Another newbie to the area looking for tips! Our group of 4 has decided that increasing issues at the border, $45/lb leeches, $50 case beer, etc.. will keep us out of Canada after 10+ years of trips, so we decided for this year to rent a houseboat on Crane Lake the second week in June. We are bringing our own fishing boats so travel from the big boat will not be a problem.

I am looking for suggestions for walleyes. Jig colors? Presentations? Will crank baits work that early? And I am hoping leeches will be the bait of choice because I can get an ample supply, but other bait suggestions would be appreciated. I realize depth can change daily, especially with our current weather pattern, but I would guess we would be hitting shoreline breaks vs. reefs yet at that time? We would like a couple fish to eat, but the vast majority will be heading right back where they came from. I am aware of the slot, and think it's a great thing.

Smallies. One of my favorite fish! I would guess they should be near spawn, or possibly just finished by then? Any suggestions on presentations? I prefer artificials and would like suggestions on crank bait styles and colors, tube colors, and maybe general areas that seem to hold good numbers of footballs.

We will be there for muskie opener. Is it worth bringing the big tackle and rods?

Finally, I have read some about crappies. Based on the late weather pattern I was thinking that we may have pretty good timing for some slabs, and I was hoping to get some ideas on presentations and general locations for those as well.

Again, we would like to have a couple fish meals while there, but we are not meat fisherman at all, so your resource will be safe with us! Also not looking for anyone's hot spots, as finding the fish is half the fun of fishing new waters, but hoping to get a little head start with some general ideas. Getting more excited about heading up every day. Thanks

I have fished the area of Nam. & Kap. for the lake 15 years or so. I have done the best with vertical jiging tipped with a shiner. I like the northland fireball jig the best. Orange/red, gold seem the best.

I wish I could find the old tinsel tail jigs again.

My biggest walleye is 8-14oz
My biggest crappie is 2-13oz

varmithtr, Welcome to Northern Minnesota. I too have recently started fishing the Kab/Nam area after 10+ years in Cananda, in Red Lake, Ontario. This will be my 5th year, Fishing Kab/Nam. the 2nd or 3rd week each year and it is a little different than Canada. I was used to fishing mainly shallow 12' or less for Walleye, but here it is usually, shallow in the early AM and dusk to night fall, but deeper during the day, alot of times 20'+. So I've had to change strategy slightly. The first year was a struggle, but have adapted and done fairly well. Verticle jigging is my main weapon of choice, tipped with minnow, leach or night crawler, size is determined by depth, 1/8th or less for shallow, up to 1/2 for deeper. I tend to travel to Namakan during the day, as the water is darker and fish tend to stay a little more shallow and do my mornings and evenings on Kab. Keep monitoring this forum for colors as they change daily, but I generally use bright(white, Chartruse) on Kab and Darker(orange/black, blue/black) on Nam. I haven't fished Crane as of yet, but I'm sure you'll get plenty of feed back from those who do. Good luck, if your coming up on the 7th, that is the same time I am there, and you make it to Kab/Nam, keep a look out for a blue and white Sylvan and give a yell.