Well, with the ice being off of my favorite lake, it is time to switch gears, and start fishing the soft water. I had the chance to take along my favorite fishing friend, my wife Amber! The water is still extremely cold, so the crappies were tight lipped to say the least. We used mag-light action gl 3’s by loomis, and rigged them with slip floats and minnows.
My strategy was to fish the spots that held crappies while the ice was still on the lake. This proved to be a good strategy. During ice, I was able to use my lx-5 to mark and locate key structure that these fish were holding on. All I had to do was change the way I went after the fish- and they are still biting. The fish were suspended over 18 FOW and the structure was at about 12 FOW, I set the floats to begin with at 8 feet- nothing. Then I moved the floats to around 11 feet, just above the structure, and bingo, doubles!
The wind was a little brutal, but we both had an excellent time. We had a contest going to see who caught the most fish- and I shamefully admit that she won. Thats ok though, I love getting outfished by my wife! I know that I am still hanging my head about the ice being gone, but if any of you Iowa boys are looking for some fun, then I suggest getting out the slip floats and taking the wife or kids. It will be a blast! Good Luck, and We’ll see you on the soft water!
Unbeleivable,…….no gloves, hats, or ice cleats. Must be a different world. I always have a hard enough time beleiving the river fisherman in the cities, and now this. In a boat on a lake in Jan. I’ll be walking on 18 inches on thurs!
Just doesn’t seem right. What’s up with this weather. Great job of still getting after them crappies Luke.
Good report
Bret
Thanks for the report and pics Luke. Does Marcum make a transducer for using the unit with your trolling motor in soft water? Were you using plain hooks and bait or jigs and bait? Any certain colors, if jigs, better than others? I know I’m asking alot of questions [snoopy aren’t I?
] but in my mind I’m planning my first open water crappie outting [have to wait awhile for the ice to melt though] from your success story on the water. I hope you know how hard you have made it for me to have to wait for open water now. 
I can taste it already and I don’t even eat fish. 
I watched an open water crappie tape last night and now this open water crappie report. 
What is a guy going to do when you have to wait. Guess it means back to the ice for this guy for awhile as gotta get out. 
Anyway, you can ignore my babbling, but your report sure feels good if you know what I mean. Keep em coming Bud. ALWAYS enjoy a good panfish report with pics. 
Now I’m really pumped. 
Thanks. 
Thanks, Bill
Luke, finally you got the monkey off your back. Good stuff man! when are we gonna have a contest? YOU have mail.
andy
Great report Luke. If ya can’t beat them, join them
We have the best of both worlds here right now, ice and soft water 
Shamefully? I know you are kidding! I love to be outfished by family! Of course when I do I tell them it was because I taught them everything they know!
Great report!
Tell the Mrs.
Tuck
Bill-
! There is a picture posted above of the setup- but it is probably hard to see…
Yes, Marcum does make an open water puck transducer. I was using gamakatsu hooks, most fish came on a plain glow gama hook- with a larger minnow, they wouldn’t seem to eat smaller ones?? Forgot to put that in the post- must be a newbie thing
On a side note- I release almost 90% of the crappies that I catch out of macbride- people continually hound the fish out there, and they wonder why they never get any bigger. I put some water in a bucket, got a few doubles, then snapped some photos, and off they swam like they never knew different. This year was an amazing year for macbride, with many 13″ fish being caught- but my suggestion is to leave those fish in there, as this has been the second time in my life, that I remember crappies being that big.
One of the best ways to get to fish more often is to have a wife hooked on fishin. Who cares if she catches more as its much easier then to be able to get away with buying more fishin toys then.
Nice report Bud. Keep em comin. 
I suppose you will want to play hooky from work alot now hey. 
I know, its a hec of a job but someones got to do it. 
Thanks, Bill
Hey nice report Luke
I have to say that is is a real good idea to always be out fished by the woman folk.
Nice job on your first report!
ahhh spring crappie bite…oh wait, its still January for a little over 3 hours.
Way to go Luke
I have been in your shoes many a time…being outfished by my best friend/wife..Heck I will take that everytime…Fishing with family members is what makes it so many great memories..Way to go
I like the diversity…make things work…no ice…still not going to stop someone who loves to fish as much as you!!!
Nice report…now get your
up to minnesota and fish mille lacs with us soon!!!!!
Nothing better than taking a kid fishing…unless it’s your wife and kid!
If you have to be outfished by someone it might as well be the wife
Great report Luke!
Great report Luke. Glad to hear you got into some fish–very nice!
–Whitey
I was thinking about heading out to Macbride with my boat …how much of the lake is ice-free, and which ramps are open?
Great report!!!!!!
Now that there is funny, I don’t care who you are!
Nice report Luke.. Great to see you are keeping after them. Keep us posted on how things are going down there. Ice or not!
Sweet deal being that this is/was January!
The bass cannot be far behind….right
Nice Report
Nice report It is always great to fish with your wife alot of my best days on the water have been with the ONERY OLE WOMAN
North arm ramp is open- Everywhere I went ice was out- but I didn’t check everywhere…
I didn’t venture much on the south arm..
Good Luck!!
Ok- yes fishing has made my brain slower- but I just now got that…LOL
Seriously, I am rolling.
Most enjoyable read. Good job Luke.