Tom Neustrom, owner of MN Fishing Connection, encourages to head north to catch winter crappies now. Read the Grand Rapids area ice fishing report below.
The walleye-northern pike season has ended until May, and the pursuit of panfish will take center stage. Crappies, Bluegills and Yellow Perch will be fished by serious ice anglers looking for late season opportunities. Some of the best ice fishing of the season for these species will be in the next few weeks while ice is fishable. Grand Rapids has numerous lakes within twenty-five miles that support all three of the mentioned species. Check out the MN DNR Fishing Regulations page for more details.
Now is the perfect time to head north to catch winter crappies! Crappies are one of the three that bring special attention to local anglers and visiting ones as well. Being prolific in so many lakes, and a great tasting fish, it’s no wonder this is one of the favorites of ice fisherman throughout the winter. Locating and catching them is always an issue, but as spring and late ice approaches, they tend to school up tighter and are fairly predictable. Throughout the winter deeper soft bottom locations will hold crappies and can be temper mental and many times hard to catch. As the melting starts to take place and the sun burns brightly, crappies as other species know that changes are taking place. There is more activation of bottom critters and the different larvae that live in these soft bottom areas are just what crappies and other panfish are looking for. The reproductive cycle is soon to happen, and fish need additional nourishment to survive through the rituals. They will feed more often during the day and mayfly and other larvae are their choice of diet.
Lite tackle and small baits are needed to target crappies throughout the winter, and it is essential to use these tactics during late ice. Two of my favorite late ice baits are Northland Tackle’s Gill Getter and Tungsten Punch Fly tipped with a couple of euro larvae or a single wax worm. Use your electronics to find the depth crappies are occupying and you’re in business. My Humminbird Helix 7 is so sensitive I can pick up small clouds of suspended larvae and crappies right there dining on them. Remember to keep your bait just slightly above them when dropping your bait to their location. Don’t jig your bait too erratically to spook them. Just a slight twitch and pause will usually do the trick.
Some of the preferred lakes in the Grand Rapids area that hold good numbers of crappies are Big and Little Splithand, Little Moose, Pokegama, Graves, Big Rice, and Loon. Any of these lakes offer good opportunities to provide good opportunities for excellent crappie fishing late in the ice season. March is the perfect month to head north to Grand Rapids, MN to catch winter crappies and panfish.
Watch this short video where Lyle Unger, Grand Rapids Guide Service highlights his ice fishing success for winter crappies this week.
Book Your 2022 Fishing Trip Now!
This summer head north for the perfect fishing trip. Now is the time to book your fishing trip in the Grand Rapids, Minnesota area. Hiring a professional fishing guide for your trip will ensure that you have the trip of a lifetime. Check out our Lakes/Fishing page for a list of professional fishing guides to consider. Professional fishing guides are licensed and insured, they know the Grand Rapids area lakes, they provide the state-of-the-art fishing equipment and technology, and they can get you on fish faster and with more success. Make fishing memories on our lakes in Minnesota’s nature. Consider Grand Rapids this year for your fishing trip destination. With over 1,400 lakes in the Grand Rapids area, you are sure to catch fish! Consider bringing the entire family. Grand Rapids offers over 2,000 miles of trails to bike, hike and ATV. Grand Rapids has two craft breweries, boutique style shops, great place to eat & drink, nightlife entertainment, public art, and area attractions to discover MN history. Grand Rapids is also the perfect place to recharge, reconnect and relax. Stay in Grand Rapids where you will find an abundance of cozy lodging options.