19 replies to this topic

[frozenfire]

Anyone head out to the holland and surrounding area for some shore spring crappie yet?

I've read that it's been free of ice for a week or so already.

[Snypa]

I will be when it gets warm shortly !! I'll post a thread in the hook-ups section if I do, I heard it was supposed to reach as much as 18 degrees next week, but with this storm coming thru.. I wouldn't be surprised if this cold spell lasted a week or two longer the pain !!!

[frozenfire]

I checked out various spots along the holland and keswick on wednesday morning. everything was still frozen. managed a few casts under the bridge at canal rd. but nada.
I'm thinking that the water freezes over night and melts under the afternoon sun.
When's teh best time to target them then if the water is frozen in the morning?

[openfire]

There was a report yesterday on OFN about crappie/perch in Keswick.

Apparently there were more people than crappies!

Frozenfire, if you hear anything, let us know cuz I'm itching to get into some crappies this year... Last year I was about a week late and only sunfish were there, and a couple of OOS largemouth. Apparently all the slabs had already moved out by then... Mind you, the weather was a lot warmer last year around this time.

[frozenfire]

gonna head up in a few hours (only half an hour to 45 minute ride for me)... will post a report when i get back

[frozenfire]

got there this morning and started fishing in the rain. surprisingly, the perch action was non-stop. fished for about 2 hours and caught over 50 for sure... not huge, but mostly in the 6-10 inch range.
there weren't many people (probably cause of the weather) so i fished most of the shoreline...no a single crappie.

only saw a small dink being caught...that was it. either they are not in yet, or we've already missed them

[frozenfire]

Openfire,

the crappie are definitely in THICK. my buddy and i took a trip there this morning, and nailed them cast after cast. our hands got tired from setting the hook so often. like easily over 100 for each of us. Nothing spectacular in terms of size, but definitely endless action. there were some big slabs hauled out though...like over a foot long. we kept about 10 each and threw the rest back.

this isn't going to last, so if you're going, go now.

[openfire]

Openfire,

the crappie are definitely in THICK. my buddy and i took a trip there this morning, and nailed them cast after cast. our hands got tired from setting the hook so often. like easily over 100 for each of us. Nothing spectacular in terms of size, but definitely endless action. there were some big slabs hauled out though...like over a foot long. we kept about 10 each and threw the rest back.

this isn't going to last, so if you're going, go now.

Thanks frozenfire. darn! I'm golfing tomorrow(Saturday) and Sunday!

Hey, I'm not exactly sure what spot you're talking about so if you're going tomorrow, can you post a report in the reports section?

I'll hit the Crappies up on Monday or Tuesday and add a report of my own. Hopefully they're still there!

[Snypa]

Yeah I might try out one of our local ponds for crappie today, not sure if they're active, but if I catch a few, I'll be sure to post a report & pics !!

[Pigurd]

I found it hard to catch panfish in those ponds, it was like all bass... im gonna come back to the gta this weekend and see how the ponds r doing... maybe use some corn to check for rock bass.

I noticed with my pet bass though that until the water reached a certain temperature, it hardly ate.. then ate like crazy. wonder if panfish are like that? but then, ppl catch crappies ice fishing so i dont know if they have that same temperature depenence...

[disspatcher]

Hey guys hope all is well.
Iwas up to th eriver on sat and got none?? Didnt see anyone getting any, must have been in the wrong spot. Was way to windy and water covered with slime.
If you are getting them, keep at it, just gets better!

[Pigurd]

hmm, where are the access points to the holland river anywyas? i rented a boat from there before, and i just remeber it all being grass land.. do u guys usally try more near cooks bay, or souther on the holland for crappie?

[frozenfire]

Try the park in Keswick. It's a little canal off of cook's bay. Fish were really in there a few days ago, it's starting to slow down now. This morning, I still managed to land about 40 or so. I kept 3 for dinner... 11, 10 and 10 inches.

There was actually a CO today. Wow... he was quite friendly and actually not only looked at the license, but also all the fish in possession. He commented on my slabs haha.

In a few days, there won't be any left.

[Pigurd]

thanks, are there a lot of people there?

wow, a CO... i want to get get my picture taken with them one day, they are more rare than muskies.

hm.. hopefully the fishing wont stop on saturday, even though its gotten chillier. I havent been able to find any good spots in ottawa and wanna finally hook something this year.

[frozenfire]

Yeah, there are always a lot of people there. Unfortunately.

[Snypa]

Thanks for the report frozenfire !! And that's good to hear that you saw a CO, I'm even surprised he even made it out there with all the cuts they've been getting as of lately. Unfortunetly I'm a little reluctant to go there with the crowds & all, btw tho, any pics of the slabs, & how did they taste !? Never tried crappie before.

[frozenfire]

might get a pic up in a bit...got an exam to study for!

[Pigurd]

I tried the park in keswick with a couple friends last saturday and did ok, I seemed to have caught more bass than crappie or panfish (probably cause i refuse to bobber fish...) but it was still good to start catching stuff again.

a friend of mine actually hooked a pike in that small canal with a curly tailed grub, which was very surpising... i thought he just had his drag on really low. wonder if there will be pike in here once pike season opens?

after a while we decided to go to jacksons point to get some perch... it was pretty much non stop perching. unfortunately though, whenever i hooked onto a male perch, it would squirt me with stufffff.... it was stil fun though... cant wait for basss season to start.

[MikeyMikey]

after a while we decided to go to jacksons point to get some perch... it was pretty much non stop perching. unfortunately though, whenever i hooked onto a male perch, it would squirt me with stufffff.... it was stil fun though... cant wait for basss season to start.

Next time don't forget to bring a black coffee with you ;p

[Snypa]

Thnx for the report !! yeah those pike are around the canal inlet all-year round, I remember someone catching a few pike right there (sametime of year) exactly 2 years ago. As for Jacksons Point, thats great to hear, if I have time this weekend I might just give it a go if I get the urge for perch & maybe some perch fillets aswell I wanna test out this rapala filleting knife that I got for christmas