Fishing Report 3-3-21

By Ross Hagemeister, meisterguideservice.com

The walleye fishing season has closed in the Otter Tail Lakes area. Actually, February 28th marked the closing of the walleye season across the state-excluding border waters. Ice fishermen don’t need walleye, however. Panfishing in lakes country gets exciting in March. Nature’s recharge is here! Life begins again! Fish get busy.

I love springtime and the new bright sun and feeling it’s warming as it pulls our Minnesota closer to summer with irreversible momentum. Luckily, nature enthusiasts, farmers, and fishermen can count on the progressive powers of spring and their unmistakable influences–every year. Spring finds fish in a transformational state. Some species undergo physiological shifts and begin, instinctively, preparing for the spawn (northern pike, walleye, yellow perch) just before or immediately after the ice sheds from the lake. Not all fish spawn in early spring. Crappie and sunfish, in particular, are still a few months from their perspective spawns, but they are still under the influence of longer days and a powerful sun. The heavy sun triggers food-chain driven opportunities that panfish can’t resist and they find themselves feeding with near reckless abandon. They break from their winter shell and become the child that was sick for a week, but is now recovered and ready to play hard to make up for lost time. Anglers beware, however, because in doing so, and to be transformed into spring fish-they move. You’ll notice that if you try and fish spots that were strong in mid and late winter, they may very well be devoid of sunfish and crappie in March. Where do they go? Usually shallow. Very shallow, sometimes. I find fish every spring that are so shallow that, if I’m not careful, I’ll auger into the dirt and dull my auger blades. When the fish are set up in very shallow water, they are there to feed. By the time the ice is rotting and ready to come off the lake, panfish go bonkers for almost anything that’s washing down the hole. It’s a fun time to fish because you can easily fish and walk around-from hole to hole. I often get my old jiggle sticks out so that I can keep a few feet of line handy to just drop in the hole. Walk quietly up to a hole, drop your lure into the water and watch it sink. Crappie, in particular, are super speedy and assertive panfish that will inhale your dropping lure/bait. Just keep an eye on your sinking lure and it’ll just disappear. No electronics needed. In fact, most of the larger panfish seem to ride just under the ice where electronics can’t find them very easily. Keep an eye on the depth of water that you’re fishing. Not every lake in Otter Tail Lakes Country is a strong walleye lake, but every lake in Otter Tail Lakes Country has strong panfish populations so take your pick. Enjoy panfishing this spring. Good Luck.