The Fishing Hot Spot this week is St. Cloud, where numbers of large crappies and sunnies are being taken.

The opening dates for the 2005/2006 fishing season for most inland waters in Minnesota are as follows: walleye, sauger, northern pike and lake trout, -May 14; largemouth and smallmouth bass, -May 28; and muskie -June 4. The fishing season for crappies, sunnies, perch and catfish is continuous.

Anglers may obtain fishing licenses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by dialing 1-888-665-4236, or accessing http://www.wildlifelicense.com/mn/index.html

=====================
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

MANKATO FISHING REPORT
Shore anglers are catching crappies in the channel on German Lake near Jefferson. Also try The Sawmill on Big Jefferson Lake, and the back of Baker’s Bay on Washington Lake. The largest crappies are coming out of Lake Crystal. For the most fish, try a slip bobber in 4-6 feet of water. Sunfish anglers are having success fishing Lake Sakatah at the Lagoon.

MONTEVIDEO FISHING REPORT
Catfish are biting on the Minnesota and Chippewa rivers. Work the shorelines for the most action. Crappies are active on Lake Lac qui Parle, especially at Volden’s Pit.

ORTONVILLE FISHING REPORT
Crappies are being pulled from the shallows of Traverse Lake–try fishing from shore on the north end of the lake. Another good spot for crappies has been 3-4 foot depths on Long Tom Lake. For the most fish, use a crappie minnow on a small jig. On Big Stone Lake, silver bass are hitting jig and twister tail combinations from shore.

===================
TWIN CITIES FISHING REPORTS

ST. CLOUD FISHING REPORT
Large crappies and sunnies are biting on the Horseshoe Chain, at Schneider and Bowfin lakes. Anglers report numbers of sunnies being taken on small leeches and waxworms worked in 4-10 feet of water, from shore and from boat. Crappie action is picking up on Horseshoe and Pearl lakes in similar depths, at the reeds. The best approach has been a crappie minnow and black flu flu. Sunnies and crappies are also being pulled from Brigg’s, Rush, Clearwater, Cedar Island, Little Rock, Mayhew and Grand lakes. Some anglers are fishing from shore, but most are venturing out by boat. Either way, work the shallow bays using waxworms, eurolarvae or crappie minnows.

EDEN VALLEY FISHING REPORT
All area lakes are producing numbers of sunfish and crappies in the shallows. Try 2-6 foot depths on Koronis, Horseshoe, Rice, Becker, Pleasant, Cedar and Sugar lakes using flu flus or mini jigs tipped with a minnow or waxworm for the most fish. Darker colors, such as black, green and red seem to be working best.

WAYZATA FISHING REPORT
On Lake Minnetonka, crappies are active in 6-8 feet of water, with fish hitting brightly-colored jigs tipped with a minnow. For the largest crappies, try fishing the tops of the standing, green milfoil. Sunfish are hitting waxworms and ice flies in 5-6 foot depths. And don’t forget the 22nd Annual Crappie Fishing Contest this Saturday on Lake Minnetonka–tickets are available at Gander Mountain.

CHISAGO CITY FISHING REPORT
Crappies and sunnies are biting on most area lakes. For the best results, work the shallow, dark bottom bays, especially on South Center Lake, while bobber fishing using small jigs tipped with waxworms or crappie minnows.

==========================
NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

DULUTH FISHING REPORT
On Lake Superior, the smelt have started running at the end of Park Point and at the break wall. Anglers are seining about 15-20 fish each time. The steelhead run is at its peak in North Shore streams, with yarn flies and spawn bags taking the most fish. Action has been great on the Lester, Sucker, Knife and French rivers, as well as at Stony Point using looper bugs on bobbers, spawn bags, and floating worms off the bottom. Coho salmon action is great at the river mouths, along the shorelines. Try white looper bugs, and worms worked off the bottom, for numbers of fish. Some anglers are having success trolling the “big lake” using purple and pink stickbaits on the surface. The crappie action is picking up on local area lakes, such as Caribou, Elora, Nickles and Grand. Perch action is still going strong on Pike Lake. Suckers are starting to run.

KABETOGAMA FISHING REPORT
Lakes Kabetogama and Namakan should be free of ice by this weekend. The water is warming rapidly, and northern pike are running and spawning, with other species soon to follow. Crappie fishing on the smaller lakes has started, but action has been slow. Crappie anglers on Kabatogama and Namakan may want to wait until water temperatures reach the 50’s. Shallow bays, such as Sullivan, Lost Lake and Lost Bay may produce crappies prior to the opener.

INTERNATIONAL FALLS FISHING REPORT
On Rainy Lake, while the walleye and sauger season has closed, you may still fish for northern pike in the border waters of the Rainy River. The possession limit is three, with only one over 40 inches allowed–all northerns between 30 and 40 inches must be returned immediately. The lake sturgeon season opens April 24. Angler numbers have been limited at the river accesses recently.

