Deep Basin Pan Fish

[Tim Moore]

I headed out in my kayak today to see if I could locate panfish in some of the deep basins I normally fish in winter. It didn't take long using my Vexilar to find them right where I had hoped.

The lake I fished has an average depth of 15 feet, but has three deep basins that are 30-40 feet deep. I headed directly to each basin, positioned myself on the upwind side, and drifted across until I marked fish. It didn't take long. Fish were stacked up at 10-15 feet. It felt like winter, except for the fact that it was 85 degrees.

I managed some nice crappie and bluegill and released everything I caught.

[Tim Moore]

I headed out again today, but this time I used my ice fishing tackle and I wasn't alone. 12mm tungsten jigs with a watermelon Maki from Maki Plastic. The crappie were hammering it. So far I have identified two new areas on a waterbody I thought I knew well. Deep basins that are not on any map or chart I can find. I can't wait to get out on the ice!

[MikeRaetz]

I use this tactic all year round with my vexilar and it has proven to be extremely successful. I have been doing this for years and it is very very addicting!!

[Tim Moore]

Yesterday was a good example of how the term "deep basin" is a relative one. I brought my kayak fishing guest to a small pond with a good crappie population. The deepest part of this pond is 12 feet and the fish were suspended over it. The proof is in the pudding.

[drcarplove]

A month or so before ice up In Nebraska I have taken the flasher and the ice rods in the boat or canoe and anchored and hunkered against the wind and used the lil rods just over the side of the boat. Works great if not to much anchor swing. Shoving the nose into standing timber and tying on tree works good too if wind allows this to be done safely.

Frank

[S. Thompson]

My son and I hit a small local lake (one that most fisherman ignore) to check out the panfish before the ice sets in. The lake is just over 200 acre, with a mean depth of 11.5'. There are three areas that were dredged out 20 years ago that are 24'. We drifted these deep basins area and found the 11" to 13" crappies stacked up. Were looking forward to first ice so we can try out the new Vex FL-X28.

[Tim Moore]

Gotta love it! S. Thompson, have you tried the FLX-28 in open water yet? Our local anglers have been having great success with theirs through the open water. I haven't had a chance to get out yet, but I plan to.

[S. Thompson]

Tim, I just picked it up a week ago and am really anxious to give this bad boy a go. Hopefully, I will get a chance to try out this Sunday in the boat. Ice Institute is here Fri. and Sat., which will only make my 'ice fever' go up a few more degrees. Looking forward to talking again with some of the Ice Team guys, Matt, Rod, Kevan and Craig.

And by the way, this lake is a little local lake that is primarily a recreation lake. The fisherman stay away from it, claiming its dead waters besides all the jet skiers. All they need to do is read the GFP Net Surveys reports for these small bodies of water and they would realize what kind opportunities they are passing up. I love hitting this little lake once the jet skiers are done for the year in late fall. We were the only boat on the lake again.

It has 2 solid classes of Bluegills (6"-8") and a very healthy 8"-10" class. In 2012, the lake had a extremely large class of 8" to 10" Black Crappies which are now 10" to 12" I would strongly encourage any fisherman to log onto their local GFP or DNR HSOforum and do a little research. I go armed with this information every time I hit the water.

[Lawrence Luoma]

I headed out again today, but this time I used my ice fishing tackle and I wasn't alone. 12mm tungsten jigs with a watermelon Maki from Maki Plastic. The crappie were hammering it. So far I have identified two new areas on a waterbody I thought I knew well. Deep basins that are not on any map or chart I can find. I can't wait to get out on the ice!

Geez, 12mm Tungsten are you using a crane for a fishing rod? lol.

[Tim Moore]

Geez, 12mm Tungsten are you using a crane for a fishing rod? lol.

Ha! You never know, I am from New England. Auto correct maybe? Should have said #12.

[palisade1kid]

verticle fishing slabs and bulls with a flasher is a hoot..nice post.

[Charlie Mason]

great application for your Vexilar Tim, I break it out on the Detroit and Saginaw Rivers when jigging walleye too!