I have a lot of crappie holes on Minnetonka - comes with fishing on it over a decade. Anyhow, all the usual spots are just not holding fish. I am used to one or two being better than others but this has been one strange spring so far for me. I have located crappies in some new areas but even then they don't stay put and I spend an hour or so relocating them. And then there is the lure choice - Monday night minnows only and color had to be chartruse. Last night it had to be plastics and white. It's to the point that I have five rods rigged to cover all the bases. Don't get me wrong, it's fun, but this is by far the most difficult spring I've had chasing Tonka crappies.

Mark,

I feel your pain, but you have to realize that in terms of temps its earlier than we might think- even though its May I keep thinking that I am going to find fish in my early May/late April spots. I haven't had much luck in the bays this year-which might have something to do with lack of consistent sunny weather/and or water temps.

The most consistent bites I've had has been in 6+ feet of water near permanent wood docks-think boat harbors/marinas.

Smaller fish have been hugging the docks. Larger 12"+ fish have been on right outside the first breakline around 12'.

Good luck- you'll find em, they've been finicky to say the least- I've just about done away with the jigs & casting to go more subtle with a bobber. With some consistency in the weather I think the bite will get better.

Im glad to hear its just not me. Im having the same problem. My honey holes arent producing. I keep telling myself its still a little too early and the water temp has to come up a little.

I've been fishing my early spots and water temps are at 51 so the crappies should be there. Not the case. I've been able to find them but it has been in totally different spots. For example, I was checking out a long point which has been a good walleye spot in spring. Marked suspended fish in 18ft and quickly caught some nice crappies. This is a spot I have been fishing for a very long time and never ever caught crappies there. Went back two days later and they were gone. Found them on a shoreline break about 50 yards away, again an area that hasn't ever had crappies. Just goes to show you have to stay mobile and don't get hung up hitting the milk run. If you aren't catching fish in the "usual" spots get out the map and start searching. Last night the crappies did not want the slow subtle retrieve. Was able to catch them just casting and reeling back to the boat.

Lets hope this is a crappie only phenomenon! I hope that the walters are in their usual haunts for the opener.

The only other thing that I can think of is if the usual spots are really shallow- maybe a longer ice season affected weedgrowth this year- or even killed off weeds in shallower areas where there are typically green weeds- which brings bugs, which brings crappies. Maybe deeper water has more weeds/invertabrates? Maybe its possible- but I'm surprised that they were suspended. It's really not so much a change of where your crappies went to this year as much as its a change of why their forage isn't where its supposed to be.

We've been doing quite well - stick to the north side of the bays. The water we found was almost 58 degrees today. About 6-10 feet, muddy bottom, in some structure.

We cruised around the lake this past Monday checking other spots that were newer to us but looked good. A lot of them had people there, but during this time it seemed there was a lot of coming and going around on the lake. We tried one small lagoon off a main bay and found quite a bit of fish but they were pretty small. Fished in about 2-3 feet here, so as we've been hearing, the bigger ones are deeper.

Nowwww, as of tonight, we went out at about 8:00 and came back at 9:00. Hit a spot that has been producing well every time we've gone there. But tonight we only even got 2 weak bites. Hoping it was because of the rain but I don't know.

I'vr moved out onto the second break and found some fish. They are on the move but they are definitely schooling up out there. I've been finding pods of baitfish in those areas so those fish must be chasing down the forage. Not too many minnows back in the shallow cuts right now... water clarity is off a bit...

the water is still a little cold yet for anyfish to become aggressively feeding quite yet

Sorry to go off topic, but you guys know a lot about the lake, can you recommend a public landing closest to Excelsior? I have used the city one by Carsons Bay, but that is such a long walk, and I have a bum ankle right now. Actually it doesn't even have to be public, I am not against a fee at this time. I don't go there often, but bringing my boss crappie fishing for an afternoon.

Thanks for any help and info on ramps, I already have my fishing spot I want to try.

Tonka Bay area has some pay ramps at the marinas. Otherwise Gray's Bay ramp is your best bet.

Thanks for the info Mark. I ended up using the Deephaven ramp and walking. It isn't that bad a walk I guess. BTW, we did get some nice crappies, but not fast and furious. Also no 12" but a couple 11" and most about 9-10. We only got them while dragging tubes behind the boat using electric motor, it was funky, usually I can just catch one, and then go back andpitch to the school, but they were having none of that today. They all came trolling. We did see one boat anchored and catching quite a few, they were using minnows I think and bobbers, we were just using tubes.

You can also guess where we were from the ramp we used... Good luck this weekend. I'm headed towards Fergus for the anual trip with the duck hunting guys

I found this same situation...

Back in the shallows, we found water temps close to 57*. Moving off shore, we found fish (and forage) on the first break as well as suspended on the transitions to main basin areas. no great numbers but the fish were very good sized!

Surface temps in these areas were in the 53* to 55* range... Seems strange that not one of my typical "go to" spots has paid of this season...

Anyone know if the lake levels are up or down?
Anyone know what the water temps in black bay? or Setons?

I would say the levels are down a bit. Many of my tight-to-shore spots are now shore spots

Our lagoon seems higher - The dock seems a lot closer to the water this year, though some of the beaches I've seen have looked a lot smaller as well.