We made it out to Tonka yesterday. Despite the wind it was a great day to be out. This was out first outing this spring chasing crappies. I had a hunch before going out to the lake the water temps would be a little cool yet so I really didn’t think the larger fish would be shallow yet. After a late morning start we hit our first spot marking fish like crazy at the top of a break in about 14 FOW and 48 degree water. We fished all up and down that break and could not get a bite so we shoved off to another area in search of warmer water. We got into a channel that 51 degree water and had just gotten all set up when the phone rang with my wife telling me she had arrived early at our lunch destination in Excelsior. I didn’t see any fish caught in that short time so no big deal. We motored in and had lunch and got back out on the lake at about 1:30 and hit the break line just outside of a channel and was again marking fish in about 12 FOW and 51 degrees. Got the anchor set and put out Tyler’s line and it was game on for about 3 hours. We were catching bass, northern and crappies. Most of the crappies were between 10 and 12 inches. Not the pigs I was looking for, but eaters none the less and we were having a good time. We kept 7 fish for the pan and released at least twice that amount.
We hit another small lake via channel on the way back to the ramp and found water 55-56 degrees. The small males were shallow in that lake and biting like crazy, so if this nice weather holds up this week I’ll bet that some good catches could be had.
We used the classic pink and white flu-flu/minnow under a float to catch our fish yesterday.
Attached is a picture that represents our keepers and a snot rocket that Tyler was proud of.
