The Fishing Hot Spot this week is the city of NISSWA, where area lakes are producing good numbers of walleye!

NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

DULUTH
On Lake Superior, salmon are staging at the river mouths in roughly 60-80 feet of water during lowlight hours, especially in front of the Lester and French rivers.

KABETOGAMA
On Lake Kabetogama, walleye remain scattered, with fish being taken from 8-28 feet of water on a slip bobber and minnow, or jig and minnow combination. Slip sinker rigs tipped with minnows and crawlers may also work well this weekend. On Lake Namakan, fishing is slightly more predictable, with the walleye schooling in 24-30 feet of water. Crappies can be found using a plain red hook or light round jig head. Northern pike remain active, with artificial lures worked along the shorelines in 8-12 foot depths producing good numbers of fish. Live bait, such as small sucker minnows under a bobber are also working well. And lake turnover is expected next week.

INTERNATIONAL FALLS
On Rainy Lake, walleye and northern pike are bulking up for the winter, with both species taken from the reef structure in 28-50 feet of water. The best approach has been a shiner or rainbow chub on a 1/4- to 3/8-ounce jig or lindy rig. Gold and yellow seem to be producing the best results at this time. The reefs on the main lake have also been productive, with most baits and lures trolled quietly working well. A few smallmouth are being pulled from the tops of the reefs in waters less than 20 feet deep. Crappies have been active near the mouth of the Rat Root River.

GRAND RAPIDS
Recent rains have helped to raise area rivers and lakes to more normal levels. So much water is flowing down the Mississippi River it has been difficult to get out and fish, however some of the backwater bays are producing good numbers of bass and crappies. Lake Pokegama is giving up walleye and northern pike during the day on golden shiners. For the most fish, hit the weedlines. Rice, Spider, Balsam and Wabana lakes have all been good for numbers of bass and northern pike. And a few crappies are coming out of Splithand and Portage lakes.

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NORTHCENTRAL/WEST MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

BAUDETTE
On Lake of the Woods, the Northwest Angle and Island area has been great for muskie fishing. Crappie anglers are taking numbers of 14-inch fish from the South Shore at Four Mile Bay and The Lighthouse Gap in both 5 foot depths, as well 17-22 feet of water. Red and gold jigs have been the most productive. Good numbers of fish are also coming in on crankbaits, and jig and minnow combinations worked straight out from The Gap in 30 feet of water. One angler recently caught a 31 & 1/2 inch walleye weighing 12 pounds! Another angler landed a 9.8-pound walleye which was pulled from 30 feet of water on a spinner and 1 & 1/2-ounce jig. Many anglers are looking forward to the October walleye run on the Rainy River. Anglers are currently using 1/2- to 3/4-ounce jigs for bait fishing, as well as a slip sinker on a line with a spinner. Other anglers are using a lindy rig set-up. And sturgeon have been biting regularly.

BLACKDUCK
Blackduck Lake, as well as some smaller area lakes, continues to produce numbers of walleye. Smaller area lakes have also been good for numbers of panfish.

BOWSTRING
On Bowsting Lake, a few walleye are being taken from the deeper waters on chub minnows. Northern pike remain active and can be found along the shorelines. Crappies are beginning to bite in the deeper waters.

BEMIDJI
On Cass Lake, walleye are hitting ruby red max gap jigheads with a double-hooked rainbow minnow worked in 14-22 feet of water on windy days. Redtails on a lindy rig are also working well. Some of the better locations include North Cedar Bar, Dead Man’s Bar, Buck Bar and Turtle Bar, especially during lowlight hours.

BENA
On Lake Winnibigoshish, walleye are being pulled from 7-9 feet of water due to high water levels. For the first time in years, the creeks along the North Shore are dumping into the lake, which is both good and bad. The water is very dirty, but there is also a lot of food to attract schools of hungry walleye. For the most fish, try a fireball jig tipped with a chub or shiner, and switch to crawlers if necessary. Roach rigs, with 4- to 6-foot leaders and a red bead or red VMC hook is all you will need. Crappies remain active, with good numbers being taken on small jigs tipped with minnows or two waxworms worked in 22-30 feet of water on Big and Little Cutfoot Sioux Lakes. Muskie and northern pike can be found at the cabbage weeds near deeper waters at Tamarac Bay, the High Banks, Bowen’s Flats, and Big Cutfoot. Jerkbaits, suicks, and B-flat shiners are all good choices.

WALKER
On Leech Lake, muskie remain very active, with many 40-plus inch fish recently caught and released. Perch and walleye action is expected to improve in the near future.

PARK RAPIDS
Northern pike are active on the Crow Wing Chain. For crappies, hit both the shallow and deeper waters on Island Lake.

DETROIT LAKES
Shallow area lakes seem to be best for walleye action. For the most fish, try a spinner and crawler, or jig and minnow combination. A few muskie in the 50- to 55-inch range were recently caught and released on bucktail spinners. Bass remain extremely active on most area lakes, with fish hitting jigs and tubes, as well as plastic worms fished along the deep weedlines. Large panfish can be found using small lindy little nipper jigs and leeches at the mid-humps of area lakes.

