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

Kabetogama
The Kabetogama, Namakan, Sand Point and Crane Lake trail system has been groomed, and offers nice snowmobile access to anglers pulling portables to all main lake areas. Ice thickness is good, however, slush in areas off the trails is hindering travel. Walleye and saugers can be found using smaller minnows outside the soft bottom bays holding baitfish, and in areas that provide current at 28-35 foot depths. Use glow-in-the-dark jigs in these deeper depths. Northern pike continue to hit tip-ups in 12-22 feet of water near the edges of the weed beds. Crappie anglers should check out Lake Namakan and Sand Point.

International Falls
On Rainy Lake, anglers are having success by staying on the move. In the Sand Bay area, work 30-35 foot depths. The American Narrows is giving up fish in roughly 40 foot depths. For the most fish, try a flame red shad tipped with a minnow head, or try jigging a shad rap and minnow head. Other hot spots include areas around the reefs that were productive last fall. And, there have been some reports of good northern pike action around Rainy Lake City.

Grand Rapids
Crappies are coming from 20 feet of water on Trout Lake. A few nice-size fish are being pulled from Splithand Lake. Walleye anglers continue to take a few fish from Lake Pokegama at dusk. For numbers of northern pike, hit Jay Gould, Rice, Swan and Round lakes using tip-ups.

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NORTHCENTRAL/WEST MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

Baudette
On Lake Of The Woods, the South Shore is giving up numbers of walleye and sauger in 22-34 feet of water. Most fish houses are now about five miles out from the shoreline. Anglers are having success using gold, glow red or glow orange jigs tipped with a minnow. Most of these fish remain near the bottom, however, some fish are moving up toward the mid-water level. The key is to keep the jig moving. Many fish houses are out on the mud flats, with reports of 10-30 fish being taken each day; many more fish are being caught and released. Lots of nice, eating-size walleye, in the 14- to 15-inch range, are being reported. For the most fish, hit 12-14 feet of water from 4 p.m. on. At the Northwest Angle and Islands area, numbers of walleye, sauger and jumbo perch are coming in on glow-in-the-dark white or blue jigs worked in depths of 27 feet. On the Rainy River, many 13- to 14.5-inch walleye are being taken.

Waskish
On Upper Red Lake, many limits of crappies, and numbers of large northern pike are being reported. BenaOn Lake Winnibigoshish, it has been difficult to keep the roads from the High Banks, Nodak’s and Denny’s plowed due to recent heavy snowfall and drifting. Snowmobiles have been essential to access fishing holes away from the plowed roads. For walleye and jumbo perch, try a small dropper spoon or fire-eye spoon at the edge of the mid-lake structure. The best walleye action has been after 3 p.m. Large perch can be found in 30-33 foot depths, where large schools of tiny perch and shiners are roaming. Big Cutfoot Sioux has also been producing a few walleye after 3 p.m., as well as during early morning hours. For the most fish, try a shiner minnow on a plain hook. The key has been to stay mobile and work depths of 18-20 feet. Little Cutfoot Sioux is giving up some nice bluegill in depths of 14-18 feet on dot spoons and X-spoons tipped with waxworms or euro larvae.

Walker
On Leech Lake, the Highbanks area and some of the bays have been best for walleye, especially during morning and evening hours. HackensackSunnies are active on Ten Mile and Birch lakes in 19-22 feet of water. Pleasant Lake is kicking out walleye in depths of 20 feet. Northern pike remain active on most area lakes.

Park Rapids
Potato and Fish Hook lakes are kicking out a few walleye. The best approach has been a shiner minnow in 20-27 feet of water. Northern pike are being pulled from 16 foot depths on Fish Hook Lake. The Crow Wing Chain of Lakes has been good for some large sunfish in 15 feet of water. And crappies can be found suspended over 25-30 feet of water on Big Mantrap Lake.

Detroit Lakes
Recent heavy snowfall has made it difficult to travel some areas. Snowmobiles are currently the best mode of travel to access favorite fishing holes. Four-wheel drive is a must for anglers driving out onto area lakes. Bluegills, perch, and crappies are hitting lindy pounder and frosty jigs tipped with a waxworm. For the most fish, hit 10-18 foot depths on Little Detroit, Cotton, Little Pelican, Crystal, Little Cormorant, Floyd, Cotton, Round and Big Toad lakes. Anglers are taking the most fish at the green coontail and cabbage weeds. Walleye can be found at the edge of the sunken islands and deepwater weedlines. The best approach has been a lindy rattling spoon tipped with a minnow head. Some anglers are having success just letting a shiner minnow swim around under a tip-up or float. Some of the better locations include Pelican, Lizzie, Big Cormorant, Detroit, Big Toad, Sallie and Franklin lakes.

Pelican Rapids
Nice-size sunfish continue to be taken from Prairie and Lida lakes. For walleye, hit the 18-foot weedlines on Lake Lida.

Battle Lake
West Battle Lake is giving up crappies in 14-20 feet of water on crappie minnows on a demon jig. Walleye are active in 16-20 foot depths on West Battle Lake, with a slightly better bite in 35 feet of water. On Ottertail Lake, walleye are being taken from various depths, and large perch are hitting fatheads throughout the lake. East Lost Lake is producing some nice sunfish. Northern pike can be found using shiners on Clitheral Lake. And for sunnies, bass and northern pike, hit North Turtle Lake.

