PLEASE CHECK WITH LOCAL BAIT SHOPS AND RESORTS FOR UP-TO-THE-MINUTE CONDITIONS. AND, 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
A few walleye are being pulled from the St. Louis River, and various species are coming out of area lakes. Numbers have been good, but not a lot of large fish are being reported.

ELY
Ice conditions improved dramatically over the holidays. Many anglers headed to the BWCA on New Year’s Day for the Trout Opener, while other anglers await the January 15th opener on lakes outside the BWCA. Farm Lake is giving up large crappies on minnows worked in 15-25 feet of water. The key is to stay on the move until you locate fish. A few walleye are being taken by crappie anglers. Huge northern pike roam Farm Lake. The best approach currently is a large sucker minnow worked in the channels and off the points at dusk. Make sure to use suitable tackle and drill a large enough hole to bring them through the ice! Limits of crappies and some nice-size walleye are being taken from White Iron Lake near Silver Rapids Lodge. There is about 12 inches of snow covering area land and lakes, and lake travel consists of mostly ATVs and snowmobiles. Anglers are asked to use caution, and consult with local bait shops or resorts for the most current ice conditions.

INTERNATIONAL FALLS
On Rainy Lake, anglers are catching walleye and northern pike near the reef structure in 30-40 feet of water. The best approach has been a glow jig tipped with small- to medium-size shiner. Local anglers familiar with the lake are now driving out onto the ice. If you are not familiar with Rainy Lake, please use a snowmobile or ATV during the early ice fishing season. There are numerous ice houses and anglers with portables at Sand Bay. Walleye anglers are having success using buckshot rattle spoons, jigging rapalas, and simple hook and minnow combinations in 15-23 feet of water.

KABETOGAMA
Another week of wild weather led to mixed results for anglers and spear fishermen. In addition to major temperature fluctuations, the area was hit with 8 inches of new snow, resulting in a 14-inch base for snowmobiles and difficult lake travel for anglers. Spearing anglers are now finding fish in both 6-10 feet of water, and in 9-14 foot depths. A teaser lure along with a live decoy seems to be working best. Anglers are setting up portables just outside the bay entrances and in areas with current. The best approach has been a glow jig and minnow. The lake surface is slushy, limiting travel once off the main trails. One of the best spots for angling at this time is near the mouth of Sullivan Bay.

GRAND RAPIDS
Most area lakes are covered by roughly 1 or more feet of ice. Crappies have been most active in the smaller area lakes in 15-20 feet of water. The best approach has been a frostee jig and small minnow. Bowstring, Portage and Splithand lakes are producing fish during evening hours on glow jigs. Splithand and Pokegama lakes are giving up a few walleye during lowlight hours on small shiners and glow jigs worked in roughly 18 feet of water. Northern pike remain very active on most area lakes, with tip-ups and medium-size suckers working best.

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NORTHCENTRAL/WEST MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

BAUDETTE
On Lake of the Woods, the ice is now more than 20 inches thick. Fish houses are out and the roads are marked and plowed. Cars, trucks, bombardiers, snowmobiles and ATV’s are all traveling Lake of the Woods. Snowmobilers are enjoying over 1 foot of snow that fell last week. The Rainy River has roughly 10 inches of ice overall. Anglers are fishing in 18 feet of water and finding a slow current, making for good fishing conditions. Walleye measuring 24- and 27-inches were recently caught and released on the river. Northern pike can be found using tip-ups, with large fish, including 11- and 18-pounders recently caught and released. Please note that there continues to be dangerous ice on the Rainy River and travel is not recommended until thicker ice conditions prevail. On the South Shore, anglers are finding equal amounts of saugers and walleye. Some parties report seeing over 100 fish a day and limits for each person fishing! The best approach has been red-eyed jigs tipped with a minnow worked in 26-30 foot depths. At the Northwest Angle and Islands area, walleye, saugers and jumbo perch are keeping anglers busy. The trail from Wheeler’s Point to Garden Island has been marked and is ready for use.

WASKISH
On Upper Red Lake, limits of crappies are being taken throughout the day. And, full-size cars and trucks are now being allowed onto the lake.

BLACKDUCK
A few walleye are being pulled from 10-14 feet of water on Gull Lake.

BENA
On Lake Winnibigoshish, limits of fish are being taken after 3 p.m. on a buckshot rattle spoon tipped with half a chub or a 4- to 6-inch dropper. On cloudy days with stable weather, action is best early in the day. The key is to stay on the move until you locate fish. Walleye and perch are also hitting jiggle bugs and colored splitshots tipped with a smaller minnow. Some of the better locations include the humps 2-1/2 miles west of High Banks Resort, the north end of Bena Bar, the tip of Raven’s Point, and the edge of the River channel off Tamarack Point. Large perch are starting to show up on the edges of the main bars in waters as deep as 29-33 feet.

