The Fishing Hot Spots this week are the cities of PARK RAPIDS and PELICAN RAPIDS, where area lakes are producing good numbers of muskie, walleye, northern pike, crappies and bass!

NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

DULUTH
Salmon run running in the rivers since the recent rains. Lake trout are moving to the shoreline areas on Lake Superior, as well as the French and Lester river mouths. If trolling, fish in 100 feet of water, 80-100 feet down using dodgers and flies, or spoons. Walleye action is good on the St. Louis River at Spirit Lake in 4-8 foot depths at the channel edge.

TOWER
On Lake Vermilion, walleye are active in 25-50 feet of water, and hitting jig and minnow combinations, trolled crankbaits, and lindy rigs with minnows. A few muskie, in the 40- and 50-inch range, are being taken from the rock piles and rocky reefs.

KABETOGAMA
On Lake Kabetogama, walleye activity has been inconsistent. On warmer days, fish can be found in waters as shallow as 8 feet. On cooler days, walleye have been more sluggish and holding in waters as deep as 40 feet. For the most fish, try a lindy rig or artificial lure. On Lake Namakan, fishing has been consistent, with a mid-depth bite at 33-38 feet. Jig and minnow combinations have been the best bet. Northern pike anglers are having the most success, with fish found just outside the weedlines in the bays using live bait, spinnerbaits, and husky jerks.

INTERNATIONAL FALLS
On Rainy Lake, walleye are active at the reef structure found in depths of 8-30 feet. Some anglers are having luck working the tops of reefs found in 23-33 foot depths. At either location, use leech and lindy rig combinations, or jigs tipped with minnows. Large northern pike are in the deeper waters and hitting speed trolled super shads. Crappies are holding in 4-8 feet of water in Black Bay, as well as at the crappie beds, and near the mouth of the Rat Root River. For the most fish, try jigs tipped with crappie minnows, or spinners with gold spoons and chubs.

GRAND RAPIDS
Fluctuating temperatures, along with 6 inches of rain, has led to inconsistent walleye activity. Fish were moving into the shallow waters, but are now in the deeper waters. On Lake Pokegama, walleye are currently being taken from the deep weed beds on minnows. Some anglers are having success using a crawler on a harness or rig. Northern pike remain active, with fish hitting large suckers under a bobber, as well as large red and white spoons cast up to the weed edges. Crappies can be found in the 20- to 30-foot holes when vertical jigging using a small fathead minnow.

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NORTHCENTRAL/WEST MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

BAUDETTE
The Rainy River area has been steady for walleye action, especially upriver from the access, with numbers of smaller walleye and sauger and some nice 17- to 19-inch fish being taken. A large sturgeon was also recently caught and released. On Lake of the Woods, muskie fishing has been excellent at the Northwest Angle and Islands, with a 43-inch catch-and-release fish reported in the last few days. Along the South Shore, numbers of walleye are starting to move towards the Rainy River, with some guided charters reporting up to 100 walleye a day! Fish are averaging 13- to 16-inches. The best approach has been a hammered gold spinner tipped with a minnow. Four Mile, The Gap, and the Morris Point areas nearest the shoreline seem to be the best locations at present.

BOWSTRING
On Bowstring Lake, walleye are active in 15-20 feet of water and hitting minnows. Northern pike remain active along the weedlines. Crappies can be found in the deeper waters on the north shore of Bowstring Lake.

BENA
On Lake Winnibigoshish, the walleye bite has been as sporadic as the weather and water levels. Local anglers and guides expect a good shallow bite in the near future. Big Cutfoot Sioux is giving up some nice 15- to 16-inch fish. Crappie action remains strong, with fish found in 25-31 feet of water using a 1/16-ounce watermelon fireball jig and a small minnow. Try to stay as vertical as possible and watch your electronics for schools of fish.

WALKER
On Leech Lake, muskies are hitting bucktails near Pelican Island. A few walleye are being taken from Trader’s Bay on a jig and minnow combination during evening hours.

