Minnesota has Crappies - this was caught close to Minneapolis in Victoria, MN

[Gunflint]

I didn't catch it but I would have loved to do so.

19 1/8 inches and 3 lbs. 15 oz.

Not bad for a lake a few minutes from the metro area.

[Unclegillhunter]

Oh good job sending people to the lakes around the metro! Keeps them off your lakes! Well done!
Keep it safe! JDL

[GBguy]

Not getting that fish through a 6" hole!

[Gunflint]

Not getting that fish through a 6" hole!

Exactly!! We who live in Minnesota don’t like 6 inch holes because our fish are just too big and people from other states with tiny fish keep forgetting the  constraints we people in Minnesota must deal with. 

[OldSailor]

Not too bad! A little small for a Minnesnowta crappie though!!

[Sylvanboat]

Holy Cow. Another reason to leave Illinois.

[Gunflint]

Not too bad! A little small for a Minnesnowta crappie though!!

I keep trying to explain but it isn’t easy...

[SLAYERFISH]

How many tacos from that 1 fish?

[Baetis62]

Holy Cow. Another reason to leave Illinois.

Its daunting down there these days for sure. 

[river_scum]

there goes another great lake.  I bet its swarming with people, unless its private.

hellofa nice fish! think our record is 4# somethin.  I have caught a boatload of 2+ pounders but cant even imagine one 4#.

[Gunflint]

there goes another great lake.  I bet its swarming with people, unless its private.

hellofa nice fish! think our record is 4# somethin.  I have caught a boatload of 2+ pounders but cant even imagine one 4#.

Nah, the lake will be fine.

That is standard fare for most lakes in Minnesota, and we have over 10,000 of them (with ice).
 

[earlyrise]

Wow !!

[MinnesotaPike]

there goes another great lake.  I bet its swarming with people, unless its private.

hellofa nice fish! think our record is 4# somethin.  I have caught a boatload of 2+ pounders but cant even imagine one 4#.

I'm guessing its from Lake Waconia. The shantytown there produces a couple of these a year but it is absolutely ridiculous how many permanents fill one bay of a 3000 acre lake. Its definitely not "standard fare" but it is interesting that it keeps producing a couple a year with such incredible pressure.

[PoleJerker]

WOW 

[Gunflint]

Its definitely not "standard fare" but it is interesting that it keeps producing a couple a year with such incredible pressure.

This is exactly what we keep telling the outsiders and it seems to work. 

[Ice_Fly_Guy]

What a specimen.  Guys fish their whole life for one like that.

[river_scum]

well if its 3000acres then not so bad.  im used to 100-600 acre lakes we have around here.  story of a fish like that gets out and its ruined for years. 

lol I know its not standard fare.  fish Minnesota lots back in the day, till the limits put a damper on it.  the group just topped going after that.  awesome fishing there for sure! 

[Gunflint]

well if its 3000acres then not so bad.  im used to 100-600 acre lakes we have around here.  story of a fish like that gets out and its ruined for years. 

lol I know its not standard fare.  fish Minnesota lots back in the day, till the limits put a damper on it.  the group just topped going after that.  awesome fishing there for sure!

You and your group are still more than welcome! 

[OldSailor]

there goes another great lake.  I bet its swarming with people, unless its private.

hellofa nice fish! think our record is 4# somethin.  I have caught a boatload of 2+ pounders but cant even imagine one 4#.

MN record is 5# even, caught in 1940 from the Vermillion River.

[WARRIOR_ON_ICE]

A thread about my absolute hands=down favorite fish to eat is enjoyable to read for sure. I am reading while eating a plate full of Lake Champlain crappies caught this weekend. I get both black and white crappies in the same holes ! I have caught them up to 17 inches there and talked to a no BS guy that has caught many over 3 pounds, but MN seems tp produce the best ones - wish I were there sometimes   

[Riddlefiddle]

Holy crap, that's a huge crappie!

[1moslab]

WOW.  Very nice

[WalleyeWyatt]

Beautiful fish, Unfortunately the lake has been LOADED with houses since it was caught...

[MinnesotaPike]

Beautiful fish, Unfortunately the lake has been LOADED with houses since it was caught...

So it wasn't Waconia?

[Skywagon]

Holy Cow. Another reason to leave Illinois.

I don't blame you, there are plenty of reasons....I have business interests downstate, hate paying the new taxes, wish there was a reasonable way of transferring out, looking ahead, afraid the Fed could get just as bad or worse.  More than happy to live where I do for lots of reasons, but still have not run into a crappie over 16", think the Minnesotan's must be feeding their fish well.

[perch chacer]

Excellent fish at 19 1/8 inches and 3 lbs. 15 oz.  Unfortunitly to show the true fish size you should not hold a fish at full arms  length out away from your body.

[RuralMT]

Unfortunitly to show the true fish size you should not hold a fish at full arms  length out away from your body.

I agree 99% of the time, especially with trout photos...However, I'm pretty sure you could hold that crappie behind you and still notice it's a giant!  Unbelievably jealous...

[1moslab]

Excellent fish at 19 1/8 inches and 3 lbs. 15 oz.  Unfortunitly to show the true fish size you should not hold a fish at full arms  length out away from your body.

.        Sounds like someone is jealous

[Gunflint]

.        Sounds like someone is jealous

If they moved to Minnesota why would feel better. 

[Ice_Fly_Guy]

19 inches is 19 inches no matter how you hold it.  Even this turns into a sh*t show!