October 4th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Finally, a great weekend of weather had anglers out in force and the walleye fishing didn’t disappoint! Best reports continue to come from very shallow water in 4-8 feet, over rocks. Minnows are the top bait of choice now as water temps are in the high 50’s now. How they fished them largely depend on type of minnow. Active minnows like creek chubs were very effective when fished under a bobber or on a lindy rig. Less active minnows like chubs, rainbows and pike suckers were most effective when tipped on a light jig. 

Pike - Pike reports are quickly returning as pike start returning to shallow water again, as it cools to temperatures they like. Large suckers or big creek chubs, fished under a bobber has been very effective on pike. Spoons and spinnerbaits has also be very effective on pike. Weedbeds, with green weeds, mouth of bays and river mouths are the areas anglers should key in on if they are targeting pike. 

Smallmouth - Smallmouth reports have cooled off this last week, but reports did come in. Increasingly anglers are finding smallies out of the sunken islands as smallies feed heavily, preparing for winter. Small to medium size suckers have been very effective on these fish. Soft plastic minnow baits have also been effective on smallies out there. Anglers should be looking for humps that top out in 10-20 feet of water, with deep water located close by. Smallies are usually right on top or on the sides of these humps.  

September 27th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye reports have become hard to come by as another stretch of poor weather moved into the area. Still some brave anglers, braved the weather and caught some quality walleyes. Angler reports on locations remain somewhat mixed with some reports of walleyes on shallow rocks, in 5 ft of water. Most reports are still on humos ranging from 20-40 feet of water. With water temps now getting down in the high 50’s to low 60’s, big minnows have become the best way to go to catch walleyes. Pike suckers on a jig and creek chubs on lindy rigs have been very effective. Orange/chartreuse, white and gold have been the top colors. 

Smallmouth - Smallies continue to transition to sunken islands, close to deep water and feed heavily. Out here, big active minnows like creek chubs or lite suckers are very hard to beat!  Humps that top out from 10-20 feet have been best. Some smallies continue to be found in shallow rocky bays, current areas and around islands. Spinnerbaits and soft plastics have been very effective here. 

Pike - With cooler water temps, pike have become very active this last week. Good numbers of pike are being caught with large suckers fished under bobbers, right off docks, shallow bays, river mouths and weedbeds. Anglers also reported catching pike on spoons and spinnerbaits around weedbeds. 

Stream Trout - Thanks to cooler water temps, stream trout have started to move shallower and back to within reach of shore anglers. Night crawlers floated off the bottom, small spoons and spinners have been very popular as of late. Anglers fishing from a boat have been reporting that trolling small crankbaits, behind the boat about 100-150 ft, has been very effective for them. 

September 6th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye fishing remains steady for many this last week. Crawlers on spinner rigs and trolling crankbaits remains the best way to catch walleyes. Anglers continue to find walleyes in that 6-12 foot range, working windy shorelines. Gold, brass and orange where the best colors this last week. The minnow bite seems to of cooled off as water temps climbed this last week. 

Smallmouth - Smallies continue to transition out to sunken islands, close to deep water, on many of the areas lakes. Out here big minnows either fished on a jig or lindy rigs has been very effective for size and numbers. Humps that top out at 15-20 feet of water have been best. Anglers also continue to find good numbers of smallies still working shorelines, points and current areas. Here spinnerbaits, soft plastics and whopper ploppers remain very effective on aggressive smallies. 

Crappie - Crappie fishing has cooled off thanks to the recent cold snap. Anglers are noticing that crappies are starting to school up, just outside large weedbeds and mouths of bays, but getting them to bite has been challenging. Crappie minnows fished under a bobber was the best technique for catching inactive crappies. Pink, white and chartreuse colored jigs were the colors of choice.

August 30th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye fishing remains on the up swing last week for many anglers. Best reports have been coming from 6-12 feet of water, using spinner rigs, tipped with a leech or crawler. Here anglers have been working weedlines and mouths of bays. Hammered gold, copper and nickel continue to be hot colors. Reports are also coming in out on the sunken islands this last week. 25-30 feet of water was the key depth. Areas where the rock turned to mud we’re especially hot. Out here 4-5” minnows were extremely effective on walleyes! Is this the fall bite starting?