PARK RAPIDS
Walleye can be found in 18 feet of water on Fishhook and Long lakes. Bluegill action has been best on the Crow Wing Chain of Lakes in 12 foot depths using waxworms. Try a sucker minnow in 14 feet of water on Big Mantrap Lake for northern pike.

DETROIT LAKES
Area lakes are covered in approximately 15-20 inches of solid ice. Panfish remain active on Prairie, Lida, Ida, Little Pelican, Franklin, Floyd, Toad and Sand lakes, with a lindy frostee and waxworm working best. Northern pike are active on area lakes and hitting tip-ups and sucker minnows at the weedlines. Big Detroit Lake recently produced a few large catch-and-release walleye on jigging spoons and shiner minnows worked along the deep, sharp breaks in 18-26 foot depths. Lida, Pelican, Lizzie, Big Cormorant, Floyd and Strawberry lakes are also producing fish.

BATTLE LAKE
Anglers are catching a few walleye on West Battle Lake in both 20 feet and 35 feet of water. Crappies and sunnies are biting on North and South Turtle lakes. Try 18-20 foot depths for the most fish. On Ottertail Lake, some 11- to 12-inch perch are coming in on fatheads.

ALEXANDRIA
Walleye are biting during evening hours on lakes Le Homme Dieu and Miltona in 17-22 feet of water, with shiner minnows taking the most fish. Panfish action has been best on Le Homme Dieu and Geneva lakes in the weeds. For northern pike, hit depths of 8-16 feet on any area lake.

STARBUCK
On Lake Minnewaska, walleye and perch are being pulled from depths of 12-18 feet. For the most fish, try a jig tipped with a fathead or shiner throughout the day. Walleye are active on Lake Emily, with fatheads taking the most fish. Some good pike reports are also coming from Lake Emily. Try 12-15 foot depths on Lake Reno for some good walleye action. Panfish are becoming more active at the Glenwood end of Lake Minnewaska.

BRAINERD
Ice conditions continue to improve, and the sub-zero temperatures last week added plenty of ice on area lakes. Most of these lakes currently have between 15-20 inches of ice. Gull, Pelican and Round lakes continue to produce numbers of smaller walleye, as well as an occasional trophy-size fish during evening hours. A nice 31-inch walleye was recently pulled from Gull Lake. North Long Lake is giving up quality-size fish, but few numbers. Shiner minnows on setlines are producing fish in 18-28 feet of water. Also try a jigging spoon tipped with a whole fathead minnow or just the minnow head. A few walleye and northern pike are hitting large golden shiners under a bobber or tip-up. Northern pike action has been good on many of the smaller area lakes, but most have been small. For the most fish, work the weed edges in 12-18 feet of water, and set your bait about 3-4 feet off the bottom, especially on Lake Edwards. Crappies and sunnies are being pulled from Hubert, Upper Gull, Gladstone, Mission, Nisswa, North Long and Sylvan lakes on small glow jigs tipped with maggots.

CROSSLAKE
The best walleye action is in 20-28 feet of water, especially during lowlight hours. Glow spoons tipped with a fathead or rainbow minnow worked near the bottom have been best. Northern pike action remains good near the weedlines and along the points. For the most fish, try large pike minnows on tip-ups in 6-16 feet of water. Crappies can be found on most area lakes during evening hours using small glow jigs tipped with waxworms or crappie minnows in 15-20 feet of water.

ISLE
On Lake Mille Lacs, most of the lake is covered in over 15 inches of ice, however anglers are encouraged to still call ahead before venturing out to avoid any trouble spots. Car and truck traffic is common now, with many of the resorts plowing road systems of 3 or more miles. The walleye bite remains good even though last weekend was very busy! Most of the walleye are off the gravel and mudflats in 22-27 feet of water. For the most fish, try a jigging rapala and fathead minnow, a weasel tipped with a creep worm, or a frostee and small golden shiner. Chartreuse and glow-colors have been the top producers. A few northern pike are coming in on large shiners and suckers worked in 8-12 feet of water. Perch action and size has been inconsistent lately.

