Nelson Lake - by Hayward

[evntam]

I'm going to visit someone on Nelson Lake with the kids this Saturday. Unfortunately, they don't fish, but I'm looking for catch and release panfish or something for the kids to do. Anyone have any knowledge of this lake?

Thanks.

[Jim Hudson]

Evntam

Nelson is a good all around lake that is pretty large, very stained, with some good structure to fish. It is actually part of the Totagatic River, I believe an impoundment, where the river channel runs through Nelson. For panfish in particular, Nelson holds a good number of crappies where some grow big. You shouldnt have any problems finding a place to fish and to get some action on panfish along the weed edges in some of the back bays or up in the shallows. I think most fish will be done with their spawning activities when you fish it.

Also to note, Nelson has a good population of walleyes and pike. Where you can run into some larger fish for these species. And for the walleyes, you can catch them during the day which is a plus when you have kids with. For walleyes, the only place I have really targeted them is around the fish crib areas in the channel area on the east side of big island.

I have fished the lake a few times during open water and was pretty successful just by using a lake map and searching out areas. And during ice season, I try to hit this lake once or twice for crappies.

Good luck and let us know how you did.

[mntraveler]

I don't to fish hardly at all, but when I do it seems to be on Nelson. My in-laws have a cabin on the lake and we have been having great success with crappies and bluegills the last couple years. From my experience you can't really go out and not find at least a few biters. As far as walleye go, I didn't get out there this opener but the last year we had 3 guys in a boat for 12 hrs and Saturday and 12 hrs Sunday with a grand total of 0 walleyes in the boat. I know they are still in there but I wouldn't waste your time. From what I hear Nelson has become a great bass fishery and there are still northerns to be had. Good luck this weekend...and maybe we'll run into each other...I'll be up there too. Oh, and I'm not sure if you are going to C&R those panfish but the limit is 10, just and FYI.

[evntam]

We went out on Saturday, and found hundreds of sunnies and blue gills in the 3 to 7 inch range - just follow the pockets of weeds off points.

Also found a number of smaller crappies in the small bays in the shade.

It kept my 4 and 6 year old boys happy for a number of hours.

Thanks

Ev

[Jim Hudson]

Cool... Sounds like a good time for the kids..

[mntraveler]

Glad to hear of your success. We did pretty well on the crappies and decided we should start pushing for artificials only after cleaning up the 40-50 dead bluegills off the shoreline. Has anyone else noticed that?