PARK RAPIDS
Walleye action has been best on Potato Lake using a fathead, or a jig and minnow combination, in 16-18 feet during lowlight hours. Northern pike remain active on Big Mantrap Lake in 12 feet of water, with live bait rigs and crankbaits producing fish. Crappies are hitting jig and minnow combinations on the Crow Wing Chain in 16 feet of water. Fishhook Lake has been good for sunnies and bluegills, with an ice fly and waxworm taking numbers of fish from 14 feet of water.

DETROIT LAKES
Walleye are hitting jigs tipped with minnows at the edges of the deep weeds and sharp breaks, especially on Detroit, Big Cormorant, Toad, White Earth, Tullibee, Elbow, Crystal and Franklin lakes. Bass fishing remains excellent using lindy max gap jigs tipped with thumpin’ grubs. Work these jigs down tapering points and breaks into deeper waters and hold on! Crappies remain active at the deep cabbage patches.

PELICAN RAPIDS
Muskie fishing has been excellent on Pelican and Beers lakes, with reports of four 40- to 45-inch fish recently taken. Bass action has been good using spinnerbaits. Walleye can be found on Lida and Lizzie lakes using nightcrawlers in 18-20 feet of water.

BATTLE LAKE
For walleye, try leeches or crawlers on Battle Lake in 22-25 feet of water. On Ottertail Lake, a few walleye are being pulled from 8-12 and 20-24 feet of water on minnows. Northern pike are active on Ottertail Lake at the 10-15 foot weedlines. Large bass are hitting plastics on Anna, Clitheral and Stewart lakes. Crappie action has been best on West and East Battle lakes. For sunfish, hit Star, Dead and Lost lakes.

ALEXANDRIA
Walleye action is picking up on the Chain of Lakes and Miltona Lake in 18-25 feet of water. The best approach has been a jig tipped with a minnow or crawler. Bass are active in 12-16 foot depths on the Chain of Lakes, and hitting Carolina rigs, jigworms, and spinnerbaits. Sunfish are being pulled from the bays, with Lake Darling giving up numbers of fish.

STARBUCK
On Lake Minnewaska, walleye are hitting jig and minnow combinations during the day, however the best action has been during evening hours using shallow-running crankbaits in 5-6 feet of water. For the most fish, work the points and gravel bars. Perch can be found using fathead minnows on small jigs in the same areas as the daytime walleye.

BRAINERD
Walleye action remains strong on many area lakes. Most of the daytime catches are coming from 30-40 feet of water on a jig or lindy rig tipped with a 3- to 5-inch minnow. Key locations include the base of steep breaks that are adjacent to large shallow flats. After dark, try trolling a #13 or #18 blue-silver or black-gold floating rapala on top of the shallow flats. Long lining in 6-12 feet of water may produce a trophy-size fish. Northern pike action remains good. Crappies are also active and can be found suspended off the major points over open water areas.

NISSWA
Gull, Whitefish and Pelican Lakes are giving up good numbers of walleye, with fish up to 25 inches in length taken from the Whitefish Chain. Pelican has been good for a few walleye in the 17- to 18-inch class. Creek chubs and redtails seem to be working best. On Gull, fish are scattered in 13-38 foot depths. Walleye and northern pike are both being pulled from 25-36 feet of water on Whitefish and Pelican lakes. On windy days, hit structure with a southern exposure using Lindy rigs and chubs worked slowly along the drop-offs. Crappies and sunnies are hitting small jigs and minnows in 14-18 feet of water.

