Decent Metro Crappie Lake

[catchin'whopper]

I am usually a bass fisherman, but with all the projects finishing up over this past winter with the help of my dad, i want to get him out on a lake in the metro area this weekened for crappies. Since i dont usually fish for the craps but getting the itch bad, was wondering some opinions. I know the minnetonka contest is going on and want to avoid that lake, i thought some of these other northern metro lakes might be freed up a little more.

Where around the northern metro would be a decent crappie lake to check out this saturday? Was thinking along the lines of White Bear Lake, Bald Eagle, Forest Lake, Chisago area (which lake up there though?), Coon Lake? What are the reports out there?

And for presentation, simple enough to just use bobber and minnow? or should i pick up some maribou or flu flu jigs?

Thanks for your help, will make sure i get the results back to you as well.

-Catchin Whopper

[CrappieMagnet]

All those lakes mentioned are great areas to go check out.I tend to favor the chisago area lakes.There is alot of shoreline areas that cater to the bank fisherman and also are easily accessible by boat.

The bait i would use are plastic tube baits with the pink head and white tube or red head and a pink body.These are really good springtime crappie colors.You can easily change colors,if the crops prefer something different.
Tubes immitate minnows and aquatic insects.These are what the fish eat this time of year.I'm not saying minnows won't work,cuz sometimes you can really do well on a plain hook and minnow.I would try different baits and let the fish tell you what they prefer.
You maybe want to check out the north shore of maybe South Center Lake.The bank fishing is awesome now,and hopefully it's not too crowded!
Good luck and good fishing!

CM

[This message has been edited by CrappieMagnet (edited 04-20-2004).]

[catchin'whopper]

Dumb question, but do you just rig the tubes on a mini tube leadhead hook, probably 1/32oz or something like that? Also, do you just cast it out, and retrieve it back in, jig it back in, swim it back, lift-pause, or how do you start out with it first thing? Just curious as i have never really casted for crappies before, (that's how i usually bass fish). Got a boat so wont be a big deal getting aroudn a lake. Thanks for your input already!
-Catchin

[CrappieMagnet]

Well, i usually use the 1/32's and 1/64's and i rig it up under a slip bobber set at only 18 inches to 2 feet.The tubes are really effective on crappies and thats what i only use this time of year.Most fish that are feeding are shallow(1-10ft.)Look for old dead weeds and bullrushes.Crappies are also attracted to corners and warm muddy bays on the north end.Look for the warmest water.(surface temps)Wind also plays a big role in finding where they are.The wind blows around phydoplankton and zooplankton,the tiny microscopic insects the minnows eat.Find the minnows and you'll likely find feeding crappies.Follow the food chain.

I hope this helps.

p.s. The presentation you describe will work.Try different presentations and find what they like best!

CM

[This message has been edited by CrappieMagnet (edited 04-20-2004).]

[catchin'whopper]

Thanks for your help. I read a blurb from Crappie Tom as well on another forum post, sounds a lot like you are saying. I will go with the bobber set up first, probably easier, and pick up some crappie tubes as well.

As far as the chisago area lakes, do any of them seem particularily better for sizes or numbers? wow, guess i am full of questions today, thanks.
-Catchin'

[CrappieMagnet]

Sorry, i was away at work for awhile.

The whole chisago area lakes are awesome.However from my past jaunts there,i tend to favor S.Center.I've landed some nice panfish there all over the lake at different times of the year.Back when there was a place called The Dew Drop Inn,and now i am fishing more of the west metro lakes and farther out,so my advise would be to check out chisago area bait shops,they'll point to the best lakes.

Good Luck and good fishing!

CM

[This message has been edited by CrappieMagnet (edited 04-20-2004).]

[Matt Johnson]

Many of the Metro lakes will provide crappie fishing, some better then others, whether it be quality, quantity, or both.

A lot of factors will go into determining what body of water I want to fish. When it comes to spring, I like to look for dark bottom bays where the water warms up the fastest. Any runoff, creeks, inlets, etc, that enter the lake also provide warm water, and those areas can be targeted too. Shallow bays where nearby deep water is available are good areas to focus on. Any growth in the water, like weeds/greens or like structures will attract fish as well. Right now there are several Metro lakes pumping out crappies in these shallow bays, not to mention some of the deeper water areas adjacent to these bays and backwaters. I've found that some of the initial dropoffs will hold some of the larger crappies right now. Those slabs are working the walls chasing forage and insects from incoming winds. Wind will often times cause fishermen to stay at home, but you can find some great fishing in the wind, depending on how you use it. A drift can be a valuable tool when crappie fishing, and I like to use it to my advantage, only needed is a few twitches to entice crappies as your jig is in constant motion.

Choosing a lake is only the first piece of the puzzle. A majority of these lakes will hold a decent crappie population, location on the lake is the important piece.

Feel free to ask anymore questions you might have, and good luck out there!

Good Fishin,
Matt Johnson

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[rockhardinmn]

I would also pick up afew flu flu and timberwolf types of baits.tubes and such are great but they are not a magic bait.

Best to have a little of each.

[catchin'whopper]

Thank you for all your help and responses. I will make sure as usual, to let you know where i decide and how the action was!

[Gregory]

Check out the East Metro Lakes heading and see whats going on at North and South Center.

[catchin'whopper]

Well, i did head out to South Center, based some on the reports out here, but also for teh ability to get out of teh wind! Here we go (I posted this in the East Central forum as well under S Center)

Was out on S Center saturday with my parents, forgot the anchor and was left to control the boat with the bow mount, but that worked to our benefit.

We went to the northeastern part of the eastern bay, trying to hold in the wind since it was from the SE. My parents and i would get a bite every 15 minutes or so for about an hour up there, working all around with bare hooks & minnows, tubes, tubes with minnows, and lead heads with minnows, all under a bobber. Water temp from teh 10am time periiod was bout 51 degrees.

Went to teh south shore, south of that island and found 52-53 degree water and less wind. Here in depths ranging from 3-8 feet we would catch pods of crappies. Where you would get one, you would get 2-3. Using the trolling motor helped out since we were still able to cover water but keep it at a slow pace for mom and pop to enjoy lounging on the boat. we managed about 15 eaters with 30+ being thrown back that were smaller.

Baits that i was getting them on after a while was a 1/32oz white curly tail under a bobber, having a minnow on didnt seem to matter after a while, like i said it seemed like there woudl be pods of fish.

Thanks for your comments, not sure i will be doing this again with bass season opening in wisconsin this weekend, but will see! Was a good start for the season!

-Catchin' Whopper

[This message has been edited by catchin'whopper (edited 04-26-2004).]