In general, few reports are currently available due to minimal angler activity on most lakes and rivers. Most lakes in Minnesota either have, or have started, to freeze over. During this transitional period, please make sure to check with local bait shops and resorts for up-to-the-minute conditions.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ICE IS NEVER CONSIDERED TOTALLY SAFE. The Department of Natural Resources reports that 4 inches of ice is the minimum thickness recommended for travel by foot. Ice safety guidelines also recommend a minimum of 5 inches of new, clear ice for snowmobiles and ATV’s, and 8-12 inches of new, clear ice for cars and small trucks. Melting and refreezing of ice makes it less stable, especially in areas with springs or current such as near lake inlets and outlets.

NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

DULUTH
Anglers are ice fishing on Grand, Caribou, Boulder and Fish lakes, which have an average of 4-6 inches of ice. Walleye are hitting fatheads and Swedish pimples or small jigging spoons.ELY There are reports of 5-6 inches of ice on the White Iron Chain of Lakes. Slab crappies and nice-size walleye are being pulled from 8-12 feet of water, 100-200 feet from shore. For walleye, use minnows at dusk, and for a few northern pike, try sucker minnows. And, three 1.5-pound crappies came in last week on minnows worked about a foot off the bottom.

INTERNATIONAL FALLS
On Rainy Lake, many shallow bays have frozen over, however there is still open water on the main lake. Some anglers are now walking out onto the frozen bays. Black Bay now has 6-8 inches of ice, and some anglers are out taking walleye, northern pike and a few crappies. A few local ice houses have been placed over very shallow depths. No machine travel is recommended at this time. Please check with local bait shops for the most current ice conditions before venturing out.

GRAND RAPIDS
Some of the smaller area lakes have up to 7 inches of ice. Crappies and northern pike are being pulled from Sylvan Bay on minnows. Use light northern suckers for the larger fish. Suckers and spinners on a tip up are working well on Little Splithand Lake, -please watch the ice by the creek since it is very thin.

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NORTHCENTRAL/WEST MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

BAUDETTE
On Lake Of The Woods, resorters are setting up ice shacks on the lake. Those along the South Shore and Rainy River are taking guests across Four Mile Bay onto Lake of the Woods. There are a few sections along the shoreline that have up to 10 inches of ice, however, other areas have only 1-2 inches of ice. Extreme caution is advised. Anglers venturing out onto the big lake are using ATV’s and snowmobiles only. These anglers report excellent fishing in 15-22 feet of water. The best approach has been a live shiner minnow on a lightly colored or glow-in-the-dark jig. There is an abnormally high level of water on Lake of the Woods and therefore the dam at Kenora has been opened up and water is being released on the north end of the lake. This has caused more current than usual around the Northwest Angle and Islands area. Resort owners are cautioning anglers to only head out to areas where the ice has been checked and staked. There is currently 7-8 inches of ice around American Point, and 7 inches around Brush Island. The Rainy River is about 1/4 open in the middle near the mouth. Those wishing to move shacks onto the river should wait until there is safe ice shore to shore.

WASKISH
On Upper Red Lake, an ATV trail has been marked about 3 miles out, and the ice is averaging 6-8 inches thick. Anglers fishing this area are catching a few crappies, as well as some northern pike, each time they venture out during evening hours.

BLACKDUCK
Anglers are catching crappies and bluegills on a few of the smaller area lakes. For walleye and a few jumbo perch, hit Gull or Blackduck lakes using a jig-n-rap or jigging spoon.

BENA
On Lake Winnibigoshish, there are reports of numbers of spearers. The Third River area has a lot of fish houses, with many nice-size fish coming in on live sucker decoys. Please call ahead before venturing out since many areas still have open water.

WALKER
Leech Lake is averaging about 8 inches, however Walker Bay froze over just last Monday. There should be plenty of ice by Christmas break.

DETROIT LAKES
Some anglers are ice fishing in the Detroit Lakes area, but extreme caution must be used. Many of the larger lakes in the area, including Big Cormorant, Big Detroit and Pelican, have large areas of open water. Even some of the smaller but deeper lakes have open water. Rice Lake is your best bet for decent ice, as well as good crappie and bluegill action. Anglers are catching a few walleye just out from the access on Lake Sallie.

PELICAN RAPIDS
Anglers are pulling in various species of fish while ice fishing on Prairie, West McDonald and Lida lakes.

BATTLE LAKE
Most area lakes have about 4-5 inches of ice at the shoreline. Anglers report catching a few walleye on the Silver Lake Chain.

ALEXANDRIA
Ice is just starting to form on many area lakes, however anglers are fishing on Lake Reno and catching some walleye. A few crappies and sunnies are coming out of Little Mary Lake.

STARBUCK
Anglers report 4-5 inches of ice on Lake Minnewaska. A jig tipped with a fathead, or a plain hook and rainbow chub are working well in 12-15 feet for a few walleye. On Emily, anglers are catching walleye using shiner minnows or fatheads. Other area lakes producing walleye are Pelican near Glenwood, and Lake Pomme de Terre.

BRAINERD
Many of the smaller area lakes have fishable ice, however the larger lakes continue to have unstable ice conditions. The best fishing action at this time has been the crappie and sunny bite on the smaller area lakes. The best approach has been a small ice jig tipped with a waxworm or small minnow. The key areas have been just outside the weeds in 8-12 feet of water.

NISSWA
Smaller area lakes continue to be the only option for ice fishing. Some of the better spots being reported for foot travel include Jones Bay on Pelican Lake, Nisswa Lake, and the 371 Bay on North Long Lake. Anglers are catching both crappies and walleye on Jones Bay. For the crappies use crappie minnows, and for the walleye, use small golden shiners. Even more of the smaller area lakes are becoming fishable each week.

ISLE
On Lake Mille Lacs, Cove, Wahkon and Isle bays now offer some decent ice for travel by foot. The main lake varies in ice thickness from just a couple of inches to 8 inches in some spots, however please remember that ice thickness can change dramatically within just a few feet.

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TWIN CITIES VICINITY FISHING REPORTS

ST. CLOUD
A few anglers are out ice fishing on Julia and Little Rock lakes. Please be careful if venturing out and always carry an ice chisel.

ANNANDALE
Some of the lakes that may have walkable ice by this weekend include John and Pleasant, along with they bays on Clearwater Lake.

CHISAGO CITY
A few anglers are already accessing the channel between Chisago and South Lindstrom lakes looking for walleye.

STILLWATER
On the Mississippi River, Pool #4 is giving up numbers of saugers and walleye. The best approach has been a vertical jig presentation using any jigging lure from a leaded jighead with a plastic body to ice jigs. Most of the fish are being pulled from 16-26 feet of water. Many of the walleye are being pulled from waters less than 16 feet deep. Roughly 10-20 boats can be seen out on the water each day! Limits are being taken at the dam, as well as from holes south of the dam all the way down to Red Wing. The St. Croix River currently covered in a very thin, unsafe sheet of ice. Large numbers of shad, which are drawing large numbers of gulls and eagles, are adding to the instability of the ice.

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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

WABASHA
On the Mississippi River, anglers are catching a few sauger from boat behind the Alma Dam.

MONTEVIDEO
Anglers are ice fishing on Lake Reno and catching a few walleye and perch. Lake Lac Qui Parle had frozen over, but opened back up again last weekend due to high winds. Some boat anglers that continue to venture out are reporting success.