Minnetonka 4/21 Thurs.

Arrived at the lake around 2pm. few clouds, east light winds, mild temps very comfortable to be on the water for an afternoon and evening. North Arm temps were 59-61. West Arm 57.8. spent afternoon in Seton. east side had no biters, went to NW side, and did catch some Crappies. all small, but hey, I wasn’t working. kept the boat over 4-5 feet and cast into 2 to 3 feet. had to work for the fish we got. was fairly slow but still did okay. after awhile went into Emerald lake (60 degrees). and got a few more in 2 to 4 ft. more active there, but still overall slow fishing. If one wanted to fish the BIG tourney this saturday. I’d say stay out on the main lake, and find some back shallow bays on the main lake, and would still have to fish 15-20 feet down. there were no big fish, in the shallow bays I was in today. I did have some bigger fish on that got off, but I do not think they were Crappies.
Jack…

I would agree that the crappies will be pouting big-time on Saturday. Folks are gonna have to work for them.

dd

I got a second hand report last night that the Crappies are still deep on Prior. And last Sunday I found the Crappies on Demontreville in 12 feet of water. My conclusion is that it’s still pretty early in spite of the leaves on the trees and the green grass.

Rootski

I will second the report for Prior. Lower lake temps were 57 last evening, warmest we could find on upper lake was 59 at the inlet from Spring. Afew boats fishing the side bays, but mostly “fishin’, not catching”.

I was able to scratch out some slabs in a shallow back bay but after this cold front don’t think the bays are the ticket. I’ve had decent success fishing coves on the main lake – I think the crappies move into them from the main lake at dusk to feed and then head back out. I haven’t had much luck finding crappies out on the main lake. With no snow cover this winter the weeds are already high enough for the crappies to burying themselves into them so you can’t locate them. I tried a few of my late ice spots but no luck. Saturday is going to be tough. I am mowing my lawn.

Talked to a buddy yesterday that was on a smaller, deep metro lake. He found fish still suspended about 15′ over 25 to 30 fow.

It looks like these fish are ready to come, but they are still riding deep.

Sounds like what I have heard on Clearwater and S Center in the past couple days. That first deeper water near the feeding/spawning areas are where they are at.