ISLE
On Lake Mille Lacs, some nice walleye are being pulled from the shallow rocks on leeches and slip bobbers worked over 3-10 foot depths. A few anglers are having success with the larger perch using small leeches and an I-bob jig in 4-5 feet of water at the weeds. And, this is the weekend many anglers have been anticipating due to the September full moon! Much has been written about the affect of moon phases and walleye fishing, and now is the time to check it out! Try trolling, bobber-fishing or casting at Agate, 3-mile, Shaw’s, Anderson’s, Rocky, Indian Point and Myr Mar reefs. The key is to stay mobile until you locate fish. Slip bobbers, jigs and leeches account for over two-thirds of the walleye coming in, with the best jig colors being black, blue and clown. Reef markers are still in the water and this is a great time to get these spots identified in your GPS for future fall fishing.

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TWIN CITIES VICINITY FISHING REPORTS

ST CLOUD
Panfish are active on most area lakes, and especially on Becker, Long and the Horseshoe Chain in 4-6 feet of water off the weeds. For the larger panfish, use waxworms. Northern pike action has been good using sucker minnows in the Sauk River just off the weeds in 14 feet of water. Good walleye action is being reported on Lake Koronis just off Third Island, with Rice also producing fish in 15-18 feet of water. For the most fish, try crawlers on a lindy rig. Crappies can be found suspended in front of Fischer’s Resort on Rice Lake using a crappie minnow and flu flu in 12-14 feet of water. Lake Koronis is producing numbers of smallmouth bass, with 19- to 22-inch fish taken on large fathead minnows worked in 22 feet of water.

ANNANDALE
Bass are active on Sylvia Lake, with a 7-pound, 11-ounce largemouth bass recently taken from French Lake. Pike are being pulled from depths of 12-15 feet on Clearwater and John lakes using spinnerbaits and sucker minnows, or crankbaits. For walleye, hit Sugar, Cedar, Clearwater and French lakes using fatheads, leeches and crawlers in 8-30 feet of water.

WACONIA
Muskie remain very active on Lake Waconia. Northern pike and largemouth bass action has also been good.

WAYZATA
On Lake Minnetonka, anglers are taking fish on chubs worked at the weedlines, as well as in depths up to 22 feet. For northern pike, try trolling spinnerbaits and small sucker minnows. Sunnies are active along the shoreline, and bass remain in the deep milfoil. Hit the smaller area lakes, including Independence and Sarah, for some fast action.

CHISAGO CITY
Chisago Lake has been best for numbers of bass. Hit the 2-12 foot weedlines and docks for the most fish. Crappies can be found suspended at 10 feet in 20-26 feet of water. Try vertical jigging using a flu flu jig tipped with a waxworm, leech, or crappie minnow for some good action. Walleye are active in the channel between Big and Little Green lakes.

STILLWATER
On the St. Croix River, walleye and sauger fishing from Stillwater to Hastings has improved. Sauger make up over half of the catches, but 16-inch sauger have been common. Walleye remain on the smaller side. The best approach has been a larger live bait rig and spinner tipped with a minnow worked in 22-30 feet of water. Trolled crankbaits are also catching fish. White bass are turning up more often, and smallmouth bass action has also improved. For the most fish, try a topwater lure during morning hours. Bronze backs are hitting plastic tubes, tails, and worms, as well as crawlers and fatheads worked in depths of 12-22 feet.

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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

MANKATO
On Lake Washington, plastic worms are taking good numbers of bass. Sunnies and crappies are active in 6-10 feet of water, and hitting waxworms at the Second Point on Lake Washington. Flathead catfish action has been excellent on the Minnesota River, with medium chubs and suckers working best. Walleye are hitting crankbaits worked in 10 feet of water around the narrows of Madison Lake.

WILLMAR
Panfish are active on Florida, Andrew, Nest and Willmar lakes. A few walleye are being pulled from Green Lake. For a few smallmouth bass, hit Green Lake using live bait and crankbaits.

ORTONVILLE
Perch are being pulled from Big Stone Lake near the Rocky Ledge and Cramer’s Resort in 12-14 feet of water. Crappie minnows seem to be working best. For walleye, hit these areas while casting towards shore using a jig and minnow combination.