February trip options

[mcflyfisher]

I'd like to come to fish in MN because our ice in lower Michigan is not looking great.   I've got about a week off  in the beginning of February.  I primarily target crappies and gills here, so my tackle is geared toward smaller fish.  I'm not opposed to making a small investment in walleye gear,  but I'd be really happy to get on a good crappie or perch lake too.  I have a quad,  but I'm guessing that driving my truck out at that time of year might be fine. 
My question is, where should a guy look to go?  I've watched enough IDO to get the idea that there seems to be fishing options everywhere.  Obviously, I'm not looking for GPS coordinates, but more an idea where to start searching for hotels.

[UFCreel]

Crappie gear catches walleye up there. In Feb i would be looking at the Northwest Angle.

[Whopper Stopper]

How about perch on Winnie. You should be set.

      WS

[mcflyfisher]

That would certainly be a shorter drive than the angle.   I'll have to look into it.

[marquette]

Lake Osakis by Alexandria usually is good in February    There are several other good lakes in the area to fish but snow has been a problem this year if there isn’t a plowed road 

[winterbuddy]

McFly - Did you make plans?  There's a bunch of lakes just northeast of the Twin Cities, Chisago area over to Coon, down towards the St. Croix that are all driveable right now and have good panfish populations.   

[mcflyfisher]

This was to be my time, but I'm just getting back in my feet after a week of influenza.  Maybe next year...

[Junkie4Ice]

McFly - Did you make plans?  There's a bunch of lakes just northeast of the Twin Cities, Chisago area over to Coon, down towards the St. Croix that are all driveable right now and have good panfish populations.

Winterbuddy - do you have any suggestions for the brainerd area? We are staying on Gull lake for 4 days this weekend but i'd like to venture off to some smaller lakes after some crappie, I hear crappie are tough to come by on Gull..