Smallmouth Bass - Smallies are really starting to transition from their shallow water summer haunts, out to their fall haunts around sunken islands. More and more walleye anglers fishing out around sunken islands, are reporting catching good size and numbers of smallies, mixed in with the walleyes. Smallmouth anglers are starting to notice a drop in size and numbers of shallow smallies. These anglers are still catching plenty of smallies on spinnerbaits, wacky worms and whopper ploppers along shorelines, points and in rivers. If your looking for trophy smallies, start focusing on sunken islands and fish big 6-12” minnows, now until ice up!

Crappies - Crappie action continues to be good for anglers putting in the time to locate schools of crappies. Timber and weedbeds have been key to locating these schools. Not all weedbeds and downed trees are created equal, so anglers have to work out which one the crappies are using and when. Search baits like beetle spins and jig and twisters are great ways to locate crappies now. Once located, slowing down with crappie minnows, fished under a bobber is very effective. Evenings are a great time to fish weedlines and weedbeds as crappies invade them to feed just before dark. 

Stream Trout - Rainbow trout have been active this last week. Anglers hanging a crawler 15-20 down, under a bobber, have been having the best luck. Small spoon, jig/twister and spinners have also been effective. Anglers fishing out of a boat have also been having good luck trolling with cowbells.

August 23rd, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye fishing has remained steady this last week. As is typical for late August, trolling crankbaits, spinner rigs and covering ground, looking for active walleyes. Trolling shad raps in 12-18 feet of water, over large flats, shoreline points and sunken islands has been very popular and effective. Spinner rigs with hammered gold, copper and nickel blades, tipped with a leech has also been very effective. Bites have been light, so pay close attention while pulling blades. 

Smallmouth Bass - After a week of poor weather, smallmouth fishing has cooled off this last week. Spinnerbaits, soft plastics and whopper ploppers continue to be the way to go to catch good numbers, but average size fish has dropped. Can’t always be world class! Working shoreline points, boulder flats, rivers and around downed trees, in 4-10 feet of water continues to be best, but increasingly anglers are reporting catching smallies out on sunken islands, while fishing for walleyes. 

Crappie - Crappie fishing remains popular this last week for good reason. With weedbeds at their peak and crappie activity at their peak, anglers have been having a easy time finding active crappies. Weedlines and downed timber has been the structure to look for to find crappies. Beetle spins, jig/twister and crappie minnows fished under a bobber has been very effective.

Pike - Pike reports have started coming in this last week. Rainy, cloudy days made for some good pike fishing for a lot of people. Suckers fished under a bobber was very popular and very effective. Shallow bays, river mouths and weedbeds have been key areas to find active pike. Large spinnerbaits and spoons are also excellent choices for pike right now.

August 16th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye fishing has slowed as walleyes are scattered and food is plentiful. Anglers have been covering ground in a attempt to locate walleyes and biters. Trolling crankbaits continues to be the best option to not only locate walleyes, but locate biters. Trolling shad raps in size 7, 8 and 9’s with leadcore and trolling tail dancers down to 18-25 feet of water has been very effective. Perch, firetiger and white have been very effective colors to troll. Anglers have also been catching walleyes trolling spinner rigs tipped with leeches. Increasingly anglers are finding walleye out on sunken islands, in 18-25 feet of water. Hammered gold, copper and nickel blades have been very popular here. If your marking walleyes, but are having a hard time getting them to bite, jigging raps have been triggering walleyes. We are starting to see a increase of reports of bigger minnows starting to work also. 

Smallmouth Bass - Smallmouth bass fishing continues to be strong but size of fish has gone down this last week. Anglers continue to have good luck with whopper ploppers, spinnerbaits and soft plastics working shoreline structure, but walleye anglers are reporting smallies being caught out on sunken islands.

Panfish - Panfishing has been very popular this last week as weedbeds are hitting their peak and panfish are located in and around these weedbeds. Sunfish anglers have been using medium size leeches, waxies and angleworms, inside and on weedlines. Small beetle spins have also been very popular. Anglers seeking crappies have been fishing weedlines or just outside the weedlines. Again beetle spins, jig and twisters and crappie minnows, fished under a bobber have been very popular. As evening approaches crappies start sliding up and into weedbeds to feed. 

