The Fishing Hot Spot this week is the city of WALKER, where good numbers of walleyes and northern pike are being pulled from LEECH 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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NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORT

Duluth
Fish Lake is producing quite a few walleyes around Seagull Island on slip bobbers and leeches worked in 6-8 feet of water. Also try drifting a lindy rig and chub in 12-15 foot depths for walleyes and large perch. On Island Lake, fish are being pulled from depths of 14-18 feet on crankbaits. On Grand Lake, crappies averaging 12- to 14-inches are being taken, and many walleyes are coming in on crawlers and leeches. On Caribou Lake, walleyes and panfish have been very active. Northern pike action has been good on Caribou and Grand lakes. Most lakes north of Duluth and near Cotton are producing good numbers of fish. The St. Louis River remains somewhat high, however anglers continue to catch walleyes. The best approach has been a stickbait, crawler harness or bomber worked in the lower part of the river and in the harbor. And on Lake Superior, salmon and trout are being pulled from in the top 20 feet of water at the North and South Shores on spoons and stickbaits in pink and chartreuse. Some anglers are having success using herring strips.

Kabetogama
On lakes Kabetogama and Namakan, fishing is improving. Walleye anglers have switched from minnows to leeches and crawlers now that fish have moved from the deeper waters to mid-depth and shallow depths. Anglers report catching walleyes in depths of 4-16 feet; try slip bobbers, or pitching light jigs into the shallows, with slip sinker rigs working best in the mid-depths down to 26-28 feet. Areas with a soft bottom structure are producing the most fish. For smallmouth bass, hit the rock reefs and rocky shorelines using leeches or crayfish lures. Northern pike are hitting lures outside the weedlines.

International Falls
On Rainy Lake, walleyes and crappies are being pulled from Black Bay, and most of the larger, shallower bays should produce fish. Walleye anglers are catching quite a few keeper-size fish since there is an abundnace of fish just under the slot limit. Many large breeding-size walleyes are also being reported. Clarity is fair on the Rainy River, Littlefork and Big Fork Rivers, and river anglers are doing well with the walleyes, bass and large northern pike. For the most walleye, try a lindy rig, or some similar spinner outfit, tipped with a minnow. Northern pike are aggressively hitting flashy lures. Remember that the baitfish will move towards shore on windy days, so work the windy side of the bays for the most fish.

Grand Rapids
Bass are just leaving their nests, and hitting plastics and topwater lures. Northern pike are extremely active, and taking spoons, sucker minnows and spinners worked along the weedlines, as well as in deeper waters. Walleyes continue to head towards the midlake bars; for the most fish, try rigs and leeches in 13-18 foot depths. Anglers that continue to work the shorelines are having success using spottail shiners and light green jigs. For the most walleyes, hit Splithand, Bowstring, Sand and Round lakes. Deer and Moose lakes are giving many smaller muskies, with one 43-inch fish recently caught-and-released on a topwater lure. Crappies and bluegills are currently at their nests.

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NORTHCENTRAL/WEST MINNESOTA FISHING REPORT

Baudette
On Lake Of The Woods, fishing has been good along the South Shore, especially around Pine Island and the Morris Point Gap. Some anglers are using leeches, however a hammered gold spinner tipped with a minnow seems to be the best presentation. The Rainy River is giving up good numbers of northern pike and smallmouth bass towards Baudette Bay near the International Bridge, and in many of the tributaries leading to the Rainy River. At the Northwest Angle and Islands area, fish are being pulled from Brush Island, east of Garden Island, and around Little Oak Island.

Blackduck
Walleyes are biting in 8-15 feet of water on Blackduck Lake; the best approach has been a jig and minnow combination, or a lindy rig tipped with a crawler or leech. Panfish are active on Gilstad and Rabideau lakes. Just to the north, Upper Red Lake is producing quite a few northern pike; work the shoreline breaks using bucktails, or try trolling crankbaits or spoons for the most fish. Crappies are now moving into deeper waters.

Bemidji
Cass Lake is producing good numbers of walleyes at Buck’s Bar, Windigo Bar, and North Cedar Bar in 15-35 feet of water. Anglers also report many northern pike and large perch. Other good walleye lakes to check out include Bemidji, Big and Andrusia, with leeches working best.

Bena
On Lake Winnibigoshish, walleyes are being taken on roach rigs and leeches worked off the bars and deep humps. This bite is expected to continually improve. Try a 4- to 6-foot leader to cover the majority of rigging situations. Water levels are up on Little Winnibigoshish, and limits of eating-size walleyes are being pulled from the area below the dam, all the way to the mouth of the lake. Crappies and bluegills are near their beds on Little Cutfoot Sioux. The Mississippi River is giving up a variety of fish.

