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Author Topic: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021  (Read 8242 times)

Offline jdgambler

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #30 on: Feb 21, 2021, 07:49 AM »
Pike: 35
Laker :25
I'd rather be fishing than sleeping

Offline pyro261

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #31 on: Feb 21, 2021, 09:48 AM »
Nice fish. How thick is the ice over deep water on the west end of the lake?

Offline jdgambler

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #32 on: Feb 21, 2021, 11:47 AM »
I have not been to the far west end of the lake but I have seen people with quads and snowmobile’s out there with my binoculars
I'd rather be fishing than sleeping

Offline netminder34

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #33 on: Feb 21, 2021, 01:25 PM »
Nice fish JD, I am headed up Wednesday or Thursday for a couple days.  Report I got from the west end is ice is still setting up and is sketchy in several spots.  The snow form the past couple days won't help much either.  Is it still passable with quads or should I load up the sleds?

Offline pyro261

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #34 on: Feb 24, 2021, 09:55 AM »
Is there still snow on the ice or has the warm weather cleared it off?

Offline netminder34

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #35 on: Feb 25, 2021, 07:36 AM »
There was a mix of snow, slush, and water a couple days ago.  Still deciding on sleds or quads but have to make the call in the next 2 hrs going to start packing the truck and head up this afternoon.  Cold temps last night should have frozen things up so I can see an inch of ice, breaking through to the solid ice underneath.  Tough walk, tough on the quad and not really good for the sled, what to do, lol.

Offline netminder34

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #36 on: Feb 25, 2021, 06:53 PM »
On 7-8" of clear ice.  Not much snow and the water that was on top froze last night so it slick to walk around.

Offline jdgambler

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #37 on: Feb 26, 2021, 06:24 AM »
Where are you fishing at? Good luck !
I'd rather be fishing than sleeping

Offline netminder34

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #38 on: Feb 26, 2021, 08:44 AM »
Fished off lobb for some smelt last night, caught a few perch but no smelt.  Searched around and did find some schools of smelt but couldn't even get any blind ones to go.

Offline jdgambler

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #39 on: Feb 26, 2021, 08:52 AM »
full moon coming in . Don't give up !
I'd rather be fishing than sleeping

Offline netminder34

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #40 on: Feb 26, 2021, 09:21 AM »
It was pretty full bright last night I thought it was going to be better but there is definitely something going on with the smelt in Crystal.  Guys I know that are better smelt fisherman than I am are doing the same.  But it was good and fun being out there since I hadn't been on Crystal for a couple years.


Offline jdgambler

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #41 on: Feb 26, 2021, 03:47 PM »
Ya big pike and thousands of hog Lakers are eating them!
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Offline netminder34

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #42 on: Feb 26, 2021, 05:07 PM »
There have always been Hog lakers in the lake and the pike population has increased but I am thinking there is something beyond that going on which may be changes to the run, creek habitat, or reduced reproduction issues.  It's been 5 or 6 years since I would say the smelt fishing has been decent, and that's not even the good years.

Offline smeltbuster

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #43 on: Feb 26, 2021, 05:34 PM »
Lakes w/ Smelt can be strange at times. In 2016 Gull Lake had a huge die off. We did not catch any in 17 or 18. In 2019 & 20 we did well on big smelt. This year there tons of smelt but they are small. We do catch an occasional big one but not many. The lakes go through cycles & things change. Been fishing Gull since the early 80s & never caught small ones. The Laker population is down due to reduced stocking. Tons of sub-legal pike. Stay in touch w/ your local DNR  fish guys. They are full of knowledge.
"Yes officer, my chocolate lab did shoot me,with my brothers 12 gauge"!  11-8-87,true story!          "Sorry were late mom,Chris & me just got done with a cow hunt,we each got a big black Angus with our muzzleloaders"!  (the Christmas eve cow hunt w/ my son; 2004 !

