed it up, 2 guys on a quest for the fish. The one fish they’ve been after for a lifetime, “Catfish Hunter.” They did what they had to do to get a shot at the infamous catfish. If I can only do battle with the big one is what a lot of anglers think. But take a step back, pause for a minute, and ask yourself, “Does size matter?”
Over the years I’ve learned that no matter what we do for fun, we all eventually find our niche. I have plenty of friends whose quest is for the 32 inch walleye. Other good pals of mine are on a mission to land the 60 lb flathead. Different guys I know just won’t be happy until they ice the 20 lb pike. This is great. Good for them. They have their passion and I’m cheering for them as they go out on their quest for the one big monster.
I mainly fish the prairie potholes of southwest Minnesota, because this is where I live. Over the years I’ve learned to take what Mother Nature is going to give you. Most of these lakes don’t hold 55 inch muskies, 8 pound bucketmouths, or 55 inch sturgeon. Those are big fish. They’re really big fish. We do, however, have our share of big fish. Big to me may be a lot different than big to the other guy. Remember me saying we all find our niche? Take what Mother Nature gives you? I’ve found my niche, and that niche is crappies.
Crappies offer a challenge. They have paper thin mouths, they suspend, they roam, they school up, and sometimes they don’t. In the prairie potholes that don’t have deep holes or ledges finding these big little fish can be a challenge but they can be found if you stick to a few basics.
Prairie potholes don’t have structure. This is a saying I’ve heard for years. Unfortunately, it’s wrong. Most of the lakes range in depth of 4 feet to 10 feet. If you’re fishing in a 5 foot deep lake, a 6 foot hole is everything. If there is a point sticking out of the shoreline, there will be a transition area somewhere off that point. If there is an inlet to the lake there will be some moving water, this is where the crappies will be holding.
Finding this structure is difficult without the right equipment. These small chunks of structure are where the crappies will be holding. You need to be willing to drill a lot of holes and search. A good sonar is crucial in the search for small structure. You need to be mobile and willing to move. The Showdown troller is perfect for this application. It’s small, handheld, and fits in your pocket. Drill your holes, lower the sonar, check the depth, and move. You’re looking for something small so think small. If you’re in 5 feet for 7 drilled holes and all the sudden you’re in 6 feet, fish that spot. When moving around more and hit 5 feet again, you’ve left the hole. The structure is there. It may not be an 80 foot hole, but it’s a hole and deserves to be fished.
In the prairie potholes crappies will be in the holes or what I call the dirty water. The dirty water is the area off a point that transitions from a solid bottom to a muddy bottom. The crappies will hold right on the edge of this area, in the muddy bottom spot. Use the Showdown troller to identify the bottom area off of this point. 2 feet in either direction can mean everything. If you’re still in a sandy or hard bottom, move a little. Drill more holes until you find the mud and fish that edge. If you’re not on fish, keep moving, but stick to the “Line” that defines the muddy from the hard bottom. Using the sonar keep moving around the point but keep to the muddy area. Sometimes you will find crappies that are stacked on top of each other. As you’re lowering the jig watch your sonar. Pick a few crappies from the top of the stack then lower down to the bottom fish. This is normally where the larger crappies will be.
Just because a fish isn’t a 50 incher, don’t over look it. Big fish surely have their place in our minds but size is relevant. There are plenty of little big fish out there just waiting for us to catch them. If these little big fish are what Mother Nature is going to offer, why should we overlook them?