The lake is thawing out slowly. Which means to keep off. John Voss said the lake should be completely thawed by middle of May. This brings the best opportunities to do some awesome shore fishing. Remember to use caution around the edges of any lake as the ground is saturated and may be unstable. When you fish an open stretch of open water, toss a night crawler or a small crappie jig right off the edge of the ice with a slow retrieve. The fish are in that area looking for food and nutrients. Hold on to your pole and loosen the drag a little. You will be amazed at what you can catch. For more info call the Caples lake Resort at 209-258-8888.