Walker
On Leech Lake, walleyes are very active, with anglers having success switching from jigs to live bait rigs tipped with leeches and crawlers. Many northern pike, as well as some 20-pound fish are being reported. Muskie anglers report seeing lots of fish.

Hackensack
Crappies are biting in the shallows of Girl, Ten Mile and Birch lakes. Ten Mile Lake is producing walleyes during evening hours in 20 feet of water. Largemouth bass are active in the shallows of most area lakes; for the most fish, try casting plastics and spinnerbaits into the weeds.

Park Rapids
The walleye bite has been best on Fish Hook Lake, in 18 feet of water, with crawlers and leeches working well. Northern pike are being pulled from Big Mantrap Lake on suckers worked in depths of 8-9 feet. Crappies are hitting crappie minnows on Eagle Lake in 14 feet of water. For bluegills, use waxworms on the Crow Wing Chain in 9-10 foot depths.

Detroit Lakes
Walleye are hitting jigs tipped with minnows or leeches, with live bait rigs and crawlers also starting to produce some fish. For the most fish, work the edge of the deep weedlines, especially on Lizzie, Pelican, Island, Round, Detroit, Crystal, Lida, Cotton, Sallie and Big Pine lakes. Large crappies can be found out in deeper waters at the cabbage weeds. The best approach has been a small jig tipped with a plastic tail. Sunfish remain in the shallows, although a few of the larger fish have moved to the deep weedlines. Bass fishing remains excellent for anglers using jigs and plastic tubes.

Battle Lake
Panfish are active on South Turtle, Clitherall, Battle and Silver lakes, with waxworms or small leeches taking fish from 12 feet of water. Bass are hitting topwater baits, such as floating frogs. Walleye action has been sporadic, however the recent fishing tournament on Ottertail Lake gave up some fish on minnows, leeches and crawlers worked in depths of 10-22 feet. This weekend’s tournament should be better due to more stable weather patterns.

Alexandria
Small leeches and waxworms are producing sunnies and crappies in 6-8 feet of water at the pencil reeds, especially on Miltona, Carlos and Le Homme Dieu lakes. For bass, hit Ida and Miltona lakes using a Texas-rigged worm at the weed edges. Walleyes are active on Andrew, Mary and Reno lakes; for the most fish, try a jig and leech in depths of 18-25 feet. Anglers report good walleye action using leeches on Le Homme Dieu in 10 feet of water. For northern pike, try trolling spoons along the weeds. Muskie fishing has been sporadic, with a few fish taken from the weedlines and deeper cabbage of Lobster and Miltona lakes.

Starbuck
On Lake Minnewaska, walleye activity is improving. The best approach is a spinner, with a leech or crawler, worked off the drop-offs in 12-20 feet of water. Anglers are catching walleyes on Lake Emily using rattling raps or shallow-running shad raps. Walleye anglers are pulling bass from Minnewaska. Largemouth bass are most active around the docks and in the bulrushes; for the most fish, try a spinnerbait, or a large leech under a bobber.

Crosslake
Walleye anglers are having some success in 18-24 foot depths using lindy rigs tipped with a leech or nightcrawler. Whitefish and Crosslakes are good bets. Northern pike can be found along the weedlines using sucker minnows on spinner rigs. Bass are in the shallows hitting surface lures and weedless worm rigs. For crappies and sunnies, hit 5-12 feet of water using small jigs tipped with minnows or worms.

Nisswa
Walleyes are up on the weedlines in 10-18 feet of water. Some of the better lakes include Gull, North Long and Pelican, with one 9.4-pound walleye recently caught-and-released on North Long Lake. Walleye anglers are having success using leeches, nightcrawlers and redtail chubs on lindy rigs and jigs. Trolled spinners are also working well. Northern pike are active along the weed edges and shoreline points and lake humps close to deep water, and hitting medium to large sucker minnows on large bucktail jigs; hit the Gull Lake Chain, Whitefish or Edwards lakes for some good northern pike action. Largemouth bass are being pulled from slightly shallower depths on most area lakes. Try worms and leeches in the shallows for some great sunfish action. Crappies have moved into 6-14 feet of water, with beetle spins and mimic minnows working well.