August 9th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Trolling bite has been very consistent for walleye anglers. Most anglers have been trolling in 15-18 feet of water with shad raps. During evening hours, on lakes with ciscos, walleye suspend to chase ciscos. Here anglers are fishing with tail dancers in 20-30ft down, over 30-60 feet of water. For anglers who don’t like trolling there has been reports of spinner rigs working. Best report have been when anglers are tipping it with leeches. These anglers are finding walleyes in 15-25 feet of water, around sunken islands, mouths of bays and main lake points. Hammered gold, silver, pink and blue have been top colors.

Smallmouth - Smallmouth bass fishing remains very consistent everywhere in the Ely area. Whopper ploppers continue to be hot, hot, hot. Anglers are working shorelines, shallow flats and around downed trees. Soft plastics, spinnerbaits and in-line spinners have also been very effective in the same areas. 

Stream Trout - Rainbows have continue to be active on many area lakes. Anglers have been trolling cowbells with a small crankbait trailing behind, about 20 feet down. Shoreline anglers have been having good luck fishing a night crawler 10-15 feet under a bobber, during the evening hours. 

Panfish - Panfish anglers continue to find active sunnies and crappies working weedlines. Small beetle spins have been very popular, along with waxies and crawlers, for panfish. Crappie have been more active during the evening hours on the same weedlines sunfish are being found during the day.  

August 2nd, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye angling has slowed for many, as walleyes have been scattered this last week. Anglers, covering ground, have been catching walleyes trolling deep diving shad raps and tail dancers. These anglers have been working weedlines, large flats and over deep water during the evenings. Anglers continue to have luck pulling spinner rigs, tipped with leeches or crawlers. Gold, pink and silver have been popular colors right now. Anglers pulling spinner rigs have been catching walleyes in 6-9 feet of water, in and around scattered cabbage beds. 

Smallmouth - Smallies continues to be consistent biters for many anglers with a few reporting catching good numbers of 20+ inch smallies. Whopper ploppers continue to be hot, hot, hot, but effective times is largely early in the morning or cloudy days with a little chop on the water. Shorelines with large flats, down trees and scattered boulders, has been areas to target. Spinnerbaits and soft plastics have also been very effective on smallies when the topwater bite isn’t going. 

Crappie - Good crappie reports have been growing as we come into peak bite, for summer crappies. Anglers have been working weedlines with beetle spins and twisters. Best times have been during evenings, but anglers have been reporting catching crappies all day. 

July 27th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye fishing has slowed this last week. Walleye locations are becoming more and more mixed between shallow water, deep reefs and open water trolling. High winds pushed walleyes shallow on many lakes. Anglers found walleyes in 5-9 feet of water. Slip bobbers and a leech has been very effective up here. Anglers also reported finding good numbers of walleyes out on sunken islands, in 15-20 feet of water. Anglers have been catching walleyes on jigging raps, jigs tipped with a leech or crawler and pulling spinner rigs. Gold, pink, silver and chartreuse have been popular colors. There is a small group of anglers that have been reporting success trolling deep divers over deep water, during the evening hours, for big walleyes chasing ciscos. Out here white, blood nose and cisco colored crankbaits has been very effective. 

Smallmouth - Smallmouth bass anglers continue to have good success catching bass on topwater baits. Whopper ploppers, fished early in the day, continue to be the hottest topwater bait for smallies. As the sun gets up, anglers switch to more spinnerbaits and soft plastics. Wacky rigs and Ned rigs continue to be very effective on smallies. 

Lake trout - Anglers continue to have success trolling leadcore for lakers. Shallow diving crankbaits trolled behind 5 colors of leadcore has been very effective.  Solid white and blood nose colored crankbaits has been the way to go here. 

Crappies - Crappies fishing has remained steady this last week. Angler continue to find crappies just outside weedbeds during the day, then as evening comes crappies slide up, into the weedbeds. Jig and twister has been very effective, as well as crappie minnows fished under a bobber.

