Norway Lake in MN- anybody help?

Hello all-

I have been mainly a lurker around here since joining the board. I looked all over the boards in every forum I could think of before posting this, so I hope I’m not in the wrong area.

Some friends and I are wanting to plan a fishing trip to southern or central MN for 2007, preferably in the late May/early June timeframe. We would like to fish for bass and crappie primarily, walleye secondary (mostly because we aren’t as knowledgable about the walleyes).

Anyway, we were looking at Norway Lake near Willmar, MN, but I would be willing to look at anywhere else that would fit the parameters above. We are probably just wanting to make an extended weekend out of it- Friday through Sunday night or something. I would really like to do a cabin or lodge type experience with local fishing guides a possibility. I’m not asking anyone to plan a vacation for us. I’m just looking for input from anyone who may know where some good spots are or have had similar experiences and wanted to share.

Love the site and I appreciate any input. Thanks in advance for any help.

Hey Canoli,
Welcome to the site and thanks for joining and putting up some posts. I don’t have any first hand knowledge of Norway lake but after looking it up on the MN DNR web site it looks like its a good panfish and pike lake.

Here are a couple of links the first is the DNR data on Norway lake. The second is the actual DNR website, so you can check out other lakes that you may want to consider. Good luck on finding a good lake and have a great vacation.
thanks

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/showreport.html?downum=11030700

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/index.html

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Some friends and I are wanting to plan a fishing trip to southern or central MN for 2007, preferably in the late May/early June timeframe. We would like to fish for bass and crappie primarily, walleye secondary (mostly because we aren’t as knowledgable about the walleyes).

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Canoli, Welcome to IDA. Keep in mind that we are having our IDA get-together June 22-24 at Everts resort on Pool 4. There’s great fishing there, and plenty of guys here who can help you get started. If you go a little later in the year, toward late June, consider Mille Lacs for chasing smallies.

I’m sure someone will have info on Norway Lake too. Have fun!

Canoli, I grew up fishing Norway Lake and my parents live on it now. If it’s crappie and northern pike your after you picked a good lake for numbers but size is lacking. There’s lots of 3/# crappies and loads of hammerhandle snotrockets but you’ll have to search for size. Most fish of all species key on the weeds. The weedline is from 5-7 fow, pulling #4-5 shadraps in the firetiger pattern along the north and east shoreline of the main basin(big norway) will put plenty of northerns and eyes’ in the boat. Crappies are a bit more scattered at that time of the year but don’t look deeper than 10 ft. Bass fishing can be very good along the snake grass on the west side and the sunken island in the main basin during the daytime or any of the many docks at lowlight conditions. Hope this helps good luck!!

Thanks for the replies so far!

I may actually try to make that Pool 4 trip if I can convince a friend of mine to go with me. He is in a local chapter of a Walleye club and travels to a lot of regional tournaments so maybe I can persuade him.

If anyone knows of other hot spots in southern MN/western WI/northwestern IL I would also love to hear about those. Again I really appreciate the info so far!