Early fishing????

[Guest]

Hey everybody,
Ice is out up here by leech on my little lake. I was wondering if you can get out this ealry to be catching fish. What I mean is will they be biting this ealry or should I wait to put my boat in until about middle of may. Temps have changed from like 80deg. to 30 deg. in about 2 days. Any info. would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks guys.(and gals)

[ghotierman]

If the weather isn't too terribly horrible, this can be a very enjoyable time to be out. Crappies move in shallow almost immediately after the ice is out, and often they'll be aggressive.
We had such an odd winter and marginal ice, most have had the open water itch for weeks. Don't put it off

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Northeast Outfitters
915 Hwy 29 N NE
Alexandria, MN 56308
(320) 763-9598

[Guest]

With this cold front, I wouldn't expect to find any fish shallow.

Crappies bite good this time of the year, but you may need to go back to your winter spots and look for suspended fish to be successful.

Crappies don't move shallow right away on all lakes.

Best advice is to go to winter basin areas with electronics and then work your way up the breaks to where you know they are in mid May....They will be somewhere.

Last night I was getting Crappies out of 32 feet of water. The weather hasn't been cooperating.

Good fishing,

PCG

[Guest]

My Advice is that if the ice is out, get the boat in! Its kinda A contradiction to pro's comment, but From what I've experienced the crappies are in action as soon as the ice goes. Even though they won't be up in the shallows for a while you can check out areas close to winter holes or I've had the most luck finding fish in prespawn areas about 10 to 20 feet. I've found a bobber doesn't work yet cause they're not crazy yet. Try some small jigs that drop really slow. i found this year that color made a difference. Yeah everybody knows pink is supposed to be hot but not yet. If red or pink doesn't cut it I found a black or gray works provided its being jigged. oh yeah. wax worms or larvae. Worked last week

[joneshat11]

try using small jigs in the sizes of 1/100 (or even small) and using 1-inch white twister tail. After using this method you should never buy minnows for crappies again. Oh ya you must also use only two pound test line.

[Guest]

If the weather had stayed warm a guy could be in 2 feet of water slaying the slabs...

But rightly like...25 feet of water had me on some good action.

PCG