Small lakes vs. Big lakes

[Crappie Kid]

Whats everyones take on this subject? I used to have the notion that small out of the way non-pressured lakes were the ticket. You know the "secret" little lake that you were going to find and have all to yourself. My father started me out on this back when I was very young. We used to go back into these tiny lakes with snowmobiles and fish for Northerns and Crappies. We used to get skunked alot and if we caught anything it was usually small. Since then I have Ventured out on all of Minnesotas bigger lakes and have caught alot of very nice fish and I definatly subscribe to the Bigger water/Bigger(and more) fish theory. When Im talking small lakes I mean 100 acre or less.

[Crawlerman]

The dangers of the "secret" lakes is that if the wrong person finds out about them, and spreads the news; people will go out of their way to fish out this pond with limited acess, that likely won't be re-stocked. Small lakes that are managed and stocked by the DNR and are well known about are better bets; or lakes that people "think" have no fish in them even if you tell them otherwise.

The nice thing about smaller lakes is that the wintering holes are pretty predictable. That and it gives you an opportunity to better fish a lake that may not have boating acess to in the open water season. The advantage to the biger ones of course later in the season is that one can drive on "roads" that have been made to the spots with realtive safety.

[Crawlerman]

And in truth, oddly enough I have caught some of my largest fish when fishing from shore without a boat. Granted I catch more "big" ones off a boat, but a lot of the "monsters" of my age were caught shorefishing on small ponds. I pulled a 12lb cat out of a pond by sheet chance a few summers ago; and have never been able to repeat that on that same pond again, nor on the river. My biggest bass also came out of a 10 acre pond.

[Guest]

I like small lakes that are managed by DNR or someone. Often they will freeze out or even summerkill with out a survey you could be fishing for nothing.Usually they will not get heavy pressure because people think there are no fish in there. I have caught dinner plate size gills (TRUE BULLS) in a so called famers pond that many people even the locals thought was just a slough.
Over all my best lakes are the 400 acre well stocked with less big name pressure.

[deadeye]

I have had mixed success with the small out of the way lakes. A lot of times I will go to them and fill out a limit then there are also a lot of times I go and get skunked. It seems as though when I go to a big lake I almost always get something. It is nIce though when you go to a lake and there is no one else there, even when you don't get any fish it's still pretty fun.(It's still the best when you get tons of fish and no one is bugging you ) Just my thoughts
><>Deadeye

[Swill]

Small lakes are a lot of fun. I found one in the Bemidji area which landed me quite a few pig northerns and lots of panfish. It too was 100 acres or less. The bad news is the word got out from a buddy of mine who was at the bar and next thing you knew it was fished out.;(
Moral of that story...if you bring anyone make sure they don't say a word. Or blindfold them....Good luck....

[waterwolff]

Swill just remember Two people can keep a secret if one is dead