Offline jdgambler

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #44 on: Feb 27, 2021, 06:50 AM »
whats the latest ice report. i wanna try on foot next weekend. Even  if I have to stay in town and fish the creek inlet
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Offline netminder34

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #45 on: Feb 27, 2021, 04:15 PM »
I would watch overnight temps all week long.  Still 7-8" out in 140fow we walked out this morning since the wife said she wanted to walk and ice was solid last couple days with no slush.  It changed around 1 this afternoon with the sun coming out around 11.  The wind was blowing hard making it feel colder than the ice was feeling as it started slushing up and melting in the shanty even with no heater going.  We had 4 tip ups out and I did not have to clear ice out of the holes all day when resetting them.  Saw people all the way to Bellows Ave but the far west end is not safe no one past Bellows.  Everything should freeze back up  solid Monday but the rest of the week I would suspect ice loss everyday.  Headed home tomorrow and will be cleaning the shanty up and then getting the boats and steelhead stuff ready.

Offline netminder34

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #46 on: Feb 27, 2021, 04:23 PM »
Thanks for the response smelt buster, I have been following the Gull lake posts and your insights on that fishery for a couple years now seeing some decline here for several years.  The big difference is there has not been a big kill off like you had at Gull.  I hope it is cyclic as this used to be a great smelt fishery just a few years ago and a big draw during the winter months for local businesses.  Also considering the ice season on Crystal is so much shorter than it used to be also may be a factor, still guessing.

Offline jdgambler

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #47 on: Feb 28, 2021, 08:12 AM »
just looked at the forecast and temps look good this week for ice to stay. In my opinion.
I'd rather be fishing than sleeping

Offline netminder34

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #48 on: Feb 28, 2021, 08:35 AM »
It softened the refroze last night 29 deg when I left the house this morning.

Fish are still frustrating us but at least I know there are still some smelt in the lake had a small laker spit one up this morning.


Offline netminder34

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #49 on: Feb 28, 2021, 06:15 PM »
7" of clear ice when we left at noon today but getting a little wet on top


Offline jdgambler

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #50 on: Mar 01, 2021, 07:16 AM »
out on lobb rd? There is still 10" in 30 FOW in the bay in front of town
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Offline netminder34

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #51 on: Mar 01, 2021, 07:58 AM »
Yes yesterday out from lobb.  Saw a couple shanties off bellows yesterday also but heard the farther you went out the thinner it got, I would not expect the west end to last the week.  It's already very sketchy and we lost about 1/2-1" between Thursday night and yesterday around the boathouse and Lobb.  Not sure if you can see it in the picture but the harness straps I have attached to my shanty extend out to the left and melted into the ice about an inch or so with very little sun out yesterday.  If there is any rain this week it could push things back to railroad point or farther east.

Offline jdgambler

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #52 on: Mar 03, 2021, 06:43 PM »
I'm heading out to Crystal for hopfully a last trip on foot. I'll let ya'll know how it is . Temps will be in my favor for the next few days. I'm not planning on fishing any further west than lobb rd or if thats iffy railroad point. If anyone else is going to be in the area PM me.
I'd rather be fishing than sleeping

Offline netminder34

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #53 on: Mar 03, 2021, 08:32 PM »
It was 15 yesterday morning and 24 this morning so anything that has melted should be firming up overnight.  The shore will be a little broke up by the weekend but should still be good off Lobb from what the weather has done.  Bestie Bay is completely open again though after this week, steelhead fishing is knocking on the door.  Good luck this weekend I am going to explore some new waters after the smelt beat down from last weekend.

Offline jdgambler

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #54 on: Mar 04, 2021, 06:44 AM »
ya i figure for a last resort pier fishing. but it is cold for a few more days now
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Offline netminder34

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #55 on: Mar 04, 2021, 10:29 AM »
Elberta pier was cleared Tuesday but there is still a little ice on the Frankfort pier.

Offline jdgambler

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #56 on: Mar 04, 2021, 05:24 PM »
I’m out in front of Beulah on ten” of ice
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Offline Doeslayer

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #57 on: Mar 04, 2021, 07:46 PM »
Catch any fishies?
Catch and release, into the grease!
"gotta be somebody needs some killin" ~ Major Payne

Offline jdgambler

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #58 on: Mar 05, 2021, 01:58 PM »
8” 1.5 miles out from outlet bay. Lakers  are acting lazy. Shanty’s at lobb rd. I’m going there soon
I'd rather be fishing than sleeping

Offline jdgambler

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Re: CRYSTAL LAKE 2021
« Reply #59 on: Mar 05, 2021, 04:25 PM »
6” of clear ice at lobb rd. 60 FOW . Lots of small perch. 10 shanty’s
I'd rather be fishing than sleeping

 



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