ice out

[jasondittrich]

when the ice is gone where is the first place i should fish? go to the last place i fished on the ice? shallows? i just cant find fish till the water starts to get warm. could someone please point me in the right direction and twords a good lake. (ill leave them there for ya usually dont keep fish). please help by the way im looking for crappies at this time

[john.wells]

It all depends on the body of water. Most times there will be fish in both locations (deep and shallow). Sometimes one will be better than the other, but for the most part, you will find the active fish in the shallows over any remaining or emerging green weeds, especially on the nicer days. On White Bear, for example, I have found fish in 2 feet of water and over 30 feet of water on the same day. The deeper fish tend not to be as aggressive, though.

[Matt C]

today, water temps from 41 to 49. I found crappies in under 2 feet and VERY active. I did find them also in deeper water, 20 feet or so suspended, but they are not active and you need to finesse them. As the water gets warmer they are moving to the spawning grounds and getting territorial.

[Matt C]

And, as my day went on, they bit more softly. Bobber could go down, but if you didn't wait 10 to 45 seconds, even longer in some cases. (tie your daughters new hook and "pretty" lure on) seconds to set the hook, they spit it right out and you come up dry.

[jasondittrich]

thank you and what area were you fishing in? metro, southern, eastern......?there are few lakes in metro open but not long now

[2dalake]

Pick a small and shallow lake, go to the north side (gets more sun) and look in the shallow water where the bottom is dark. If you pick a sunny and calm day, and go late in the morning or in the afternoon many times it seems every blugill and crappie (and a few bass) in the lake could pack into a spot like this. You should be able to see them easily, but they can see you too.