Pine City, Mn 12-21-08

Headed back up to Pine City this afternoon to see if the crappies where still biting. Yep. They are still biting. Luckly I was able to pull up on the same spot as last weekend, take a few shots threw the ice with the Marcum and land rite on the fish. The size was a little down to day with most running 8 to 10″s. Shrimpos and ratsos whre still the way to go. A very short jigging action or pulling the lure away from the fish as they came up to it was what they wanted. The higher the fish was off the bottom the more active it was. The bottom huggers where nearly imposable to get to bite.

Ice conditions where good today. Lots of vehicle traffic on the lake. Snow conditions on the lake where a little iffy. 4WD is a must and bring a shovel just in case. There is also some pretty good slush spots showing up on the lake. Drill a hole and the water will come up.

Anyone else been getting out in the area? Think my next trip up that way is going to over towards Mora.

Rumor has it that the crappies are on fire on knife

Way to get back on them Mike

When using the Shrimpos and ratsos, are you tipping them something or using them naked or both ?

What size and color you using if I may ask.

Havent found any need to add anything to those baits. The tail on them must drive the crappies nuts. The #6 is the main size I use. Have also tried the #8s with some luck. These sizes are heavy enough to drop down to where there needed fairly fast and the fish have no problem taking them in. Havent found a need to go smaller yet. The size of the plastic bodies do not change with the lure size anyways.

I do carry with some extra bodies for the lures to try different colors. White bodies where good today.

Thats good to hear about Knife. Havent ice fished that lake yet either but sure got into the panfish there around opener this year.

Thanks for the report Mike. I haven’t made it that far north yet myself, but will in January. I did have good luck with a pink/white #8 ratso on the chisago chain of lakes saturday though. Lots of small sunnies and 7-10″ crappies.