PELICAN RAPIDS
Walleye action has been best on Lida and Lizzie lakes, with nightcrawlers taking fish from 18-20 feet of water. Fall muskie fishing is best on Pelican and Beers lakes using spinnerbaits. Bass are coming in with the muskie.

BATTLE LAKE
Walleye action is picking up on Clitheral, Eagle, Ottertail and Battle lakes, with minnows worked in 9-30 feet of water taking numbers of fish. At night, move into shallower waters using a minnow under a bobber, even off the docks. For northern pike, try trolling with spinners and large sucker minnows at the 10-foot weeds on the same lakes producing walleye. Jig and minnow combinations are also working well. Anglers are catching a few sunfish on Star, Clitheral and Stuart lakes. For numbers of bass, try buzzbaits and jig-n-pigs.

ALEXANDRIA
The walleye bite is picking up on Lakes Le Homme Dieu and Darling in 16-22 feet of water. The best approach has been a jig or lindy rig tipped with a redtail or crawler. On Lakes Ida and Miltona, fish can be found in 35-40 foot depths using jigs tipped with a redtail or minnow. Bass are active on the smaller area lakes at the 14-15 foot weedlines, with some taken from the shallows on spinnerbaits and jigworms. For a few muskie, hit Lakes Miltona, Oscar and Lobster. Anglers are catching a few crappies in 8-9 feet on flu flus and crappie minnows.

STARBUCK
On Lake Minnewaska, walleye fishing remains best right at dusk. The large number of frogs have moved the walleye up into the shallows. For the most fish, try pulling shallow-running crankbaits in 4-5 feet of water. Sunfish and perch can both be found during the day.

BRAINERD
Walleye continue to slide deeper as temperatures fall. For the best walleye action, hit the Whitefish Chain using a jig and rainbow chub, or a lindy rig tipped with a redtail. Key locations have been 40-45 foot depths at the sharpest breaks. The night bite has been strong on other area lakes, with long lining floating rapalas in 6-12 feet of water working best. Crappie action remains strong, with fish found suspended over open water, adjacent to a major point on the lake.

NISSWA
Numbers of walleye are being pulled from Gull, Whitefish and Pelican lakes. On Gull Lake, fish can be found in depths ranging from 12-40 feet. The best action on Whitefish and Pelican lakes has been in 30-34 foot depths. Redtails and creek chubs on a lindy rig, as well as rainbows on a jig are working well. And consider pulling rapalas at night.

ISLE
On Lake Mille Lacs, the famed September full moon provided good results. The key to catching fish now will be mobility. The best locations have been Agate, Three-mile, Shaw’s, Anderson’s, Rocky, Indian Point and Myr Mar reefs. For the most fish, try black-, blue- or clown-colored crankbaits. Last week slip bobbers and leeches were the best approach. Divide your time accordingly. All reef markers remain in the water, and this would be a great time to get these spots identified in your GPS for future fall fishing. Expect the markers to be removed in the next week or so, as weather permits.

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TWIN CITIES VICINITY FISHING REPORTS

ST. CLOUD
Large panfish are hitting waxworms on Becker Lake in 10 feet of water. Becker is also producing a few crappies. Bass measuring 18-plus inches are being taken on spinnerbaits worked over the weeds in 10 foot depths on Grand and Pearl lakes. Walleye are being pulled from Rice and Koronis lakes on nightcrawlers, as well as jigs tipped with minnows worked in 15 feet of water. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows in 12 feet of water.

WAYZATA
On Lake Minnetonka, Wayzata and Brown’s bays are giving up walleye on spinners and minnows. Bass are being pulled from the weedlines on jig-n-pigs and large spinnerbaits. For crappies, hit 14 foot depths using a spinner and minnow at the outside weed edges.

CHISAGO CITY
Chisago Lake has been excellent for northern pike and bass action. For crappies, hit 8-12 foot depths on South Center Lake. Walleye are active on Green Lake, and between the channels of Big and Little Green lakes.

STILLWATER
On the St. Croix River, walleye and sauger fishing is improving, with keeper-size fish, and a few large walleye and sauger coming in from 18-28 foot depths. Anglers are taking fish by trolling spinners and crankbaits, as well as drifting live bait rigs. And some flathead anglers are reporting success, with one angler taking a catfish weighing nearly 60 pounds!

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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

MANKATO
Crystal Lake is producing walleye near the access in depths up to 6 feet. Sunnies and crappies are active at the Second Point on Washington Lake. The holes of the Watonwan River are also giving up a few walleye and some nice northern pike.

WILLMAR
Sunnies and crappies are biting on Nest, Norway, Games and Florida lakes. Walleye action has been best on Green Lake, with fish hitting crankbaits worked in 20-30 feet of water. Smallmouth bass are also being pulled from Green Lake. Lakes expected to soon produce good numbers of fish include Eagle, Diamond and Solomon. Hit the shallow weedlines for the most action.

MONTEVIDEO
Fishing has improved due to higher water levels on the Minnesota River. For walleye, work the current breaks. Lake Lac qui Parle can also be counted on for a few keepers.

ORTONVILLE
On Big Stone Lake, perch fishing has been good, especially at the Bayview and Rocky Ledge in 12-13 feet of water. For the most fish, try crappie minnows and jigs. Casting jigs or crankbaits along the shoreline is producing a few walleye during evening hours.