Need some help

[slick2526]

I fish a lake close to my home that has a sand/clay/rock bottom, 19ft down clarity in the winter, and about 45ft max depth. Lots of stumps around the shoreline. The weed line only comes out to around 6-8ft deep.

Compared to most lakes it is small in its size but produces some nice sunfish, and crappies.

I do well on this lake most winters ice fishing, this winter hasnt been to much the same.

I fished in spots from 18-22ft in depth, off sunken islands, rock pile, and sand bars without any luck for sunnies or crappies. I could honestly say the spot me and my fishing partner has yet not tried would be going very deep.
My question for you would be, where would you start looking for fish on this lake if you had never fished it?

You can look at the lake map by going to the dnr site, and typing in sand lake, becker county. add about 13ft of water to all the depths shown. it would be the 2nd one down of the 3 that come up in the search. Also called stump lake, and it lives up to its name.
Any suggestions would be appreciated

[Deitz Dittrich]

The question you need to ask yourself is this...Why have the fish moved.. what is different this year from other years when you did cach fish. Is the lake deeper? Shallower? Murkier, clearer, less snow cover?.. more snow cover.. what would make the fish move shallower or deeper and then just try spots...

I was very surprised to hear you say that the water was that clear and yet had the weedline in only 6-8 feet.. why doesn't the weeds grow any deeper?

[Pig_sticka]

try right off the weededge, expesially if it is that clear the sunnies will need some type of shelter. crappies drill a ton of holes from shallow to deep. once night hits plug the holes till you start graphing fish. they might be over that 45 foot hole and they might be in 12. i would try waxies for the most part and just keep hitting holes. you will need a warm day but we have a few during the next week. if nothing else you dont need much but a auger, rod, waxies and a vex. if you dont spot any in a hour or so of checkin then i dont know what else to tell ya. good fishin

[Guest]

Try and find where the sand bar meets rocks or weeds, if it does at all. These spots should hold fish. You might also find crappies suspending over the deep hole.

Did the water level drop 13 feet? When did this happen if it did? That could be the main problem why you are finding fish in different areas, the fish aren't finding new holding grounds and migration routes. Fish follow certain patterns throughout the season and when their roads have changed they have to take detours. I'll check out the map and get back to you.

Good Fishin, Matt.

[slick2526]

all the patterns of the weather is about the same as last year and i had no problem finding fish then. The water level just rose alot, dont really know why. I guess I will just try really shallow next time, and if that doesnt work, go to a deep spot. Im about ready to give up on the lake.

[slick2526]

also i dont know why the weed line is so shallow, theres lots of stumps along the shoreline, maybe try around that area too?

[Guest]

For Crappies try the deep basin, preferably over the mud. Alot of plankton will rise, and it may be hard to distinguish fish through all the plankton.

I am betting this to be a late night lake, so the darker the better.

Try blues and whites in glow with maggots on larger lures to attract attention.

As for the sunnies, them babies can have a mind of there own. They could be shallow, and in the weeds, or deep, just a few feet under the ice...

Good luck,

Scott

[Guest]

Me and slick are realy confused about stump, never had a realy good day yet this winter. the water level of the lake has been 13' higher since 95 or 96 if i remember right.

a lot of fish were showing up on the vex in about 34' but they wouldent bite except for one sunfish. they were suspended about 7' off the bottom