South Center Write-Up

[Mayfly]

Metro anglers have known for quite sometime that the Center Lakes are known fish producers.

This week we?ll examine South Center and look at a few of the hot angling spots.

Far and away the most fished species is panfish, although some walleye chasers would could make a good argument for crowd control. There is a good bass population in both North and South Center as well.

One of the better panfish areas for both sunfish and crappies is the water near Pancake Island. You?ll find Pancake in the northeastern most basin right where 5 feet of water gives way to 10 feet.
Seasoned panfishermen will begin their search right at the breakline.
 Because of the shallow water, your electronics may or may not aid you in your quest for a nibble. Sight fishing is an obvious alternative here. In the hard water months, you can sit on the edge of the FishTrap seat and peer down into almost 6 feet of water on South Center. You?ll be in 8 feet of water here so the best technique is to pop about eight holes and move from hole to hole until you locate a hungry fish.
Another option is an underwater camera system. Keep in mind you may not be looking for actual fish as much as the right location. You want to find the greener weeds. They?ll tend to hold the fish through the winter mainly due to their ability to give off oxygen.
Conversely, the dead and decaying weeds actually use up oxygen, so fish will not spend much time around them.
The best crappie location is the bay on the southeast corner of the lake.
Look for the deepest water, around 24 feet, and watch you electronics for suspended fish. Keep moving around the edge, there are almost always catchable fish in this location.

There are two key walleye locations on South Center.

One of these is the gravel point and sunken island off its tip just south of the 108-foot hole. It has the classic deep water next to a rubble/rock bar that provides the perfect feeding area for walleyes.
You?ll want to find the rocks in about 18 feet of water and drop a jigging bait like the Buckshot Rattle Spoon from Northland. They have been hot producers. Both firetiger and gold and orange seem to work equally as well.

We might add that this area also produces some phenomenal bass action during the open water season. Anglers have success both deep and shallow here.

The other area has nearly identical conditions. It is the bar off the point just north of the 108-foot hole. Use the same techniques here and you will be rewarded with some good walleye action.

The DNR access is located in the southwest end of the lake. There is a fee access at Whispering Bay Resort on the southeast end of the lake.

[7Pines]

Excellent report, Mayfly! :)
Yes, SCL is a good one, and a lot of nice walleyes present on some pretty classic structure.  Hard bottom areas and humps/points/breaks are where you'll bump into some good 'eyes!
Danno