March 28th, 2023
***Fishing Report***
Crappie - Crappie fishing continues to be slower than usual for this time of year. With 10” of snow or more, on the ice, it may be a few more weeks before things really heat up. Anglers results have been mixed, with some doing good, while others struggling to find biters. Anglers finding biters stay on the move, looking for active crappies. Soft plastics in white, pink, and chartreuse have been very effective in catching active crappies. Less active crappies have been hitting crappie minnows and wax worms. Key locations have been in 20-30 feet of water, over mud flats.
Close-up of a chunky golden crappie sprawled on snowy BWCA ice near Ely, MN, March 28 2023 – jaws gaping wide around a red/white polka-dot jig tipped with soft plastic, black speckles popping, eye bright, fresh snow crystals sparkling under crisp light. Classic late-ice slab action in deeper holes or near structure. These panfish were aggressive right before opener – gets you fired up for more BWCA crappie, lake trout, or walleye pursuits!