The Fishing Hot Spots this week are the cities of of MONTEVIDEO and ORTONVILLE, where good numbers of walleye are being taken from Lake Lac Qui Parle, the Minnesota River, and the south end of Big Stone Lake.
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
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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS
MONTEVIDEO
Walleye action has been excellent on Lake Lac Qui Parle. Anglers are catching limits in 4-5 feet of water at the rocks using lindy rigs and minnows, or minnows under bobbers. A few anglers are also taking fish on crankbaits. The Minnesota River is producing numbers of walleye as well. Crappie anglers continue to pull fish from Lac Qui Parle.
ORTONVILLE
The Big Stone Lake walleye bite is going strong on the south end of the lake, from town to the Meadowbrook area, especially during evening hours. For the most fish, try a jig abd minnow combination, or a casting plug in 4-5 feet of water. Walleyes are also coming out of the Minnesota River at the Odessa Dam and Correll Bridge. The best approach has been casting twistertails from shore, with some northern pike also being reported.
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TWIN CITIES FISHING REPORTS
ST. CLOUD
Anglers are reporting better fishing conditions. For panfish, try Koronis, Alexander and Big Birch lakes. The Mississippi River continues to produce walleyes. For northern pike, hit Pearl and Little Rock lakes. This weekend, look for excellent smallmouth bass action on the Mississippi River. Most area lakes should be giving up largemouth bass.
ANNANDALE
Clearwater Lake is warming up, and fish are moving back into the shallows. The lake is very clear, and weeds are emerging. Anglers are seeing sunfish, crappies and bass in 2-3 feet of water. Crappie anglers report bass hitting their lines, and should still be in the shallows this weekend for the opener. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows in depths of 3-12 feet. Try trolling spinnerbaits for few fish as well. Walleyes are hitting minnows and shiners on a lindy rig, with fish found scattered in 6- to 25-foot depths. Walleyes have been most active during lowlight hours.
WACONIA
On Lake Waconia, the walleye bite remains best during evening hours and into nightime hours. Crappies and sunnies continue to bite in the shallows and along shorelines, with northern pike and bass found in the same areas. For this weekend’s bass opener, try Reinke’s Bay on the southeast corner of the lake, or around Peterson’s Creek. For early season bass action, try shorter plastics. Bobber fishing with live bait is also a good bet.
WAYZATA
On Lake Minnetonka, walleye action is improving, with fish being pulled from 10-12 feet of water during early morning and evening hours. Work the channels where they funnel out into the main bays using a slip bobber and leech, or a lindy rig,floater and fathead minnow for the most fish. The bass opener this Saturday should be excellent–the best approach should be spinnerbaits worked in roughly 3 feet of water. Please use care when handling spawning females, and release them if pulled from their beds. Sunnies continue to hit small jigs tipped with waxworms in 4-5 feet of water, especially at the northern bays such as Maxwell, Black, Gray’s or Gideon’s. For northern pike, work the 3- to 5-foot weedlines using beetlespins or small crankbaits.
CHISAGO CITY
Anglers are catching walleyes in 6-8 feet of water during lowlight hours, and in 12-18 foot depths during the day. The three best walleye lakes recently have been South Lindstrom, North and South Center lakes. For the most fish, try jumbo fatheads or golden shiners, with leeches starting to attract walleyes as well. Sunfish remain in the shallows, and the crappies can be found in depths of 10-12 feet. Panfish action has been best on sunny days.
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NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS
DULUTH
Walleyes are coming from Fish Lake, with numbers of crappies mixed in–try jigheads tipped with shiners or rainbow chubs in 12-18 feet of water for the most fish. Island Lake and the St. Louis River are also producing plenty of walleyes.
KABETOGAMA
On Lakes Kabetogama and Namakan, lst weekend’s strong winds limited the amount of time on the water and which areas could be fished. The best reports came from jig anglers working 30- to 38-foot depths on the windward sides of the reefs and islands. And quite a few larger walleyes, measuring over 17-inches, were pulled from the shallows. Anglers are also having success after dark. Northern pike, most weighing under 5 pounds, are on the prowl and keeping anglers busy. Smallmouth bass are hitting both live bait and artificials. And the crappies remain deep and elusive.
INTERNATIONAL FALLS
On Rainy Lake, anglers are bringing in plenty of northern pike of all sizes. Walleye anglers are releasing quite a few fish measuring in the low 20s, within the protected slot, and two parties released trophy-sized 28- and 30-inch walleyes. Numbers of nice 13- to 14-inch walleye are also being reported. Recent warm temperatures are expected to increase the crappie action in Black Bay. The Rainy River is somewhat higher than usual, and the current is somewhat stronger than usual–try a crawler in 12-18 feet of water for the most fish, however various methods are working well. Below the Dam at International Falls, walleye anglers are finding fish. Further downstream, toward Pelland Junction and Loman, anglers are having success with northern pike and smallmouth bass. Area public accesses are in good shape and parking has not been a problem.
GRAND RAPIDS
The minnows are moving into the shorelines and the walleyes are right behind. On cloudy days, start in 6- to 10-foot depths; on sunny days, hit deeper waters. Round Lake has been consistent for nice-sized walleyes, with light green jigs tipped with smaller shiners working best. Lake Pokegama is producing a few walleyes, and recently gave up a 29-inch catch-and-release fish. Splithand, Wabana and Spider lakes are also starting to give up walleye with the recent warm temperatures. Northern pike action has been good on Spider, Balsam and Trout lakes. For the most fish, try a sucker minnow on a jig or spinner rig at the shorelines. This weekend’s bass opener should be good considering the number of bass being caught by northern pike anglers.