Alexandria
Numbers of panfish are being pulled from Maple, Geneva and Mary lakes throughout the day. For walleye, hit 30-38 foot depths on some of the larger lakes, such as Miltona and Ida. StarbuckOn Lake Minnewaska, walleye are active during morning and evening hours. Lake Emily also continues to produce a few walleye. Little Mary Lake has been good for panfish in 10-12 feet of water.

Crosslake
Numbers of smaller walleye, as well as an occasional large fish, are being pulled from 20-28 foot depths on shiners and rainbow chubs jigged or bobber-fished. Northern pike action has been good along the weedlines near the drop-offs, using a large pike minnow rigged on a tip-up. Crappie and sunfish anglers are having success using crappie minnows and waxworms on glow jigs in 12-24 feet of water.

Nisswa
Numbers of nice-size panfish are being pulled from Roy, Margaret and Upper Gull lakes, as well as from the 371 Bay on North Long Lake. For crappies, use small shiner minnows; for sunnies, use waxworms. Good northern pike action is being reported by anglers using tip-ups with frozen ciscos or large silver shiners. Set these roughly 2 feet below the ice where pike are roaming in search of dead fish and minnows. Another approach has been a bottom slip rig and larger egg sinker, with a 4-foot leader swiveled to the hook and bait. The bait will float off the bottom just enough to catch attention. Walleye can be found along the 16-18 foot shoreline structure, as well as in 40-50 foot depths. The best presentations have been either a glow-hook and bobber set-up, or a buckshot rattling spoon.

Isle
On Lake Mille Lacs, walleye action has been sporadic. For the most fish, try a Mr. Champ or Kastmaster and a fathead minnow for your jig line, and a small glow jig and shiner for your set line. A few perch are beginning to come in with the walleye. Depths of 25-28 feet have been best. For a few northern pike, try a large shiner or sucker minnow in 8-12 feet of water. Overall, perch action has been unpredictable. Expect size and numbers to greatly improve around mid-February. There is roughly one foot of snow covering much of the lake, and the ice is up to 2 feet thick in most areas. Resorts have plowed roads so anglers can access their favorite areas, and recent warm temperatures should make off-road travel easier.

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TWIN CITIES VICINITY FISHING REPORTS

St. Cloud
Sunfish and crappie action has been excellent on Goodner Lake using euro larvae and waxworms. Anglers are having success with the northern pike on Pearl and Goodner lakes using a sucker minnow in 15 feet of water. A few walleye are coming out of Horseshoe, Rice and Pearl lakes. At night, also try Two Rivers Lake for a few walleye. Large perch are coming out of Little Rock Lake. And for fun, hit Horseshoe Lake for some large catfish.

Annandale
Crappies can be found suspended over the deep holes on Clearwater Lake. Twin and Pleasant lakes are producing crappies in 20-25 feet of water, during evening hours. Sugar and John lakes are giving up sunfish in 10-12 feet of water. Most area lakes are producing northern pike in depths of 12-14 feet.

Eden Valley
Cedar Island Lake has been best for crappies and sunnies. A few walleye can be found on Cedar Island in roughly 30 feet of water, with a few large catfish also being reported. Lake Koronis is producing walleye in 32 feet of water along the bar by Stonegate.

Waconia
On Lake Waconia, crappies are suspended along the weed edges of Waconia Bay. Sunfish can also be found here during morning hours. Large northern pike are being taken from along the weed edges in 11-14 feet of water. For walleye, check 15-20 foot depths at Cemetery and Anderson’s reefs.

Wayzata
On Lake Minnetonka, sunnies are hitting waxworms in the western bays. Walleye are active in 22-35 feet of water at the weed edges during evening hours. At dusk, move to the deeper rock piles, with some large walleye being taken. Northern pike are being pulled from the 18-foot weed edges on a medium-size sucker set 4 feet off bottom. Crappies can be found suspended in the 36-40 foot holes. For the most fish, try a glow jig and small minnow during evening hours.

Chisago City
Chisago Lake is producing panfish along the south end. Anglers are catching fish from the A-frame all the way to County Road 83 on crappie minnows, euro larvae, a small jig, and light line. Sunrise Lake is kicking out large northern pike and panfish. Kroon Lake has been best for crappies, however, other good spots to fish include in front of The Bluewater on North Center Lake, and on the rocks in 14-16 feet at Nelson’s Island.

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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

Wabasha
On the Mississippi River, panfish are being pulled from the Wilcox area near County Road 24. A few northern pike are being taken from Lake Pepin, and this week’s warm weather should improve this bite.

Mankato
Lake Washington has been best for sunfish, with large fish taken from 5-10 foot depths during lowlight hours. Eagle Lake is producing quite a few northern pike. Crappies can be found suspended in 30 feet of water on German Lake during evening hours.

Willmar
Norway, Games, North Long, and Nest lakes are giving up numbers of sunnies and crappies in 10-12 feet of water. The larger crappies can be found suspended in even deeper waters. Green Lake is producing a few walleye. Big Kandiyohi Lake has been good for walleye and perch in roughly 10 feet of water.

Montevideo
On Lake Lac Qui Parle, walleye are biting on the southern end around the rocks. For the most fish, try a shiner in 10-12 feet of water. A few walleye are also being reported on the Minnesota River.

Ortonvile
Big Stone Lake is producing walleye and perch at Kite Island and the Rustling Elms in 11-12 feet of water. Artichoke Lake continues to give up a few crappies and walleye. Hit 9-10 foot depths in the middle of the lake for the most fish.