The search for slabs

[DDSBYDAY]

   I had a long weekend so I went on a slab hunt.  I had researched a lake last fall that I thought would be right for big pannies.  This winter would have made the lake pretty much non accessible most of the winter.  When I went out last fall I marked the areas on the gps that I would be hitting this winter.   Early snow and slush ruled out any chance for me to get to the lake.  I was sure I could get to it this weekend.  Well I was wrong.   This little spot is so far off the beaten path there is not a lot of help if you get stranded.  I forgot my shovel.  I was able to get to the lake.  The road was plowed to it but the access was not.  I broke through the plow bank and looked it over.  Someone had given it a try.  Looks like they had a heck of a time.  I was by myself with no back up so I had to move on.  This is a single lane road with no parking area.  No place to use a snowmobile or atv.  That is why I wanted to try it.  If I had my winch and shovel or another vehicle with me I would have tried it but not by myself.  Maybe it will be possible in a couple of weeks if we get a warm up and no more snow.   I had to go to plan B.

      I used to have a little honey hole that I could catch 14-16inch crappies through the ice pretty consistently.   It had no pressure  until a magazine article mentioned it.    The next time I went it was a circus.   It's been enough years I thought maybe it may have recovered.  The good news is there was very little pressure.  The size has gone way down.  I had a good time but loose lips can change these small lakes in one season.  I  was disappointed but caught respectable fish.   

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[MTCOMMER]

    :fishing2:

Great to see the fish are coming back - those look nice sized, not the 14"ers there was, but still great fish! 

[pickelfarmer]

I got out last week and for the first time this year, I actually wasn't sweating bullets wondering if I would get stuck or not.. It has been an interesting winter for lake travel thats for sure.
I did end up getting out to my spot that I wanted to be in and hooked into some really nice slabs. I brought home 5 in the 11 -13 inch range. Threw back over 10 smaller ones.
I caught them all on a red glow demon jig tipped with a crappie minnow. Thats pretty much my old stand by for this time of year. I was fishing in about 10 - 12 FOW.
I finally got my camera working again and I hope to get out again this week so I hope to have pics to post later!!

[wildlifeminnesota]

Great to see you getting out on the ice, By the way you are doing a great job on the  It look like you taking time to get some very nice shot of the fish and your jig, 

[DDSBYDAY]

    I bought a perm ice house and a digital recorder for the aqua view three years ago.  Guess how many years the weather has not permitted me to get set up and get live footage.  Yep-  exactly 3 years.   Good thing is I found this site so you guys could help me out with the field testing. 

[wildlifeminnesota]

 

[Go Big Red!]

I think we'll be heading out this Saturday in search on the slab sunnies and crappies.