Got into some 10’s and 12’s last weekend but looking for the wall hanger (i only do replicas) we still haven’t lost any ice and actually have still been gaining some.
We were in a 50″ basin and getting in them at 30 to 25 fow.
There are quite a bit deeper and larger basins, do I try those or throw on larger bait and fish where the fish are in the 50′ basin?
FYI – The big ones are in there.
Im putting the over/under on “you should keep them if fishing that deep” comments at 10 before 10pm tonite. And im going with the over.
I can tell you where there is a big slob sitting in front of his PC waiting to get out. (that’s me) Are you wanting to get your wall hanger on your lake or are you willing to travel?
Jeremy,
I keep them all when fishing that deep. (i make crappie cake with them so size does not matter)
Rod –
On Roosie only. I’m thinking #9 jiggin rap with a fat head head. keeps me from sorting thru the small ones, puts me in better shape to catch a wall hanger.
I might try over the 125′ hole for s’s and giggles.
On a sad note – I broke the tip off of the Viking rod last weekend. 
You got a 48 roll pack of 2 ply TP?
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I should add that I caught 4 total of this length, and let all 4 go.
I’ll have to check inventory. 
I should add that I caught 4 total of this length, and let all 4 go.
Way to go, good call releasing those genetics.
I usually fish in the lake Minnetonka crappie contest every spring and there are a handful of real trophies brought in every time. 16-17 inchers for real. The biggest I have personally caught out of there is 13.5 inches.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Pailofperch wrote:</div>
I should add that I caught 4 total of this length, and let all 4 go.
Way to go, good call releasing those genetics.
I usually fish in the lake Minnetonka <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>crappie contest every spring and there are a handful of real trophies brought in every time. 16-17 inchers for real. The biggest I have personally caught out of there is 13.5 inches.
We try to fish the Tonka Tourney each year, and yes the ones that win are amazing. They don’t even look like a typical crappie.
That’s what I’m looking 4 
You got a 48 roll pack of 2 ply TP?
Yes. PM me.👍🍺
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This is my biggest one to date. The only fish I caught that day pitching a jig and crawler for walleyes. She lived to see another day!
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Not sure but there’s a pic of a legit 19″ crappie that a young man caught today on the Ice Fishing MN facebook page. Absolute tank. I’ll try and get the pic.
Found them.
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That’s big! But I would love to see it with a tape or bump board.
WOW I was going to post a picture of some of the big ones that I caught but now they don’t seam that big.
We try to fish the Tonka Tourney each year, and yes the ones that win are amazing. They don’t even look like a typical crappie.
That’s what I’m looking 4
I can’t figure out where they catch those things. Do they hang out with the rest of the crappies in shallower, warmer waters and the angler just happens to get lucky? Or are they still out in deeper water nowhere near the rest of the fish? Its a mystery and no one informs people of where they find them, ever.
Crappies that big are a rare feat considering how much pressure people put on them and how many are harvested.
That’s big! But I would love to see it with a tape or bump board.
Yeah didn’t have a picture of it on a tape. I would guess it’s pretty close judging by those pictures with the bucket.
Those big guys are still schooled up with all the others, just have to get one to bite.
A big crappie is a rare feat here in the metro, lots of catch and release for bass but not pannies. Most crappies are considered keepers by about 10”
after that size they are growing less than an inch a year, so when you get a 15 that thing has stayed out of buckets and baskets for a long time.
Those big guys are still schooled up with all the others, just have to get one to bite.
How do you know that? Since crappies are a schooling fish like bass, walleyes, and trout, they may be schooling up in sizes. This is generally why you don’t see a 14 inch walleye hanging out with 26 inchers. I don’t think a 17 inch crappie hangs out with a school of 10 inchers. I’m not saying that you’re wrong, I would just like more than a simple statement to prove it.
Personally I think they are shallower, can be loners, and start eating more yoy fish, and bigger minnows. A crappie though is very adaptable and it really depends on the lake. One guy on this forum cut open the stomachs of fish he caught in the fall and found partially digested frogs, that is probably a short lived pattern that may only exist on a handful of lakes in the state.
The ones I’ve gotten over 15″ were on French or Washington.
Keep Augering holes…
In the last 2 weeks I’ve caught crappies bigger than 13 inches in 5, 10, 20,and 30 feet of water. That said, I prefer shallow. I love fishing the weeds. In them, or right on the edge.
Had to keep 1 the other day hooked him deep thank fully no eggs in it fish 19feet catching eaters close to bottom but if I see a mark higher on the vexilar get nice ones 19 feet on a push up tops out at 11 feet. fishing edge of weeds at 19 and dorps.off to 40 feet
Fish was just under 16″ and 6″wide
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How do you know that? Since crappies are a schooling fish like bass, walleyes, and trout, they may be schooling up in sizes. This is generally why you don’t see a 14 inch walleye hanging out with 26 inchers. I don’t think a 17 inch crappie hangs out with a school of 10 inchers.
Not to say your statement is 100% wrong but its 100% wrong anywhere I’ve fished and guided.
I catch almost all of my 26″ and bigger walleye mixed right with the 14″ers… same with my crappie. Its anything from 8″ers to 16″ers mixed together.
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I catch almost all of my 26″ and bigger walleye mixed right with the 14″ers… same with my crappie. Its anything from 8″ers to 16″ers mixed together.
Well then you proved me wrong. I have never caught a 14 inch walleye mixed in with school of 25 inchers. Since a lot of these game fish are cannibalistic, the small ones could easily get eaten by their bigger kin.
I’ve never caught a 16 inch crappie in my life so I can’t comment on that. I try every spring, but I haven’t found one, which is why I posted my theory on it.
Those are some real slabs, Troy and Joe.
It helps to have lakes with low pressure and this time of the year I find mine higher in the water column next to the green vegetation I believe thay are staging out on the hump I m fishing befor the move in shallow to spawn when water temperature worms up.
It’s also hard on the lake i fish to not fish the marks on the bottom and fish 4 to 6 feet off the bottom when every one else are catching 8″ to 10″ crappie closer to the bottom but the rewards have paid off for me gimruis 
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Drizzy Musky wrote:</div>
Those big guys are still schooled up with all the others, just have to get one to bite.How do you know that? Since <em class=”ido-tag-em”>crappies are a schooling fish like bass, walleyes, and trout, they may be schooling up in sizes. This is generally why you don’t see a 14 inch walleye hanging out with 26 inchers. I don’t think a 17 inch crappie hangs out with a school of 10 inchers. I’m not saying that you’re wrong, I would just like more than a simple statement to prove it.
From personal experience, pulling a bunch of 9 inchers than a 15
A few years ago, caught in a local lake, actually seen this fish at the bait shop.
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So since some lakes are opening up, what is best way to target crappies? Since pool 4 landings are closing, I need to go to plan B. I have never targeted them at ice out before. Casting smaller plastics or minnows under a float? What is the best strategy? From reading here a bit it seems like I should look for shallower bays since the water warms there faster. Is that accurate? TIA
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