Help me crack this lake?

[Burchoid]

Ok. I am looking for help to figure out the perch on this lake.

Here's what I know:

-Dark bog-stained water, 1 foot clarity.

-97% of the lake is less than 5' deep

-one small 11' hole next to some rocks, hard bottom

-the rest of the lake is shallow and flat with muck/silt

-there is water flowing in and out of this lake via a small stream through a marsh/swamp

-very few predator fish

-high population of good size perch and walleye per the DNR and someone I know in the area. In a recent open water season my friend and 1 other got their limit of walleyes in 15 minutes and caught many more.

-very little fishing pressure, as the lake is difficult to access.

Here is what we did saturday night and sunday:

A friend and I spent hours looking for the 11' hole. The map of the lake shows 1 small hole but is far from accurate. Oddly enough the hole was within 10 yards of the only rocky shoreline. By the time we found the deeper hole and drilled enough holes to fish it we had burned through 1 full tank of gas in the auger.

We fished the middle of the hole, the edge of the rocks, the softer edge, all over but couldn't get ONE perch or walleye and marked very few fish. The few fish we did mark were active crappies.

We found one other area that someone had fished. There were tons of sunflower seeds and two clipped Ice Buster bobbers... but they were in 3' of water!! Jigged there for an hour and got nothing. This was the only other person who had been on the lake this year. The rest of the snow and ice was untouched, which is normal for this lake because its in the middle of nowhere and hard to get to.

Any ideas on where to look or what to look for in a shallow muddy lake like this that is chalk full of walleyes and perch? I just can't believe we didn't mark more fish or catch one perch or walleye while exploring that hole.

[ASMOLEY]

With a lake that shallow is it possible that those perch/walleye migrate?

When was the DNR survey conducted? Especially on smaller lakes those surveys are outdated.

Or you could tell me where this lake is and... LOL

[Burchoid]

Haha I'd be shot if I showed anyone the lake. My father in law brought me there and I'd ruin that relationship if I put other people on the lake.

I don't think its possible for the fish to migrate. Its a small crick through a thick swamp.

The survey was done within the last few years in the fall. I don't want to be too specific if you know what I mean I know some of you would be on the DNR lakefinder all day trying to find lakes that were surveyed XXXX year on XX/XX/XX day. Then someone would slip and post the name on here and blamo -- 100 ice houses show up the next day. I've seen it happen before!

[hhguide]

I would look for weed edges around the lake. those fish have to hide someplace I know most of the lake is shallow but there has to be a weed edge someplace or If any current is flowing into the lake. I would also look for some sand or something different from MUD in the shallow water. thats a tough one though how small is the lake?

[Burchoid]

I would look for weed edges around the lake. those fish have to hide someplace I know most of the lake is shallow but there has to be a weed edge someplace or If any current is flowing into the lake. I would also look for some sand or something different from MUD in the shallow water. thats a tough one though how small is the lake?

The lake is under 300 acres. There are reeds in one area of the lake... maybe those are in sand? My thought was that there might be bugs and such in the mud that the perch and walleyes feed on. The thing is, almost the entire lake is mud!! Maybe I could look for a transition from mud to sand, but that would be difficult to find in the winter. I know we fished where the rocks met the mud and didn't even mark a fish.

[Paul_Kramer]

You mentioned it was fed by a stream, trying near there might be worth a shot. The current could attract them, and there may be a slightly deeper creek channel from the stream.

[hhguide]

Burchoid I would look on the edge of those pencil reeds that would be a spot to try should have a relativly clean bottom on teh edges and then cover if they go inside the weeds.

[Brade4]

Where is this lake at? lol

[Cicada]

We used to have a lake that was somewhat similar around here. Fished it several times with no success before we found out that it had a very intense and short window of opportunity bite. You would swear nothing was in the lake until the sun hit the trees and then have a walleye on every cast for about 25-30 minutes. Could it be one of those deals?

[Black_Bay]

It sounds like this lake is susceptable to winterkilling but the fish are finding a sanctuary someplace. I'd look toward moving water near the inlet.

[Team Otter]

Have you tried fishing right under the ice over the deeper water?

[Burchoid]

Have you tried fishing right under the ice over the deeper water?

Never thought of trying that! I might have to give it whorl next time.

I forgot to mention, the crappies came off the bottom. Not one was suspended. Caught most of them at 8' near the sharpest break and 1 at 6' on a harder flat bottom.

I'm going to 'dangle the carrot' so to speak ... the few crappies we got were as follows: [email protected]", 1@14" and 3@10". Broke off on a couple big ones at the hole too. Darn 2lb test. The crappies were solid yellow/gold and black. Even their bellies were bright gold/yellow almost like a pumkinseed sunfish. I guess the walleyes are bizarre looking too -- super dark and very golden.

[Chode2235]

Not that this would help you a lot now, but it sounds like the type of lake that would be great to pre-fish out of a boat.

Drift around the lake, and you might be surprised what you are able to find. There might be some off shore structure of another deeper hole.

My guess is the fish are related, to weeds, mud, or something that is different.

This is a great scenario for a camera.

[northernsportman]

good luck seeing anything with the camera with a 1 foot water clarity.

good thought tho

[WalleyeChaser]

I've fished shallow lakes like this before. Remember if it is a rather quite lake and you start boring holes the fish may scatter and with no other pressure to keep them moving they may just settle somwhere else. Set up earlier than normal then go bore holes somwhere else to chase the fish around and possibly back to the first location. It worked 75% of the time on panfish for me. But these were 100 acre lakes and they didn't scatter all that far.

Why don't you email me the lake name and location and we can try making "fish drives" out there!!! J/K

I would do some studing and mapping when you can get out in the boat for sure. Don't give up it sounds like you have an awesome spot!

GOOD LUCK!

[2dalake]

Fish at dusk and up to a couple of hours after it gets dark. Be quiet, remember they are right below you.