GRAND RAPIDS FISHING REPORT
The ice is gone, the loons are back, and the berrie bushes are blooming. Panfish are biting at Cohasset by Minnesota Power and Light. The suckers can now be found in the streams, and the smelt should now be running in Pokegama.

==============================
NORTHCENTRAL/WEST MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

BAUDETTE FISHING REPORT
On Lake of the Woods, catch-and-release sturgeon fishing has been good at Four Mile Bay–you may also have a chance to watch the Minnesota DNR tag some of these monsters. Anglers are looking forward to the walleye season opener on Saturday, May 14th. And don’t forget the 9th Annual Ice-Out Trophy Pike Tournament on Lake of the Woods, April 23 & 24. To learn more, dial 1-800-222-2537.

BLACKDUCK FISHING REPORT
Area lakes are all free of ice, and Red Lake opened up last Sunday. The crappie bite on Upper Red Lake should pick up soon–for the most fish, try working the shoreline breaks from boat. Smaller area lakes, such as Gilsted and Rabideau, are producing crappies on small gypsy jigs and crappies minnows.

BEMIDJI FISHING REPORT
Suckers are running on the Mississippi River. Perch are moving into the shallows to chase minnows on area lakes. Perch are being taken by working the edges of the reeds and brush piles on Plantagenet, Bemidji and Big lakes. Trout fishing has been good on area streams, such as Clearwater, Kabekona and Necktie.

WALKER FISHING REPORT
Leech Lake went ice-free on Sunday, April 17. Anglers are already catching perch and crappies, and anticipate an excellent opener this year. For the most crappies, hit the bays. And, the smaller area lakes are also producing fish.

PARK RAPIDS FISHING REPORT
Crappie action has been excellent from shore at the end of Long Lake. Anglers are taking fish using a jig and minnow. The trout opener was very good on the Straight River last weekend, with many anglers reporting numbers of average-sized fish.

DETROIT LAKES FISHING REPORT
Most area lakes are producing crappies and bluegills. On the smaller area lakes, work the shallow bays, and on the larger lakes, hit slightly deeper depths–warmer waters will draw these fish into the shallows any day now. The best approach has been a little nipper jig tipped with a small minnow or a small plastic tail. Some of the best producers at present are Little Detroit, Little Cormorant, Big Cormorant, Round, Lizzie, Crystal, Franklin, Cotton and Big Toad lakes.

PELICAN RAPIDS FISHING REPORT
Shore anglers are catching crappies on Lida and Prairie lakes, as well as on many of the smaller area lakes. Crappie minnows and waxworms are taking the most fish. Catfish action has been good on the Pelican River.

BATTLE LAKE FISHING REPORT
Battle, Clitheral and Star lakes have been very popular for crappies and sunnies. Anglers are having the most success working 10 foot depths with a crappie minnow or waxworm.

ALEXANDRIA FISHING REPORT
Shore anglers are catching crappies in 2-3 feet of water. For the most fish, try a tube jig, powerbait, or jig and minnow combination during lowlight hours. Lobster, Oscar, and Le Homme Dieu lakes are all kicking out fish.

STARBUCK FISHING REPORT
On Lake Minnewaska, the crappie action has been excellent at the Starbuck Marina. Small jigs and crappie minnows are working best from shore. On the Glenwood end, anglers fishing from boat are catching crappies and sunnies at the Fish Hatchery. Sunnies are hitting small leeches and waxworms. And good results are also being reported from the north end of Pocket Lake.

BRAINERD FISHING REPORT
The crappie bite has become more aggressive, with numbers of fish being pulled from the smaller, backwater bays on area lakes. The best approach has been a small jig tipped with a minnow, suspended below a float. For the most fish, hit Gull, North Long and Pelican lakes.

CROSSLAKE FISHING REPORT
Anglers are finding crappies in the shallow bays during early evening hours. Hit Crosslake and Rush Lake for some nice-sized crappies.

NISSWA FISHING REPORT
Numbers of crappies are being taken on puddle jumpers and crappie minnows. Just some of the recommended locations include Margaret Lake, Merrifield Bay on North Long Lake, and Wilson Bay on Gull. During morning hours, hit the Bar Harbor channel and docks. Crappies can be found in 3-12 feet of water using a slip bobber rig with a small puddle jumper or any small, feather-type jig. Many crappies are measuring 12- to 14-inches, with the first 2-pound crappie of the open water season taken last weekend. Sunfish action is just starting to pick up, and should be in full gear any day now. For sunnies, try waxworms on little hair jigs in depths as shallow as 1 foot. The best colors are traditionally white, pink or smoke black.

ISLE FISHING REPORT
Lake Mille Lacs is producing crappies in the bays and near the boat harbors. For the most fish, try a small minnow and jig in the shallows throughout the lake.