Breaking down a lake. (Pics)

[Iambjm]

 Originally Posted By: Deitz Dittrich

Dude, if you didnt have any bad luck.. you would have no luck at all!! yucK!

Make that dudette, I guess a 61 year old broad should be more careful, cause I have done this once before and fell square on a 5 gallon bucket. Now that was an ouch!!!

[ole matty]

i hope i m not hackin this topic but i have a question abt lake i usually fish. the lake is bowl size shallow murky lake with 14 max fow with small narrow of 14 fow into 7 fow. i had lucks with bull gills but not slabs but they r in there. whats the best way of target the bigger size crappies? more shallower like 5-7 fow? or stick to 14 fow gun n run for them? thanks

[Scott M]

I'd stick with deeper water and run and gun. Fishing is going to get better when the lake edges start melting and you notice the snow cover disappearing. Stick with mud bottoms. If its small enough you can go all over.

I feel so bad for you, catching bull gills but no slabs

[MNHuntress]

I just wanted to say this is a super topic, but as some would agree there is a huge amount of information just in this post. Here's my idea, which may be a huge undertaking but I would be willing to help with it and I would bet it may be a big success...is to have a fish species series of classes. I would even pay for these and I bet others would too.

Species would include: northerns, walleye, sunnies, and crappie. Each class might be say 2 hours long or so, central location in the cities. Questions during that class would be reading a lake map for that species, pre-spawn targets, after spawn targets, summer, fall, winter fishing targets. How far away from their spawn site do they move away during the winter. Daytime targets for crappies (yes it can be done), nighttime targets, etc. Why some lakes have stunted sunnies and others produce slabs, etc. Just alot of questions answered that we were all seeking in this post.

I took a map reading class at Gander (1 hour long, mostly focused on walleyes) but that class could have stood to be about 2-3 hours long(lasted 1 1/2 hours).

Anyone know of such a class that exists, because the ones I've attended are too broad and could stand to be more focused or they are too focused (finding spawn crappies only). Not everyone fishes walleyes, Craigums likes crappies and so do I.

Any thoughts or is this for the dumb idea forum post?

[Scott M]

That's a great idea. I know there are some classes out there already, but map reading classes are a great start, and then could be branched into other topics.

One thing I highly recommend is to attend Thorne Brothers seminars. Matt Johnson, moderator of this forum and continual rising star of Panfish fame gives a pretty good talk on Wednesday nights. Check out the schedule in the Sponsor Showcase - News and Information forum. I would be there every night since I finally moved out towards Fridley but I have Wednesday night basketball league. Other times there are posts about other FM guys giving talks or seminars. Everything from advanced bass fishing tactics at Cabela's with Deitz Dittrich to Turkey Scouting techniques with Joel Nelson at Gander Mountain.

Good luck MNHuntress et al. and glad you like the information.

[MNHuntress]

da_chise, thanx for the tip on that forum, now I'm mad because I missed the panfish seminars at Thorne Bros. The problem is that I kept checking their web site at the events and seminars section and it states "keep checking back for more events to come". No wonder I missed out.

[Iambjm]

 Originally Posted By: da_chise31

That's a great idea. I know there are some classes out there already, but map reading classes are a great start, and then could be branched into other topics.

Good luck MNHuntress et al. and glad you like the information.

Gosh this is a great idea!!! Would make great classes for Community Ed at local schools. Think about it fishing guides, and contact your local schools with the idea. You can pick up a few extra bucks, and build a client base all at once. I would definitely pay for such a class, as I think a lot of other women would too. I am always eager to learn about my favorite sport - fishing!!!

[ole matty]

 Originally Posted By: da_chise31

I'd stick with deeper water and run and gun. Fishing is going to get better when the lake edges start melting and you notice the snow cover disappearing. Stick with mud bottoms. If its small enough you can go all over.

I feel so bad for you, catching bull gills but no slabs

yup no shat! this is my worse year for crappies. last year plenty of slabs over 12" this year only 1 over 12 and 2 hair of 12.. i m desperate for a crappie over 12"!

[Craig Plummer]

Finally got out to the lake and found fish still in the basin were my red circle was on the above post...

It was a mix bag for species. We ended up catching Crappies,Sunnies,Perch,Walleye... Here's a better one

[CSP88]

Looks like the homework paid off......awesome.

Chad-

[Craig Plummer]

You guys think that the recent snow is going to keep these crappie in the basin for another week or so? I'd like to head up to the lake again and fish in the little 11.5' basin I found last weekend. Otherwise I was gonna try some shallow flats.