Breaking down a lake. (Pics)

[Deitz Dittrich]

thats a good way to describe it.. This time of the year, I have found that the crappies tend to spread out... I like small deep holes.. The smaller the deep hole/basin the better as it concentrates the fish. I fish a lot in the chisago lakes area.. and know of a couple isolated small deeper holes.. both held good numbers of fish.

[delmuts]

the only thing i want to add to all the great info is; keep a log book! write down the time of year, and the day. then what you caught, and the weather conditions! del

[Craig Plummer]

Revised Game Plan! Im looking at the RED circle now as a top priority. everyone concur thats a solid spot to punch a couple holes and spend some time scouting? Remember we are searching for crappies only.

Deitz is that were you teach? I usually fish either South of you in the east metro or North of you in mora but I always drive through chisago area on my way up to the cabin. (on a side note, is it possible to get rid of this "Hello im new tag" and get my old post total back or am I stuck with this new one?)

Del I think keeping a log book is a good idea but when im on the lake its usually the last thing on my mind

[Deitz Dittrich]

I'm slightly concerned with the size of the basin.. It may be hard to locate the fish in such a large area. If it were me, I would go slightly to the west where your blue circle is, yet still be in the deeper area. It may be a search mission.. drill a hole, fish it hard with large lures looking to graph a fish and move on...The steep drop off to the west there may hold the fish... Your pict is small enough that I cant see the actual depths..

Yes I am in Lindstrom and teach in Chisago..

As for your title, that will change as you have more posts... and sorry , no I cant edit your posts back in.. I have no idea how I would do that.. you can try to use the contact us link at the bottom of the page.. but again, doubt it can be done.

[Craig Plummer]

No big deal I don't care if it says I'm new I guess....

You guys think hitting the spots were the streams come in on the north east part of this map might be worth checking out?

I think I like were the red circle is cause its sandwhiched in between a point and drop off north and south of it and it's kind of a Basin in a Basin....So many choices to try but I usually only get like a day to fish it every other week. I'm like a kid in a candy store!

Its Fun plotting an attack method on a lake though

[Deitz Dittrich]

Where streams come in the O2 levels are high, and can be good.. be carefull of ice conditions. These areas often are shallow too, so if you can find some deep water near it can be good.. always worth drilling a hole or 10 to find out.. LOL

I too love to study maps..

[walleye34]

Lake B look real fimilar to me. My family has had a cabin on it for 45 years. Not a numbers lake but size is huge. Proably one of the best quality lakes for crappies in the state. Nobody realy knows of it nor is it ever spoken about on any of these forums. Your looking in wrong spots on lake B. The secret to lake is find where the insect hatches off of the bottom. You will know if you are in the right spot when at dark your vexilar goes completly red from 0 to 15 ft off the bottom. look for sharp breaks with a soft bottom and you'll find them. give you a hint go towards the channel and fish on the right. that shoreline has a steep break...get in about 28ft of water and the base of the drop.

[Craig Plummer]

I actually haven't had a chance to fish it. my fried has a cabin on it though. I don't see a channel on that map. Shes got a really nice 16-17 inch crappie on her wall that was pulled out of that lake

Welcome to Fishing Minnesota btw.

[walleye34]

the name of the lake is after a type of animal right???

and there are 2 of them. the channel that connects them...

I would say 14" is about average size when you get on the right school of fish.

[Craig Plummer]

Yes, I put that portion of the lake on there because I think that is were her cabin was, I remember looking out her window and seeing the emergent vegetation in the fall time....

Shoot me an e-mail if you'd like

[YouNeedAuthorization] @ yahoo . com

~Craig

[Northlander]

I would expect company now that you put pics of the lake up and have given people potential areas to fish.

[Craig Plummer]

 Originally Posted By: Northlander

I would expect company now that you put pics of the lake up and have given people potential areas to fish.

That's ok my mother taught me to share

[TNFL]

It is funny how some people will see a map and think that lake must be better than any other lake. If they are chasing hot bites they are usually a week late anyways.

[David Kasten]

lol you gotta remember hwo many fishies are in each lake.. a lot

[eyepatrol]

Keep in mind too that as we approach late ice and near the open water season, special areas of interest will include those deeper water haunts adjacent to shallow water spawning bays. Shallow water will also begin to re-populate as the snow melts, ice gets clear and sun penetrates through which will promote some aquatic growth.

Maps are a GREAT starting point, no doubt! I spend lots of evenings just looking at maps trying to come up with game plans (after the kids go to bed). But one truth always rings clear when it comes to fishing.....you can't gain any better knowlege or experience than time spent on the ice (or water). Maps will get you started....time on the ice will hopefully seal the deal.

Excellent topic here.

[Craig Plummer]

I plan on going out this weekend. I will most likely search for my deeper pockets that I've been having luck with. However as the season rolls on these crappies should be moving into the shallow flats...What am I looking for? I marked two spots on this map in particular that look promising (Top red and bottom blue circle). would you agree/disagree or see something else that sparks your interest?

[Deitz Dittrich]

Targeting crappies, I would hit the deeper holes like in your red circle... But I have noticed a movement in sunfish towards the weed edges again in the last week or so. At least for bigger sized sunfish. Numbers are still in holes and such...Your lower blue circle looks very good, even more so if there are green weeds near.

[Iambjm]

I have only been ice fishing about 8 years and have done most of my fishing on a small lake in Wisc. that was easy as pie. Now I am faced with tougher fishing and I am stumped. I have tried several local lakes and I keep getting skunked for crappies. Not much luck on northerns either using tip-ups. Found some small sunnies in another lake, but none here. I only have a Humminbird Fishing Buddy locater, (I know it is a little bit lame but tight budget)but I do see fish showing up on it at 24-27 and again 5 feet off the bottom in 35-45 FOW. Am I looking in the wrong spots?

[Deitz Dittrich]

I myself like the looks of the 2 shelfs.. .the 20' deep on on the north end I would try after sundown.. and the 30 foot shelf at the south end of what you posted also looks good.. the deep area between that point on the south end and the other shore might hold some fish too...just got to drill holes and hope for the best.

[Craig Plummer]

This looks like a tough lake to fish in the winter and will most likely require lots of holes to punch. I like the red circles. in my opinion. Good Luck and let us know what becomes of it.

[TNFL]

I personally like the saddle on the north west side. in between the 20 foot point and the slight point on the west shore. try 22 feet of water. I think this type of area can act as a funnel.

But as stated previously, bottom composition, weeds, etc can change everything!!!!

[Scott M]

How'd things go Craig?

[Craig Plummer]

Havent gotten a chance to run up that way

[Iambjm]

I want to thank those who responded to my questions. I did head out to try a couple of those spots, but the crappies gods have not been kind. I drilled a couple of holes during the day last Friday, went in for supper and headed back out. After about 50 pulls on the auger I realized it wasn't going to start. So headed back in as nothing was biting in the holes I already drilled. Went out on Saturday and proceeded to trip on the rope of my ice sled and slammed my knee into the ice. By Sunday I had to wrap it in order to go back out. Still having auger issues and could barely walk. Knee finely feeling like it will hold me up, so I am gonna try again tomorrow.

[Deitz Dittrich]

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