Crappies Crappies and more crappies are showing up. Some groups are bringing in 80 + plus fish, I witnessed one group with 92 crappies and a good source filled me in on one group bringing in a limit for ten anglers with a 17" slabber mixed in.

Look to four feet of water under the slip bobber...it just doesn't get any better then that.

Man your killing me Jonny!

I'm with you Borch. Just when I was gettng over it a little bit! Stan C.

Out of an old tradition I never fish the two opener days, I don't even take the boat out of the shed but I can tell one thing after sitting on Westwinds harbor and watching stringer after stringer of crappies come in I amy have to break that no fishing opener rule.

I hope this means good news for the hard water season as well.

Well Shaky a massive harvest of shallow spawning crappies is not going to help things thats for sure.

That's what I thought but I didn't want to say it!! Doc and I came close to hiring you to guide us on a crappie trip in late April before the ice went out but the back was still mending. I didn't get out to Leech this weekend but am planning to get out locally during the week next week. Dennis Anderson from the Star Tribune was on the air (WCC0) with Sid and Dave this morning and said the walleye bit was hot on Red for the opener.

Well Shaky you know I will say it.

The river was closed to protect spawning walleye and post spawn walleye that are both weak and stressed from the rigors of the spawn cycle. The crappies may have a chance to pull of a spawn this spring as they are currently seeking out suitable spawning beds. They are definitely not getting much help from the surface this spring. There is a fine line between using a current situation/condition to become a successful angler and outright exploiting and abusing it…looks like we crossed that line or at least bumped it with the bow of the boat a few times. Talk about contributing to our own misfortune, and this was after the majority of anglers went home for the weekend. Lined up like gaurds on a fence catching every walleye that tried to slip through.




When I am asked the question “Why are so many walleyes dying after spawn” or ‘Where did the crappies go?” I will use this picture as reference.

Yep, there is proof positive why some people should not be allowed to BREED!!! I swear that common sense in this country gets worse every day. And on a side note they will be the first to complain when the fish are gone.

Why isn't there a limit as to how close those boats can get to the river? You can't depend on common sense when the walleyes are that easy to catch.

There is a limit. Those boats are right on the edge of where they are allowed to be.

so then what is the problem if they are in the right of way.....I know you might not agree with it but as long as they are legal more power to them...i agree though that with the amount of fish there is no reason to have to crowd on a lake like Red...........but they are probably from the cities and they are use to fishing close together.....these are the same guys that when it is you and them on the lake they anchor right next to ya without even fishing another area!!!!

Ive heard of the people who tie there boats to the "NO FISHING BEYOND THIS POINT" sign. Its those meat-driven fisherpeople(which consists of about all Minnesotans) who regard every fishing spot as a luxury, and not a privilege. The plight of Red Lake lies in the hands of "Cidiots". It could have been the weather, but i don't think i've seen so many grumpy fisherman out during opener on Red. Had my share of middle fingers as ive planed out going through the channel that leads to the main lake in front of the tamarack. Why do people insist on going through the dredged channel barely in gear? Maybe things would be a little less congested at the mouth of the river if people got with the picture and planed out in the 8 fow present?

I'm not sure what depth finder you were looking at, but the channel is only about a foot deep in spots, with most of it less than 3 feet between the markers

I was refering to the 8 foot spot before the markers, right past the mouth, past the no fishing signs, where most of the boats in Johnny P's photo are most likely casting to.