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TWIN CITIES VICINITY FISHING REPORTS

ST. CLOUD
Walleye and crappies are very active throughout the Horseshoe Chain of Lakes in 12-15 feet of water. Golden shiners and crappie minnows are working best. Goodner Lake panfish are hitting glow jigs tipped with a waxworm or euro larvae in depths of 7-10 feet off the weeds. Northern pike are active on Pearl and Pleasant Lakes, with tip-ups and sucker minnows worked off the weeds in 12 feet of water taking the most fish. Schneider Lake is giving up numbers of panfish on glow jigs and waxworms worked in 7 feet of water. On Rice Lake, anglers are taking crappies and walleye just before dark on golden shiners.

ST. CLOUD
Little Rock Lake is giving up crappies and walleye near the 19-foot hole. Briggs and Julia lakes are producing some sunfish and smaller crappies. Long Lake by Sherwood Shores has been best for northern pike. Hit 12 feet of water for the most fish.

ANNANDALE
Crappies and northern pike are biting on John Lake. For pike, crappies and sunnies, hit Pleasant Lake. Northern pike are most active in roughly 10-18 feet of water. Crappies can also be found on Clearwater Lake in 32-35 foot depths. Clearwater, Sylvia and Cedar lakes are producing walleye in depths of 21-28 feet.

WACONIA
On Lake Waconia, crappies over 1 pound are being caught in the bay. Large walleye are biting at the weedlines in 10-15 feet of water at Anderson’s and by the beach, with 7- and 9-pound fish recently reported. Large northern pike are hitting shiner minnows, with 1 weighing 11-pounds recently taken. One of the better locations is Center Reef. Sunnies are active at Pillsbury Reef.

WAYZATA
On Lake Minnetonka, there is roughly 16 inches of ice. Walleye are active in the big bays in 26 feet of water. For the most fish, try a fathead or shiner during late afternoon hours. Northern pike can be found at the 12- to 15-foot weedlines using a sucker or shiner. A few crappies are coming in on glow jigs tipped with a minnow worked in 20 feet of water during evenings. Sunfish are active on the west side of the lake in 8-10 foot depths, and hitting waxworms and euro larvae.

CHISAGO CITY
On Chisago Lake, work the A-Frame and Eagle’s Nest areas for sunnies and northern pike during the day. At night, crappies and walleye are biting in 12 feet of water. Crappies can be found during the day on South Lindstrom Lake behind the Dinnerbell. Walleye can also be found there at dusk. On South Center Lake, off Sunset Point on to Pancake Island, sunnies and crappies are active throughout the day. Crappies are most active at night off Sunset Point. The far north end of North Center Lake is producing crappies and walleye on fathead and shiner minnows. Catch-and-release pike are being caught using tip-ups on Sunrise Lake.

STILLWATER
On the St. Croix River, a few crappies are coming from 36-40 feet of water on crappie minnows. Many of these fish can be found suspended up to 12 feet off the bottom. They are sometimes hard to pick out amongst the many shad baitfish. Ice is now up to 8 inches thick in some areas on the St. Croix, however many areas of open water remain. At Pool #4, good numbers of walleye and sauger are being reported. And, lakes in the St. Croix Valley are producing panfish and northern pike. Sunfish can still be found near the deep weedlines, and crappies are roaming the basins. Northern pike are being caught using tip-ups and large minnows. Most area lakes now have 8 inches of ice. Anglers are encouraged to use extreme caution on the St. Croix River, and area lakes.

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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

WABASHA
On the Mississippi River, a good sunny and crappie bite is being reported at Wilcox, Finger Lakes near the supper club, and Nelson Wisconsin Dike Road. On Lake Pepin, walleye are hitting jigging rapalas and minnows.

MANKATO
Numbers of sunfish are being pulled from the shallows of Mud Bay on Washington Lake. Try fishing for crappies during evening hours. Walleye are biting between the 2nd and 3rd Points in 18-25 feet of water. Loon Lake has been good for walleye in 5 foot depths at night. German Lake crappies are hitting in 25-32 feet of water, with a few walleye also being taken. The west end of Lake Francis is giving up a few pike and crappies.

WILLMAR
Green Lake is producing a few walleye in varied depths. Good walleye action is being reported on Diamond Lake in 15 feet of water. Other lakes to check out include Ringo, Long, Lillian and Wagonga. For the most fish, hit 10 foot depths at night. For panfish, try Florida, Norway, Games and Andrew lakes. A mixed bag of fish is being pulled from Nest Lake.

ORTONVILLE
Artichoke Lake is producing crappies in the narrows on crappie minnows worked in 7-8 feet of water during evening hours. Anglers are taking an occasional walleye as well. Lake Lac qui Parle is giving up walleye in depths of 6-7 feet. On Big Stone Lake, your best bet for walleye action is the north end by Hornstein’s in 8-9 feet of water.