I fish up north, down south and all around St Cloud. The walleye fishing in St Cloud is excellent. It has really caused me to cut down my trips to Mille Lacs. Why drive over an hour when I can be fishing in 30 minutes or less and doing at least as well.

Now panfish are another story. They do get hammered hard around here, especially during hardwater season. Still plenty of good options for respectable crappies. By respectable I'm talking 9-11" with a few up to 14+ inches. Sunfish are another story though, with many lakes holding stunted populations. If you want bigger gills you'll need to get away from the school of little ones and at times upsize you baits. Look to lakes that receive less pressure or at least less bluegill pressure.

Good Luck!

Borch-

I would like to chat with you privately. Could I get an e-mail from ya?

carpenter...hope you aren't looking for that kind of work in this area...I am one too and moved from there a couple years ago and though it is alittle better, this profession right now sucks!! As far as fishing goes, I would say that it is as good if not better around here on a consistant basis than you will find up there, however you may have to work for the quality. Stay away from Little Rock if you are looking for table fare.
And there are plenty of lakes within the same driving distance you are used to up there. Good mix of speicies and dependind on where you go, they are just as nice, if better.
In fact, I have found more lakes aroud here that I can catch eyes on all day long than I found up there, except for maybe in Baudet, or Red Lake... GL

Hunter4Life...you must fish in the sticks up there, cause I have seen as much pressure up there on any given weekend as down here...here's a tip for ya, get away from the pack, no matter where you go, ...the swim in more than one spot in the lake (LOL!!!)

Email sent.

borch...i have fished the area, and would like alittle insite from those who are out there more than me, which I am sure you are. Maybe you could give me some pointers, maybe I could give you some.
How about a one-on-one?

fmfconstruction@yahoo.com

would be much appreiciated for any early ice know how from the area...crappie, sunny, or eyes.

thanks much

I hit a few lakes that are not real main stream media if you know what I mean. I agree, there are fish to be had in other spots; not just the villiages. Its my personal opinion that even lakes with pressure up north seem to consistantly produce from year to year more than the lakes around here. I also think that alot of lakes up north dont get hit super hard all season long like the lakes around here do. Just my opinion.

thanks borch

hunter... they get harder right away than here but it tapers off quickly, unless you know how to fish...just stay away from the lakes that are talkede about in the bars...!

GL

sry!!...fumble fingers, lakes up there get hit hard right away, but if you can find the fish away from the mainstream, ( the Villages) you will do good. I think things get hit just as hard early ice because they are all die hards up there, but it tapers off quickly. Certain lakes maintain those towns but fish swim in more than just one spot in the lake...hence, move away from the pack for some salitude!!, and you will do just as well, and in my personal experience, even better (more than once...lol...)!

very well said, some of the best luck i had was moving 100 yards away from the crowds

I also fumbled....I meant to say that I think the lakes up north get hit hard, but the pressure doesnt continue through the season. We're on the same page..:)