Isle
On Lake Mille Lacs, the mud flats and deep rock reefs are producing nice numbers of walleye. Some of the better locations include the Needle, Three Mile, Pope’s Point and the Graveyard. Try a leech on a slip bobber or floating snell for the most fish. And, smallmouth bass remain in the bays in 3 feet of water or less.

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TWIN CITIES FISHING REPORT

St. Cloud
Walleyes are hitting shiners and leeches in 15-17 feet of water, off the breaks. Bass can be found at the inside weed edges hitting pig-n-jigs and plastic worms. Panfish are in the shallow weeds to spawn. For northern pike, throw a daredevil and sucker, or a jig and minnow, into depths of 6-15 feet of water off the weed edges. Mississippi River anglers are catching walleye and crappies at night, as well as quite a few smallmouth during the day. A float trip on the river has been both productive and fun.

Eden Valley
On Lake Koronis, walleyes are being caught along the weeds, and out in 18-24 feet of water. Hit the north and west sides of the islands using leeches or crawlers for the most fish. The Horseshoe Chain, Rice, Long and Cedar Island lakes are also giving up walleye at the weeds and in deeper waters. Bass have been mixed in with the walleyes, with some hitting rapalas as well. Anglers are picking up some smallmouth bass at the humps and points on the Horseshoe Chain. Panfish are in the shallows of most area lakes, with good numbers being taken on waxworms worked in 2-6 foot depths, especially on the Horseshoe Chain.

Annandale
Sunnies remain in the shallows, protecting their beds. Crappies can be found using crappie minnows in 10-15 of water along weedlines. Bass are mostly shallow, continuing to spawn. Northern bite action has been excellent; for the most fish, try bobber fishing with sucker minnows in depths of 10-15 feet of water along the weedlines. Walleyes are being pulled from 15 foot depths on leeches, however bass anglers also report a few coming from the shallow weeds.

Waconia
Lake Waconia is producing some very large bass. Walleyes anglers report many eating-size fish, and quite a few large catch-and-release fish. Crappies continue to bite in shallows at the pencil reeds near shore, and in 8-12 foot depths near the milfoil. A 35-inch pike was reported this week, and catch-and-release muskies are averaging 40 inches.

Wayzata
On Lake Minnetonka, walleye are hitting crawler and spinner rigs worked in 30-35 feet at the deep rock piles. During evening hours, move back to the weed edges using a jig and leech combination. A few crappies are being pulled from the smaller bays, such as Black, Maxwell and Seton. The best approach has been a 1/16-ounce flu-flu jig tipped with a crappie minnow worked right in the weed pockets found in 10-12 feet of water. Sunnies can be found in less than 3 feet of water using a small leech or waxworm on an ice jig. Bass action is good in depths of 12-15 feet; try a Texas-rig in the weeds, or a crankbait just outside the weeds for the most fish. Muskies are chasing smaller bucktails and large sucker minnows. Northern pike are active in the channels and bays, with fish taken on chartreuse and bright orange spinnerbaits and small suckers pulled through 10-12 feet of water.

Chisago City
Walleyes are being pulled from 18-24 feet of water during early morning and late evening hours. Some of the better locations include the north end of North Center Lake, just out from the swimming beach on South Lindstrom Lake, and the east side of the rock hump on South Center Lake. Panfish are active in 8 feet of water on most area lakes. For some good bass action, hit 8-10 foot depths using a jig-n-pig or Texas-rig on most lakes.

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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORT

Mankato
Catfish are hitting large suckers on the Minnesota River, just north of town. The walleye bite has been good on the river near Courtland. Walleyes are also biting on Lura Lake; for the most fish, try casting weedless jigs and leeches into the weeds. Sunfish are hitting jigs and waxworms on Washington Lake. Lake Tetonka is producing a few crappies in 5-10 feet of water towards evening. Bass are taking spinnerbaits and jig-n-pigs at the weeds on Jefferson Lake.

Montevideo
Lake Lac Qui Parle continues to produce good numbers of walleyes in 5-9 feet of water; for the most fish, try pulling crankbaits on the north end of the lake, or a slip bobber and minnow on the south end of the lake. Most fish are measuring 14- to 17-inches. Lake Lac Qui Parle is giving up crappies on slip bobbers worked at the rock piles.

Ortonville
On Big Stone Lake, walleye action has been best at the Meadowbrook area, and on the north end near the Hornstein’s Access. During the day, try trolling with spinners, and during evening hours, try casting jigs and plugs for the most fish. On Lake Traverse, shore anglers are taking good numbers of walleye along the north end near the dam.