12/12 12:12 full moon crappie?

Anyone else going to be out tonight? I love full moon ice fishing for crappie.

If I lived on UPRL sure. 70% of the state just got locked up. 2 more weeks before I can even attempt to walk out.

Well, I didn’t last until tomorrow.
The crappie were primarily into full minnows and I only had about 20 to start with, and 3 of those were sticklebacks. I got one to go on a spoon and a couple on smaller jigs, but they were crushing my minnow set. I’m going again early tomorrow and mess with some different stuff. Pre-coldfront, the morning bite has recently been more jiggle oriented.

Ice was pretty thick were I was over near Hugo. Folks have been out fishing for a good week. I saw 3 other shantys setup and there were 6 cars at the access, so pretty busy IMO.

Kept six for the bucket, so we’re having tacos!

nice! I am surprised you have ice that set up in that area. must be a shallow lake? I’m in Roch and we just got fresh skim on sunday. next 2 weeks will be making ice and with the forecast, I will feel comfortable to walk then.

PS:

those sticklebacks are a myth…..proved it wrong couple years ago open water. not sure on crappies but the walleyes sure enjoyed them!

No better presentation for crappie than a glow demon with a minnow struggling hooked upside down IMHO.

I also always thought fish avoid the sticklebacks…but fish actually like munching on them more so.

I think it’s because of the fins and tail action that sticklebacks do.

Kept six for the bucket, so we’re having tacos!
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Yum!! Only thing better than crappie tacos are perch tacos!

Sticklebacks are like caviar to fish! I swear they catch fish when even fatheads won’t.

I ran two sticklebacks for 10-15min, figured it would work with the # of fish coming through and how active the minnows were. A few fish showed interest, but no strikes. I swapped to a pimephales and got a strike pretty quick in both instances.

Probably just random or lack of confidence? I have to say, I was pretty confident when I dropped the first one down! 2nd, not so much.

Anyone have any plans this round? A smidge early in the moon cycle, but I think tonight’s the night for me and my FLBW.

If anyone wants to give it a try, feel free to shoot me a PM. I hope to get out an hour before dark and give it a go for at least a few hours. This will be in the Hugo area.

Was out on Tonka last night and iced about 20 crappies between 2 guys from 8-9pm. Didn’t get out until 8 so probably missed most of the bite window but they were hot for a bit before turning into lookers. I’d bet if you got out before dark you’d have great luck.

Two of my BIL’s usually have shacks on Minnetonka. It seems like the crappie set up like clockwork pretty thick in some of the basins. I know my brother Dave usually has a clicker to keep track. Lots of dinks mixed in, but they get some really nice ones. When I saw everyone over Christmas, my nephew was patterning schools of seriously big ones (14″), but I don’t believe that was in the deeper basin areas.

Sometimes I wish I lived on the west side, Tonka is an incredible resource.

I have some commitments this evening that would likely make going out tonight pointless, but tomorrow evening is much more flexible.

If you go tonight, let us know how it works out. I may give it a go tomorrow night anyway if I can get a pass (just got back from 4 days on LOTW…can’t push my luck).

EDIT: And I agree about ‘tonka being a great resource even though it’s highly pressured. I have a neighbor that has been hammering good size ‘eyes out there recently.

Jamin wrote:

I have a neighbor that has been hammering good size ‘eyes out there recently.

The eyes have mostly eluded me on Tonka. Channels with current tend to be best but I’ve never really figured them out. Can always find a good panfish bite in the winter.

If I get out there with them, I’ll PM you what I learn. I do know their best bite has been well past dark.

I got zero crappie, only a couple of dink perch. I had grand intentions of drilling my way over some deeper water to see if I could scope some suspended crappie, then into a neck down area that I know holds fish this time of year, but my collar bolt broke when I was just getting going. Maybe 9 holes drilled only. I contemplated calling my wife to meet me at the launch with a replacement auger, but knew she was busy at home making dinner that I already was skipping.

So I was stuck in 24′ and it was windier than anticipated. I hunkered down and drank my two beers while eating nuts. I only marked a single bottom hugging fish, looked like possibly a small walleye, maybe bass.

Hey Jamin, I’m going to shoot you a call later this am, once I get squared away.