La Crosse Area Report 3/10/07

With the warmer temps we have been getting in the area the snow has settled and the water has left the top of the ice (for the most part) making travel by foot somewhat easier. JP Mason, Eric and I walked out past a couple areas where the crowds congregate to a spot that doesn’t normally produce numbers of fish but holds some nice size crappies. We were set up shortly after 6am and had the spot all to ourselves

After punching several holes so we could hop around covering some ground the fishing began. We were set up along a flat that starts off at 4 feet and drops straight off into 12fow. For the most part the crappies were hanging around the 7 foot mark. A black Moxy jig tipped with a waxie was still producing action as it did for me last weekend. The fish also seemed to be more aggressive this weekend showing up on the LX-5 and chasing the jig before committing to the bite. It also paid to move around hopping holes if there was nothing showing up on the flasher right away. Pictured here is Eric. He dove in elbow deep to retrieve this fish

The morning bite was good from 7 – 9am with things coming to a stop. Eric took off and JP Mason and I made a move. We found some smaller crappies and a few perch but nothing like the fish we were on earlier in the morning. Things slowed to the point JP made a lunch run and didn’t miss a thing, thanks Mr. Mason We fished till 2:30pm without catching much and decided to head back out to see if the larger fish decided to turn back on. JP Mason had enough and left me around 4pm. Pictured here with another nice crappie is JP Mason.

Wondering if I should have left also after an hour of nothing, the sounds of spring kicked into high gear! The whistling of wings from the flocks of Mallards and the chatter of geese filled the air as they started to get up from the open water to stretch there wings and head for feeding grounds. It was very relaxing to just let the head clear sitting on the ice in 40 some degree weather catching a sun burn and taking in the sights. Around 6pm and just about to leave myself, someone flipped the switch The bite was one fish after another with a lot of watch fobs and 4 more dandy crappies that wanted to play tug of war With a good bite still going at 6:30 I received one of them ferdarnits in my line. With it getting dark, no light along and a full day on the ice I packed up and walked off. Knowing the bite was still going strong into dark a trip after work is a must this week. It won’t be long and our ice will be gone

Good luck fishing people!