The lake I’m fishing is less than 300 acres. Max depth is 4′, but there is an aerator. There are no rivers or streams flowing into or out of the lake.
There is a DNR survey from last year that sampled some really big crappies (over 50% sampled were over 10″, with some up to 14″). There is, however, no lakemap on the DNR site.
There are also some small hammer handles and some bullheads in the lake.
How would a guy go about fishing this lake?
Time on the water. During the open water season, I would spend as much time as needed just driving and graphing the lake. Mark special humps or even small bowls in this case. Find weed lines, ect….
Not having had the opportunity to do that now. Make Swiss cheese of the ice and may be try some tip downs .
FDR
Drill lots of holes! I fish a bunch of lakes like that and the only way to find them is lots of holes!
Stay mobil and cut lots of holes. If you know were any weedlines are I would try to fish around them. If the water is clear enough the best way might be to sight fish it. I have fished a lot of shallow water like this and done very well sight fishing, not to mention its a blast watching them. Good Luck!!
Aggressive jigging to call fish into the area. Those big pies will hit 1/8th oz spoons. I also agree with drilling a lot of holes. With a max depth of 4′ these fish are going to be always on the move should be a fun adventure with pies up to 14″ 
Lures…small jigging raps or slender spoons would be a great bait to call fish into the area.
Camera would help you find weeds are fish as well…
Lakes like this I try to fish the steepest shorelines with the best depth rather than the very center. Especially if there’s any wood in the lake near these shorelines.
The aerator location is usually good, as it’s typically near the dam if it’s an impoundment. Thin ice alert however all around it!
Focus on drilling as many holes in one session and keeping the slush in these holes. Crappies in that type of lake will likely be finicky, so drilling, then coming back to them after some time will likely allow them to settle down a bit more. It’s a great backwaters technique that makes sense when the auger blade darn near hits bottom after every hole!
Good luck!
Joel
I’d be careful and avoid any place by that aerator. I’d look for structure, if the whole lake is 4′ deep chances are the fish are schooling up around structure. That is assuming the fish survived that heatwave last year in such a shallow lake.
I fished a small, shallow lake with an aerator last weekend. Max depth couldn’t have been over 8′ and I only found about 6′. Can’t be the same lake though, because mine had a map.
I was the only one out there, but then someone showed up and fished nearer to the aerator and I saw how far the auger went sown, so I knew wit was safe and moved. When I left at dark there were 2 portables, so they must catch walleye.
Anyway, I’d fish close to the aerator without putting yourself at risk. I imagine in these shallow lakes that areas away from the aerator probably get stagnant and oxygen levels decline. You don’t have to fish on the edge of the open water either.
To quote Sarah Palin, “Drill Baby Drill!”
Thanks for the tips, guys. My plan was to drill until my arms were noodles.
In a lake this shallow are there even any weedlines? Unless there are differences in bottom content, wouldn’t the whole thing just be one big weed patch?
And yes, with the aerator, I will be practicing early ice safety protocols.
Call the Mn/DNR Fisheries office for the area. Speak direct to the Fisheries staff and they will likely send you a map not posted electronically.
I found this on a few lakes I have inquired about and got maps that are awesome. PM me and maybe I can help more with connections.
Another place is many Counties, Soil & Water Districts and/or Watershed Districts have some of their own mapping. Along with mapping, their staff people generally have a high level of knowledge on many of the lakes in the area.
Good Luck
Take a visual…………..
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