Where would you try on a new lake?

See, now you mention the name of the lakes and we have something to go on. I'll bet SlabsRus (Frank) may have some info for you on Pratt Lake but it just so happens that I have fished crappies in Cranberry lake. Almost 1 year ago to the day as a matter of fact. Come out of the boat launch and go left. There will be a small bay on your left. Fish the weed line. Continue on down the lake (and across) and there is a lone house with a nice back yard. I started by that house and drifted back across the lake (about 18 feet of water give or take) towards the swimming hole. I floated slip bobbers and minnows. I really enjoyed this lake and wish I had more time to explore it but a friend of mine and I were pre-fishing for a tournament (and I was guiding a bear trip ontop of that). Let us know how you do. I will be interested to find out as I have wanted to take a trip back to this lake! FYI, when I am fishing bodies of water to locate fish (before I had 3 grand worth of electronics) I used slip bobbers to help very depth and target and locate fish. Come to think of it, I should start doing that again!

I know this is a little late on the response but it should still apply for Pratt Lake. If you look at your lake map you should see that the lake is almost split in half. There is a long point that comes down from the north right in the middle of the lake. Just off the southern edge of that point there is a fairly large island between the point and the south shore. To the east of that large island you will find two somewhat marshy islands. The south island is the key for me this time of year. Fish the east half of the lake directly east of the small southern island where the water drops from 10 - 15 fow rather abruptly. In that area there is a fairly quick change in the composition of the lake floor. Around that island is mostly sand to the east until you get into the 10 fow ish area, then it will suddenly change to a clay bottom and drop into 15 fow, that's where I find them quite often on warm sunny days and in the evenings. Other times I will just go a little farther east and search for them over the deeper water. The water directly east of that small southern island is the quickest drop of the entire lake and is near transitions of the lake bottom. Minnow will often be up on that sand this time of year so the specks are there as well, though they will usually be out toward that 15 fow. There are some weeds and wood structure on the bottom very near where the sand changes to clay so it is a natural holding area. Add to that the fact that it is the area that is easiest for those specks to get from relatively shallow water into the deepest hole in the lake and you have a crappie spot. I don't know if you have fished Pratt Lake at all but there are some real dandies in there. Hope this helps a bit. Good luck.

Crappiepappy, you stole my thunder. The first thing i'd try is to maybe buy the guy's breakfast that just asked the girl at the counter of the bait shop for five or six dozen crappie minnows. When he sits down tell him what you want and why your there and just shut up and listen. If you have the contour maps of these lakes, see if they have river or creek chanels. Where I fish the lake side of those chanels are best and try fishing them from top to bottom. Use your depth finder to find the chanels, not always the fish. Do these lakes have areas that neck down an area and cause current? i.e. Bridges. Crappie love current and will ALWAYS be around those pilings at the bridges, your job is to find what depth they are at and putem in the box. If it works for you at home, more than likely it works at that new lake also. Confidence is the best thing you can take to that new lake. In fishing as in life there are three gives. (1) Give in (2) Give up or (3) Give it ALL you've got. I'd say good luck, but I don't think you'll need it!:highfive

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Originally Posted by crappietale

Thanks for the suggestions. The lakes include Cranberry Lake (Clare Co.) and Pratt L. (Gladwin Co.). I've read numerous posts/replies about trolling for crappies as a way to locate them and I thnk that will be my initial tactic. I wish I had a fish finder like Larry's. That really takes the interpetation of pixels out of the situation. I wonder if they will ever come out with a unit that identifies which species of fish is on the screen? :biggrin HEY....what was impossible 10 years ago is reality today...eh?
I doubt that there will be many, if any, other fishermen at the launches/ parking lots to question. This time of year many fishermen are transforming into hunters and I'll be one of them in another month.
Thanks again for the tips.

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Crappietale, I have a Hunninbird 571 HD Di. You can get it now for under $300 not the top of the line, but a reall good one for the $$

Thanks Larry. My boss said I could spend up to a grand on a new fish finder. Guess I'll keep on looking. http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w259/Mifox/ch004.gif

Tell your boss I need a new Atwater 500 aerator pump!

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Originally Posted by slabseeker1

Tell your boss I need a new Atwater 500 aerator pump!

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You'll have to make that request of your own wife. http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w...smiley-021.gif

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Originally Posted by crappietale

Thanks Larry. My boss said I could spend up to a grand on a new fish finder. Guess I'll keep on looking. http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w259/Mifox/ch004.gif

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WOW!!! That should put you into a really nice one. Good Luck in your search..

The boss giving permission to spend that kind of money..... Makes you wonder! For a couple of days, we are wide eyed, looking at every fish finder review we can get our hands on..... Then it dawns on us...... This is going to bite me in the ass at some point in time isn't it? That $1000.00 fish finder ends up costing us diamond ear rings, a new flower bed, fixing the fence we were supposed to fix 5 years ago, new carpet in the master bedroom, and a trip to that stupid candle shop we don't want to go to...... On the flip side, you get a new fish finder!!!!!

My best reccomendation: Get the most bang for you buck. I would look for something with quality down imaging capabilities as well as GPS maps. All of them make quality gear, Lowrance, Hummingbird, Bottom Line, Garmin. Now is the best time of year. All the stores (cabelas, bass pro) are getting rid of older models to make room for new ones. The more features you get, the better off you are. Don't be afraid to only spend $600.00 if you can get what you want for less than a grand. Then you have more money to buy another one for the front of the boat!!!! Any way you look at it, your building a new flower bed and buying ear rings!

Actually I'm pretty well set with a fish finder on my crappie boat. The comment about a grand was in reference to a fish finder/gps for my big lake cruiser. The wife is so tired of listening to me reporting on all of my research and shopping that she said to just spend whatever it costs to get what I want. Actually the Humminbird unit I'm looking at is the 958c DI combo and is closer to $1500.00. Having the money to buy top-of-the-line electronics doesn't make SPENDING IT easy. BTW....I already built her a 40x40 fenced-in garden and she doesn't wear ear rings.....and I don't either. http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w...fox/b-wink.gif