where to try fishing for bigger sized crappies???

[Crankbait10]

I've tried several lakes in the chisago city area and mostly caught 6-8" crappies released most and kept a few keepers. Anyone having tips to a better lake where maybe some larger sized crappies are available? heard Upper red lake produced huge sized crappies but it is a ways up from the cities.

[Scott M]

When the DNR HSOforum gets back up, you can search for reduced bag limit crappie lakes. Those lakes only get the regulations if they have good growth and potential for maintaining a large size structure.

Alternatively, look for lakes with minimal fishing pressure by thinking outside of the box.

[pushbutton]

While they can be in smaller lakes, your probably not going to get anyone here to post this information. A crappie honey hole is pretty prized, once word gets out they can get wiped out fairly quick. My best advice is to find, med sized lakes in the 3 to 7 thousand acre range and fish away. There will usually a decent population of them since they are not as easily fished during the winter and have more places to spawn during the spring. Lakes in my area that fit this bill are: clearwater, rice, koronis, green, osakis, alex chain, waska, ect..... I dont mind naming them because while they are in there, you still have to go find them, and since the lakes are bigger, that is often not an easy task, especially during the summer when they can be almost anywhere. Catching them usually equates to putting time in on the lakes and learning the different patterns that each lake offers.

[Chad Peterson]

While they can be in smaller lakes, your probably not going to get anyone here to post this information. A crappie honey hole is pretty prized, once word gets out they can get wiped out fairly quick. My best advice is to find, med sized lakes in the 3 to 7 thousand acre range and fish away. There will usually a decent population of them since they are not as easily fished during the winter and have more places to spawn during the spring. Lakes in my area that fit this bill are: clearwater, rice, koronis, green, osakis, alex chain, waska, ect..... I dont mind naming them because while they are in there, you still have to go find them, and since the lakes are bigger, that is often not an easy task, especially during the summer when they can be almost anywhere. Catching them usually equates to putting time in on the lakes and learning the different patterns that each lake offers.

I could not agree more pushbotton. Time on the water and finding out what the color they will chase. But, I would pick one or two lakes that have good population of crappies; and then work it hard. You will have success.

Sniffer