July 12th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye fishing continues to be good to excellent for many anglers this last week. Anglers continue to find walleyes in 10 feet of water or less, in weedbeds.  Slip bobber a leech has been very effective for many, while others are pulling live bait rigs, tipped with a leech or crawler, on weedlines. A few anglers are also starting to report a good bite out on sunken islands now too. Out here it has been more lindy rigging and jigging raps.

Smallmouth Bass - Topwater bite continues to go hot and heavy, right now. Whopper ploppers continue to be very hot! Soft plastics worms and Ned rigs have also been very effective on smallies. Large boulder flats, rocky points and downed trees are the area you will want to fish, if your looking for smallies. 

Crappies - Crappies continue to found located next to downed trees and weedbeds. Evenings or low light periods have been the best time for catching crappies. Beetle spins, jig/twisters and crappie minnows under a bobber have all been very effective on crappies. 

Stream trout - Rainbows have been very active on area stream trout lakes. Anglers are seeing rainbows down at about 20 feet right now. They have been trolling cowbells, tipped with a small, bright colored minnow bait. Fishing a crawler 10 to 15 feet under a bobber has also been very effective.  

Lake trout - Anglers have continued to catch lakers trolling deep diving crankbaits or leadcoring stick baits about 20-30 feet down over deep water. Key colors have been solid white or bloodnose colored crankbaits. Anglers fishing from a canoe have been having luck jigging heavy pimples and bucktails over 50-100 feet of water.  

Pike - Pike anglers are starting to catch a few pike again. Anglers have been trolling heavy spoons, spinnerbaits and big minnow baits around weedbeds and river mouths. Fishing sucker minnows, under a bobber and off your docks has also been effective as of late. 

July 5th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye fishing was surprisingly good, considering may flies continue to hatch on many area lakes. Best fishing seems to be shallow, in 10 feet of water or less.  Shallow flats with scattered weeds, wind blown shorelines and areas around current, has been the best areas to fish. Live bait rigs like spinner rigs and lindy rigs tipped with a crawler or leech has been the way to go. Reports of people catching walleye right off their docks with a slip bobber and leech continue to come in. 

Bass - Topwater fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing has been excellent this last week. Whopper ploppers and pop-r’s have been outstanding. Anglers should target shorelines with down trees, points or large shallow flats. Smallies love boulders on these flats and largemouth love weeds and lily pads. Soft plastics like sinko’s, fished wacky has also been extremely effective.

Panfish - Crappie and sunfish fishing was excellent with crappies working weedlines during the evening hours and sunfish just starting to get off their beds. Crappies have been hitting beetle spins, jig/twister or a simple minnow under a bobber. Sunnies are found in weedbeds and around down trees. Here small jigs tipped with wax worms or angleworms has been very hard to beat. 

Lake trout - Finally water temps have begun to concentrate lakers and good lake trout reports are finally coming in, from area lakes. Angler have been catching lakers trolling shallow diving minnow baits, behind 5 colors of leadcore, over deep water. Best colors has been solid white or blood nose.  Anglers fishing from a canoe has been catching trout jigging heavy spoon or bucktails over deep water. 

Stream trout - Rainbows have been active this last week. Anglers have been catching them trolling small rapalas or small Salmo hornets, over deep water. Anglers fishing from shore have been having luck catching trout floating crawler off the bottom or casting small spoons.

June 28th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye anglers had mixed results this last week as mayflies begun hatching on many area lakes. While the hatch hasn’t been heavy yet, it has been enough to slow the bite. Anglers continue to find walleyes both in shallow water, 6-9 feet with slip bobbers and a leech or out on sunken islands in 15-25 feet of water, pulling lindy rigs tipped with a crawler. 

Smallmouth Bass - Smallmouth fishing has been outstanding for just about everyone targeting them this last week. Smallies have been crushing topwater lures like whopper ploppers, torpedoes and pop-r’s. Soft plastics are also worth noting. Wacky rigging and Ned rigging have been outstanding!

Stream Trout - Rainbow trout and brown trout have been active this last week. Anglers have been catching both on crawlers floated off the bottom or fished 10-15 feet under a bobber. With the mayfly hatch going on, dry flies in the evening has also been very effective on rainbows in particular.  

