Morson pre-opener report

[Wild Thing]

I've tried this same post for three years with no help, but hope springs eternal.

Who's got a tip on how and where to fish northern or crappie in mid-may, pre walleye-opener conditions on LOW. I hear folks are catching pike in Obabikon now, but how, and how deep? What about shallow bays where they spawn?

Come on, fork it out!!!

[FOOTDOC]

I will try to help you with the information I have learned. I have fished Obabikon for the last 15 years or so but primarily in the late summer and early fall. I have talked for hours with the guides from the Obabikon bay camp and they tell me the spring is easy pickings for the northerns. They suggest going in the shallow bays of obabikon lake and casting spoons and even top water lures. I usually go to northern manitoba the first week in June which is about right after ice out up there. We hit shallow bays with conventional spoons - daredevils, 5 of diamonds, doctor spoons, mepps spinners, top water baits etc. Crappies would be another story. My son and I have caught enormous crappies in the obabikon in the summer and early fall trolling extremely close to shore with small crank baits. We were targeting smallies and caught a heck of a lot of large crappies. My son likes to use the Strike King series of Kevin Van (Contact US Regarding This Word). Good luck and let us know how you do.

[eskay]

Wild Thing,

I don't know about the crappies, but I just got back on the 1st after a week fishing LOW for northerns. We were a little early for the big fish, on the lake less than a week after complete ice out. We always fish Obabigon in the early spring for the crazy amount of action on the northerns. Favorite bait- hands down, Husky Jerk. Color didn't seem to matter, gold, perch and fire tiger were the preferred ones this year, but the clown worked good too. Can't seem to keep them off of it. We fish the north shorelines early, but any shoreline with depth around 5' is the ticket. 9 days fishing, one was too windy, 2 days sturgeon fishing on the Rainy ( too windy for the lake), and 1/2 day trying to find trout in WF. so, in 5 1/2 days fishing northerns, three of us caught 390 northerns, 1 walleye (23"), 2 largemouth(!) one 18", and 2 (19") smallie. Biggest northern was 42 1/2", with a couple in the high 30s and just a few in the slot. We figured we were just a little too early due to the fact that the weeds were just beginning to show at the end to the trip.

As far as the crappies, we still haven't figured out where they are in the spring. If you do, drop we a line. I'd like to know.

[Wild Thing]

Thanks for the information... our trip got delayed a week so we're heading up this weekend. This is usually a work weekend at the cabin but I'm going to try get away for some pike. heck, with ice out coming earlier every year, might as well take advantage of the extra few weeks of open water!

Crappies everywhere else are in shallows now feeding on small stuff, often near cat tails etc. I might try that, too. I haven't been up there for six weeks and that was hard water looking through holes for crappies and eyes.

Any problem getting into Obabikan at this time? Hows' the famous rock at the entry?

Thanks again!