Heading to Lake Shetek in SW Minnesota April 1-3. Ice came off the lake about a week ago, so water will be cold. Weather is supposed to be warm and windy, mix of clouds and sun.

Any advice on how to target early panfish? I'd like options to fish from shore and fish from a canoe. Time of day? Where to target? I think the fishing will likely be slow, so I'd rather not buy a ton of new equipment and would like to keep things simple. Worm under a bobber?

Any idea how the wind will effect the fishing?

Thanks.

Wear your lifejacket...just had some rowing college students drown in a cold lake in Iowa over the weekend.

As for the fishing, most of my ice-out panfish are caught on stuff similar to what I'd use through the ice. Small jigs, same small live bait. Under a bobber, slip bobber, etc. Find a shore w/ access to a little deeper water or weeds if you can if you're on shore.

Wind (like today) is howling and will push bait and dead fish from winter to the blown shores. If you were after catfish and they're in that lake it's a perfect time and situation. Not sure if it'll help you panfishing much

cyclones30: "Wear your lifejacket...just had some rowing college students drown in a cold lake in Iowa over the weekend.


As for the fishing, most of my ice-out panfish are caught on stuff similar to what I'd use through the ice. Small jigs, same small live bait. Under a bobber, slip bobber, etc. Find a shore w/ access to a little deeper water or weeds if you can if you're on shore.


Wind (like today) is howling and will push bait and dead fish from winter to the blown shores. If you were after catfish and they're in that lake it's a perfect time and situation. Not sure if it'll help you panfishing much "

Will do on the PFD, always. Will likely stick to shore fishing if windy.

Interesting thought on the catfish. I'm really just after fish in general and assumed panfish would be the only thing going. I've never targeted catfish but they are in the lake. May give them a shot on a hook and worm.

Wind blown shore is good in the spring but I'd cast on the edges of healthy weeds and reeds before spending too much time just casting around random shoreline. As cyclones30 said, small jigs (can just be ice fishing jigs) under a bobber with a plastic or waxworm are good ways to catch panfish in the spring. Crappies get really aggressive even in the cold water as they are in their spawning phase now. I found that slow reeling a white curly tail grub on a white jighead, about 2ft under the surface with a bobber, just got them fired up. They would hit it if it sat still sometimes, but a super slow retrieve, just enough to get the curly tail moving, caused them to hit it over and over and over.

As for shore, well you can only cast to what's available to you. Wind blown shoreline is your best bet if you can get to it. Otherwise just try to cast near downed trees or along weed edges/on top of emerging weeds with the jig/bobber setup. Small inline spinners (size 0 and 1 ideally) work too.

I also totally forgot- if you can find warm water in the spring, especially with healthy weeds, or if the warm water is flowing in from a nearby bog or something, fish are likely stacked up in it.

jdoutdoors: Thanks for the tips.

Weather is looking warm, but very windy. I'll look for the bogs and warmer water.

Any recommendations on time of day? Or how to deal with windy conditions?

I'm headed to Shetek today. I fish for spring crappies every year. Action can be very good. PM me or send an email and I can help you. I came here looking for some tips about the North Shore so I might at as well help too.

Best place for canoe fishing is the inlet on the NW side of lake. There is a little public spot off of Hwy. 59 that you could launch a canoe from. It's somewhat protected from wind. And the wind BLOWS around here.

someguy: "Best place for canoe fishing is the inlet on the NW side of lake. There is a little public spot off of Hwy. 59 that you could launch a canoe from. It's somewhat protected from wind. And the wind BLOWS around here."

Email sent. Thanks for the tip. I live in NW Iowa so I'm all too familiar with prairie winds.

I should mention for everyone's sake that I'm catch and release fishing. In the BWCA we keep enough for supper, but this trip is just for fun.

Just wanted to give everyone an update. Short version, I got skunked, but still had a good time. And a truly helpful offer.

Longer version: First two days were 20+ MPH winds, did some shorefishing, but nary a nibble. On Saturday, the wind quit and we had glassy water. I got some tiny nibbles of our cabin site and then took a paddle kayak out and fished a bit more. Loved the paddle kayak, hands free fishing was incredible. Did not see another boat on the water the entire two days we were there. Saw a few people fishing off docks, but no one was catching anything.

Also, hat tip to someguy who offered to solo fish nearby me if I was going to bring my canoe. With the wind and water temps, he was worried about me being out there along. That is going above and beyond. Thanks.

Thanks for the help from this board.

Ice out and bluegill fishing is not a good mix generally. As the water warms, look for shallow bays and shores, calm and sunny.