June 21st, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye anglers continue to enjoy some outstanding fishing as of late. Walleyes have begun to set up out on the humps in 15-20 feet of water and with the recent heat wave, leeches and crawlers have become the way to go. Spinner rigs and jigs, tipped with either a leech or crawler has been very effective for anglers. Anglers have reported seeing mayfly larvae getting active out on the mud flats, so get out and enjoy the bite while it lasts! Blue, gold and white were the top colors last week. 

Smallmouth Bass - Anglers have been having a great time catching smallies, on topwater baits this last week. Whopper Ploppers, Pop-R’s and Torpedo’s have been very popular.  Subsurface baits such as paddle tails and Ned rigs also been very effective for anglers. Anglers should continue to focus on shorelines to find Bass.

Stream Trout - Rainbow trout a largely out over deep water right now, so trolling small crankbaits been very effective on them. Shore anglers have been catching rainbow floating a crawler off the bottom or fishing a crawler 10-15 feet under a bobber. 

Panfish - Crappies have largely wrapped up spawning on area lakes and have transitioned to shoreline structures like downed trees and weedlines.  Beetle spins, jig/twister and crappie minnows under a bobber has been very effective on them. Sunfish have just started to spawn on lake. Shallow bays with sandy bottoms have been key to finding them. Small jigs tipped with wax worms or angleworms, fished under a bobber, has been very effective. 

June 14th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye anglers have begun to find walleyes out on sunken islands, in 15-20 feet of water, this last week. Out here, spinner rigs tipped with crawlers, leeches or minnows has been very productive during the day. During evening hours anglers are finding walleyes sliding up on shallow flats, along shorelines. Here a slip bobber and a leech has been very effective in 4-7 feet of water. Hot colors continue to be gold, pink, blue and purple. 

Smallmouth Bass - Bass status ranges from spawn to post spawn right now. Bass spawning are easy picking for anglers. Tube baits fished right on beds has been the easiest way to catch spawning bass. Post spawn bass have been very active and hammering topwater baits, Ned rigs, spinnerbaits and wacky worms. Shallow bays with boulders, down trees and large shallow  points have been great locations to fish aggressive bass. 

Panfish - Crappies and sunnies also pre-spawning, spawning or post spawn. Spawning panfish are located back in shallow bays with hard, sandy bottoms. Small jigs tipped with angleworms or wax worms has been very effective. Crappies seem to be more post spawn and are starting to transition to sunken trees and weedlines. Twisters and beetle spins and crappie minnows under a bobber have been very effective. 

June 7th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Little has changed with walleyes this last week a cool stable air and water temps continue. Walleye anglers we’re frustrated this last week as very high winds keep anglers off the water. Water temps are in the high 50’s to low 60’s. Minnows continue to be very popular with anglers and walleyes. Jig and a minnow, in 10-15 feet of water, along shoreline breaks, has been the best technique during the day. During the evenings look shallower, in 4-7 feet of water. Here a slip bobber and a leech has been deadly on walleyes. 

Bass - Smallmouth Bass have looking to spawn on many of the area lakes. When the wind wasn’t blowing hard, anglers searched for smallies in shallow bays with hard bottoms. Anglers fished mainly with Ned Rigs or senko rigs to catch bass. 

Panfish - Panfish we’re knocked out of the shallow bays this last week as water temps dropped from cold fronts. Anglers have found them just outside the shallow bays. The last couple of days have been sunny and anglers are again starting to finding panfish back up shallow. Wax worms and angle worms have been very effective under a bobber for sunfish. Crappies have been hitting crappie minnows and hair jigs up in the shallows too. 

May 31st, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleyes continues to be very good for anglers. With water temps hovering around 55 degrees bait of choice can be difficult to figure out, lake by lake. Jig and a minnow continues to be the most productive bait right now, but soft plastics, crankbaits and a leech fished under a bobber, all are effective too.  Thankfully depth range has been consistent. 14-17 feet of water, during the day, has been the key depth to fish. During the evening, a slip bobber and a leech, fish right off shore is slowing getting better and better. We want the water temps to hit 60 before it’s at its best. 

