Looking for suggestions on a Carp Lake.

[GoFish]

Looking to do some bowfishing and wanted to see if anyone had a suggestions for a lake in the metro area with an abundance of Carp.

I know I've seen plenty on Medicine lake - any others you guys can suggest?

[Brett Vegoe]

Tonka is one of the best anywhere.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk 2

[c_rannow]

Just remember to check with the sheriff what bays you can use a bow in. Some have restrictions on tonka

[MikeDebner]

Clearwater a little farther out but is loaded with big carp and the water clarity helps a lot when spoting them.

[Dan Wood]

May is here finally! Had another guy the other day at the gas station asking for good bowfishing lakes, should be good this weekend if we get this warm up.

Clearwater was really good at one time, still a lot of 20+ fish and some pushing 40 that we have seen but not like it used to be. We have shot a couple that broke 30 lbs there. Timing is everything there for the bigger ones anyway, just like anywhere in the Spring.

The biggest carp I've seen to date have been in Mille Lacs and Green Lake near Spicer. Fish over 40 lbs. without any doubt. Only once have I seen the big ones in Green and they were everywhere out spawning in the flats.. Unfortunately I was bass fishing and didn't have a bow with. Bald Eagle and Rush are good ones on the North side.

Based on where you live and what I have seen and heard in the South/West, Cedar in New Prague may be worth a shot. I've heard there are some good ones in there but never bowfished it myself. We have bowfished Prior and there are some decent ones but not a lake I'd really recommend. Spring lake could be worth a look, we bowfished that once but were off on the timing and didn't do anything..

Not that close and probably not going to get a huge fish, but if you want action and you get a calm day I've seen a ton of carp in Lake Pepin in the flooded willows along shore... guessing you can get your fill closer on pool 2 or 3 as well...

Sorry can't really help for the Metro that well. Just don't hear much about the South metro for bowfishing, or bowfishing talk in general I guess. Cedar might be worth a look. I would be interested as well if anyone knows good metro lakes, as is at least one other person that inquired about metro lakes this week.

I heard there is a restriction on Tonka and they are generally dicks out there, I'd probably avoid that one or at least stick to a smaller joining bay/lake if you do... there are tons of carp and some good ones, but not worth the hassle in my opinion...

[11fish1]

How early do carp move in to the shallows? Will they be up there this weekend? I bowfish at my cabin, but never try until end of May or early June. That's the only place I've bowfished, so I don't really know where else to go.

[Dan Wood]

Opening fishing weekend mid May is normally about the right time give or take a week or two... I think with this warmer weather if we get a couple nice hot sunny days they will start coming in a lot of places.. up North it can go well into June as it can on some of the deeper cooler lakes like Green..

[c_rannow]

Waconia is a good lake. I know winsted lake the carp are at full force right now and i have only seen a handful of people bowfish it in the 4 years I've lived there.

[GoFish]

Thanks for all the reply's.

We ended up with less time available than originally planned so we just grabbed a canoe and hit the grey cloud island area which is right next to my buddies house.

We had plenty of shooting -but not up in the shallows as expected. They were out in 6 -8 FOW in the weeds. I will post some pics tonight.
Stuck

[Steve Wood]

Rob, for something close to the house, I'd try Prior. Either the bay by the west boat landing or the two bays that approach Hwy 13 on the NW corner of the lake.

The best bowfishing I've had in recent years is the shallow bay on the south end of east Rush Lake. It's choked with curly weeds but if the wind is blowing as it often does you can drift across long distances and catch them sunning at or near the surface. It's a serious problem getting them into the boat with that many weeds though. Very large average size fish. The first week in June is about the right time to be there.

We were out on Maple Lake in Wright Cty for opener last weekend and did not see a single carp anywhere. The water temps are warm enough (around 65F), but generally the fish don't spawn in the bigger deeper lakes until later in May or early June. We saw crappies and bass on beds, but the sunnies and carp were not yet spawning. Even with the early warm up, I don't thing the timing of the spawn activity is much different than usual this year.