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NORTHCENTRAL/WEST MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS
BAUDETTE
On the South Shore of Lake of the Woods, last weekend’s 2005 North Star Spring Walleye Classic was a great success, with 41 teams competing over the weekend. Overall, walleye action on the South Shore has been excellent. For the most fish, try a jig tipped a minnow, especially around Four Mile Bay, at the Lighthouse Gap, in front of Pine Island, and near the Morris Point Gap. At the Northwest Angle and Islands area, nice-sized walleyes are coming from the shallows. The best approach has been a crankbait worked in 2-8 feet of water. And of special note, a possible record-breaking lake sturgeon was pulled from the Rainy River on May 4. The sturgeon measured 71-inches in length, with a 34-inch girth. According to Department of Natural Resources, the fish was estimated to weigh 122 pounds! This is one of several huge sturgeon that have been caught on the river recently.
BEMIDJI
Walleye anglers are having success on Bemidji, Irving, Pike Bay and Big lakes. The recent walleye fishing contest on Lake Bemidji produced a 10.4-pound walleye. Try a jig and shiner in 6-10 feet of water for the most fish. Some anglers are pulling fish from depths of 14-16 feet and deeper on Lake Andrusia, with a few already using leeches. For this weekend’s bass opener, hit the shallows of Stump, Deer, Gull, Beltrami, North or South Twin lakes.
BENA
On Lake Winnibigoshish, walleyes are coming from a few different depths depending on the side of the lake. Towards the Highbanks, try 14-17 feet of water, however other areas of the lake are producing fish in 7- to 14-foot depths. The best approach has been a fireball jig tipped with a shiner minnow. Some anglers are having success on the Cutfoot side of the lake, with good walleye action from Mallard Point down to Sugar Bay. Water temperatures have remained stationary since the opener, causing some confusion. The shiners are sporadically coming into shore when the wind lets up and the sun comes out, but the walleyes appear to be laying on the secondary breaks waiting for the shiners to move shallow to spawn. For Memorial Day Weekend, the best bet is to hit Bowen’s Flats, the North Shore, Stony Point, Raven’s Point, and Musky Bay using a 1/8- or 1/4- ounce tri-tone watermelon fireball jig.
PELICAN RAPIDS
Fishing has been good on most area lakes, with a mixed bag of walleyes, crappies and sunfish being reported. Some of the better locations include Prairie, Lida and Crystal lakes. Leeches, shiners and nightcrawlers are all producing fish. And for this weekend’s bass opener, try Prairie Lake.
BATTLE LAKE
Walleye are hitting shiners in 15-20 feet of water on West Battle and Ottertail lakes. East Battle is also producing fish. Crappies are active in the shallows of Clitheral and Dead lakes at the weeds. This Saturday, look for largemouth bass on East Battle and Clitheral lakes; for smallmouth bass, hit Ottertail Lake.
ALEXANDRIA
Walleyes are active in most of the smaller, shallow lakes, such as Reno and Mary. Lake Miltona is producing walleyes in 20- to 25-foot depths. Shiners and fatheads are producing the majority of fish. Crappie action has been good on Le Homme dieu, Darling, Ida and Miltona lakes in 7-10 feet of water. One angler recently caught a 3-pound, 3-ounce crappie on an unidentified area lake. Bass are currently in the shallows–this Saturday, try Darling, Carlos and Le Homme Dieu lakes for the bass opener.
STARBUCK
Walleye action is picking up on Lake Minnewaska, with fish being pulled from 18-20 feet of water on shiners and fatheads. On Lake Emily, anglers are having success fishing from shore using leeches and shiners. Sunnies and crappies remain active on Minnewaska at the Staburck Marina and the Fish Hatchery. The bass bite is expected to be good this weekend in the shallows at the emerging pencil reeds and bulrushes.
BRAINERD
The best walleye action last week was on Pelican Lake, with Gull Lake also giving up a few fish. The better locations have been the wind blown points, just outside of the weeds. For the most fish, try a spot-tail shiner on a lindy rig in 15-25 feet of water during the day, and in 5-15 foot depths during evening hours. Crappie action remains strong, however most fish are now moving out of the shallows, and just starting to show up in the pencil reeds. Reports have been best on Hubert Lake. Northern pike have been finicky–only a few fish, in the 2- to 4-pound range, have been reported.
NISSWA
Walleye and crappie action has been good. On Gull Lake, walleye are hitting lindy rigs, plain hooks and shiners worked in 16-24 feet of water during evening hours, with numbers of 13- to 16-inch fish being reported. Some larger fish are being taken on jigs and shiners worked in deeper waters. Some of the bettter locations include Grassy Point, Dutchman’s Bluff, and the south end of the lake. Round Lake is also giving up a few fish in similar depths. Northern pike have been extrememly active on the Gull Lake Chain. Sucker minnows seem to be working best, with fish up to 10 pounds coming in last week. Large black crappies are hitting crappie minnows and puddle jumpers on many of the smaller area lakes. The sunnies should join the crappies as the water warms. Overall, expect some of the best fishing all season during the next ten days!
ISLE
On Lake Mille Lacs, some good walleye action is being reported during the day in 15-22 feet of water. For the most fish, try a live bait rig tipped with a leech or shiner. Towards evening, work 8-12 foot depths on the shallow rock reefs using a a slip bobber and angle worm, or a jig and leech set-up. This bite usually begins around 8:00-8:30 p.m. Some of the better reefs include Agate, Big Point, Izaty’s and Anderson’s. For northern pike, Vineland Bay is your best bet. Please remember that the temporary night ban is now in effect–no one may fish for any species or possess fishing gear on the lake from 10:00 p.m. through 6:00 a.m., until 12:01 a.m. on June 13.