Many Panfish are still Lingering in their Late Winter Spots

Hey fishermen. Get those reels off of your ice fishing rods, make sure the line is suitable for open water angling, put it on a nice light action rod and head to the lake. Spring has arrived in Otter Tail Lakes Country! I watched the rest of the ice exit Ottertail Lake yesterday and what a sight it was. I’ve seen and heard Loons, Blue Herons, Sandhill Cranes, ducks of all shapes sizes and colors and noticed many species of gulls—mostly migrators. These are the signs of water and there’s no turning back. Because the ice has just come off most of the lakes in Otter Tail County, many panfish are still lingering in their late winter spots—suspending or are still out on weedy flats. Once a lake gets a couple days of good warm sun the sunfish and crappie will respond by making their way to where the water is most warm which is usually super shallow water. This is a feeding migration not a spawning migration.  Most lakes in Otter Tail County have shallow bays or features that lure early spring panfish. I would choose lakes, right now, that have very defined bays with a modest mid-bay depth of about 6-8 feet. If the temps drop and the fish leave the shorelines then they simply retreat to the middle of the bay. If the entire bay is shallow and small they may retreat entirely, and head back out to staging areas in front of the bay on the main lake.

The best fishing times right now are when the sun has shone for a couple of hours and especially after a couple day warm up.  If you’re a bank fishermen, then quietly sneak to a promising bank, and cast as far past the fish as you can so you don’t spook them with a plopping bobber, and then slowly retrieve your bait until you reach the fish.  If you’re fishing from a boat don’t get too close or the fish will hear you and spook. When the fish are super shallow, you won’t have a choice but to cast into the shallow fish. Try using light bobbers and hooks. Set your line no deeper then 10 or 12 inches—shallow is where the fish are. Enjoy your first fishing of the open-water season in Otter Tail County, and enjoy your first meal of panfish. Remember, when you really get the sunnies and crappies biting, be selective and remember to release the female fish. Good luck this week!

By Ross Hagemeister, Meister Guide Service