Panfish Help Please

[sandmannd]

So I got my 12 year old daughter and 12 year old great niece into fishing last night and they are already asking (make that begging) me to go again. They only caught a couple of fish on the river but got a taste and want more. I pretty much just fish the river and Mille Lacs during open water and don't fish much for lakes. Can anyone give me an idea where to get them into crappies or sunnies with some regularity? Not interested in keeping them, just want to keep them catching to keep them hooked. I know some of the lakes up by Forest Lake like North & South Center, Chisago, Rush, etc. Any help on any of those would be great or if you know some others near the metro would be good too.

Thanks in advance. If you don't want to post it here, either shoot me an email or PM me.

[Jdrummer]

Come down to madison lake in about a month and I will put you on a truly amazing pannie bite! Other than "down here" I really don't know any lakes by the cities. 

[sandmannd]

Might have to do that. Now that I got the kids going, I can fish as much as I want (per the wife) as long as we are all out of the house. Works for me, loved seeing them on fish anyway.

[Randy Kaar]

If you dont mind small ones, Beaver lake at the end of Case Ave is
great for catching a lot of small ones. Let me know and i will bring
the grand daughter and meet you there!

randy

[pheasantman2121]

the chisago area is always a good go to area.  You could try bald eagle.  Other wise if you wanna head out west you could hit pelican in monticello.  If you head to pelican let me know and we could meet up out there.  I am sure my little one would love to get out in the boat too

[Ryan]

O'dowd in Shakopee is good to catch little ones if you go out on a week night.  Don't bother on the weekend because the lake is just too busy.  Fish off the island across from the fishing pier and you will get plenty of action.  There are also plenty of bullheads if you like catching those things.

[BiggA]

I havent been on chisago this year but usually any where along the south side of the lake by the eagles nest or the a frame is a pretty good bet for panfish.  It is also a pretty hot bass bite some times on minnows but it is a catch and release only on them.

[sandmannd]

Can you get a boat on Beaver or is it just shore fishing. Probably have to get together there with you some time since it's only a few miles from me if even.

How is pelican in the summer? Fished it during the winter and some nice pannies.

[Randy Kaar]

All I ever see on beaver are canoes and rafts, There is no launch. Grand daughter
catches them all from shore on the west side. There is a park there with a pier but
she has better luck from the shore.

randy

[JohnWester]

chisago... anywhere... 10-12 fow.  you'll get them as fast as you get out there.fish the weed edge. sunnies and crappies and an occasional something else...