Fishing around the Park Rapids area, we are finding 18-22 inches of ice. If you can bust through the plowed road banks you can drive around most of the lakes from what I am finding. The crappies and gills are swimming together in 7-10 feet of water, roaming the weed edges. Using Lowrance Active target is key to finding and staying on the fish. I haven’t been fishing deep water just focusing on the shallow weed flats. Clam Pro Tackle #10 Wonderbread colored Drop Kick jig, tipped with 3-4 mixed colored Euro larvae is the ticket for these panfish, and a 1/32 oz Red Glow Pinhead Mino with 2-3 mixed colored Eura larvae on each hook has also been productive.
One thing I am seeing is people drilling holes next to the plowed roads and flooding the road. Please try not to be near roads when drilling your holes.
Stay safe and happy fishing.
Captain Scott Seibert
sksguides.com