Bass - Smallmouth Bass are starting to show up in anglers daily catches. Many anglers have been reporting bass up on there beds. Anglers have simply been fishing slow in shallow rocky bays with tube jigs, Ned rigs and suspending jerk baits, to catch them. 

Pike - Pike anglers continue to catch good quality pike, up in the shallow bays and around river mouths. Anglers have been catching them with large suckers, fished under a bobber. For pike anglers unable to find suckers, large spoons, large spinnerbaits and large streamers will work just as well, in the same locations. 

Panfish - Panfish anglers have reported finding sunnies and crappies up very shallow looking to spawn. Anglers have been catching them with either a small jig and minnow, worm or leech under a bobber. 

May 24th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleyes have begun to move out of their spawning areas. Small walleyes continue to be caught in and near spawning areas, but walleyes worth bringing home, have begun to setup on shallow, rocky, main lake points and weedbeds. Anglers are finding walleyes in 10 feet of water and less. Pitching light jigs tipped with a minnow remains the most effective technique to catch these fish. Top colors continue to be gold, blue/white and pink/white.

Pike - Pike anglers have been reporting excellent fishing this last week. Lite northern and heavy suckers fished under a bobber has been very effective on area lakes. Shallow mud bottom bays and river mouths are the areas to fish for the big pike. Interestingly pike anglers have been catching good numbers of mid-30” pike, but the big girls, over 40” have been few and far between yet.

Smallmouth Bass - Smallmouth bass have begun to show up in anglers catches. Smallies are being caught in shallow bay, over boulders, with slow moving baits.  Suspending jerk baits, fished very slowly, has been extremely effective on these sluggish bass.

Stream Trout - Rainbows and brookies have been very active this last week. Anglers fishing from shore have been catching good numbers of both on small spoons or jig/twister. Anglers fishing from a boat have been trolling small crankbaits or cowbells, and reporting good success.

May 17th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye fishing was outstanding for the majority of anglers this last weekend. Many anglers limited out in under a hour. Anglers found mostly post spawn males in and around current areas. 3/8oz jigs, in blue and gold, tipped with a minnow, was easily the most popular and effective way to catch walleyes. Anglers found walleyes in 10 feet of water or less during low light and after dark. During the day walleyes were located 10-16 feet of water.  

Pike - Pike anglers reported slower fishing then normal for opening weekend. Anglers still reported catching good numbers and good size pike, but the big females, over 40”, were noticeably missing. These big fish are likely still recovering from spawning and should really turn on by this weekend. Anglers catching pike we’re using heavy suckers and floating them under a bobber back in shallow mud bottom bays. Frozen smelt has also been a popular choice for pike anglers. 

Stream Trout - With the hot walleye fishing this year, stream trout anglers have been few and far between.  The few trout anglers out fishing have been reporting good fishing for rainbow trout in area stream trout lakes. Small spoons, jig and twister and the simple night crawler fished under a bobber have all been very effective for anglers. 

April 20th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Crappie - Late ice crappie fishing slowed this last week as colder then normal temps and several fronts brought several more inches of snow to the area. Crappies continue to only be found in small groups of 3 or 4 crappies and they seem to be on the move. 20 feet of water and around the edges of deeper holes has been the place to be if your going to find them. Anglers have been marking crappies close to the bottom and catching them with soft plastics, waxies or crappie minnows, tipped on a small tungsten jig. 

***Ice Report***

This has become a common question for both anglers looking to fish late ice crappies and anglers looking to fish walleye opener this year. Ice thickness currently ranges from 27” to as much as 37”. Current areas are very slowly starting to open up, but other then that there is very little signs of ice out coming anytime soon. 

April 6th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Crappie - Despite as much as 4” of snow, still on the ice, over 3’ of ice and un-spring like temps in the forecast, crappie fishing is slowly starting to improve in the area. While many anglers still are reporting marking crappies, only to watch them stare at their baits for several minutes, then drift off, there is a growing number of anglers are starting to report marking schools of crappies and finding groups of active biters. Tungsten jigs tipped with soft plastics has been the most effective way to catch as many active crappies out of a school as you can, before the school moves on.