The Fishing Hot Spot this week is the city of ONAMIA, where good numbers of walleyes, northern pike and bass are being pulled from Lake Mille Lacs.
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 And, please consult Minnesota DNR rules and regulations for slot limits on specific lakes.
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NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORT
DULUTH
On Lake Superior, anglers are catching a mixed bag of lakers and chinook salmon on pink and purple spoons worked 40-60 feet down. The salmon are weighing up to 10-pounds, and the lakers are running 3- to 6-pounds. Walleyes can be found in the harbor using gold or chartreuse crawler harnesses. Lake trout are being pulled from the area near the Knife River on purple spoons worked 6-80 feet down in 120 feet of water. Island Lake is giving up nice numbers of smaller walleyes in 25 foot depths and up. Walleye action has been good on Fish Lake in depths of 12 feet, with slip bobbers and leeches taking the most fish. The St. Louis River is producing some nice walleyes on crawler harnesses. And the small trout streams have been good for numbers of brook trout.
KABETOGAMA
On Lakes Kabetogama and Namakan, walleye anglers are finding fish in the shallows, and on up to 28 feet deep. The windward sides of the shorelines and islands with soft bottoms, either sand, muck or rubble, seem to be producing best. The baitfish remain in shallows chasing mayflies, and lots of walleyes can be found nearby. The best approach has been a leech or nightcrawler on a slip sinker rig and plain snell–a spinner rig is also working well. During evening hours, try trolling or pitching shad raps into the shallows just outside the weedbeds. Expect the walleyes to move out to the 24-30 foot reefs as the water warms and the mayfly hatch ends. Northern pike are hitting hammered spinnerbaits, as well as stickbaits with large minnows, especially in Daily, Nebraska and Blind Ash bays. These bays each offer weedbeds with waterflows. Smallmouth bass are at the rocky shorelines and rocky reefs. For the most fish, work small Mepps spinners and crayfish baits in depths of 2-12 feet.
INTERNATIONAL FALLS
On Rainy Lake, walleye are moving to the reefs on the east end of the lake. At present, the bite remains good on the Sand Bay end of the lake, with anglers having success at Three Sisters Island, Franson’s Island and Eight Mile Island. For the most fish, try a large white twistertail or a rapala. Bass anglers are taking smallmouth bass from the shallows, with fish starting to head for deeper waters. Large northern pike can be found at the edges of the weed beds using large flashy lures. The Rainy River, the Big Fork and Little Fork Rivers have been excellent for smallmouth bass and walleyes, however anglers are having to cope with some high water levels and strong current.
GRAND RAPIDS
Walleye anglers are taking fish by slowly working crawlers and leeches along the breaks. The best locations have been Bowstring, Jessie and Pokegama lakes. Crappies are being pulled Sugar, Little Cutfoot and Spider lakes. Northern pike are hitting spoons and spinners on Balsam, Northstar, Rice and Jay Gould lakes. Bass anglers are having success using plastic worms and grubs. For numbers of smallmouth bass, hit Turtle, Northstar and Pokegama lakes.
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NORTHCENTRAL/WEST MINNESOTA FISHING REPORT
BAUDETTE
On Lake Of The Woods, fishing has been very good along the South Shore near the rocky reefs found in 24-30 feet of water, especially at Zippel Bay. Anglers are taking fish by jig fishing with leeches. Walleye anglers report taking quite a few northern pike as well. Some extremely large muskies are being reported around the Northwest Angle and Islands area, with fish coming in on white and yellow spinnerbaits worked in 2-6 feet of water. Good numbers of eating-sized walleyes are being pulled from depths of 8-17 feet around Oak and Garden islands. Although water levels on the Rainy River remain high and the water clarity remains low, smallmouth bass and northern pike catches have been excellent–for the most fish, hit the inlets and bays of the tributaries leading to the Rainy River.
BEMIDJI
Walleyes are coming out of 15-20 feet of water on leeches and crawlers, especially on Lake Plantagenet. Area lakes are giving up muskie, with several 50-inch fish recently reported. Panfish action remains steady in the shallows. Perch action has been good on Lake Bemidji, with walleye anglers taking plenty of fish. Bass action remains steady in the weeds.
BENA
On Lake Winnibigoshish, walleye action has been excellent using leeches and crawlers at the deep water humps and bars. Begin by locating fish using your electronics at the humps just out from the Highbanks, and at Long, Moses and Center bars, as well as the north end of Bena Bar. Numerous fish in the 20- to 28-inch range were recently caught-and-released. Northern pike have become more active with the new weed growth, especially around Third River Bay, Stony Point, Sugar Bay, and the weedbeds off Richards Townsite. Nice-size bluegills, measuring 9- to 10-inches, are being pulled from the weedlines.
PARK RAPIDS
Walleye anglers are picking up a few fish in 16-20 feet of water on the reefs. Lindy rigs tipped with a leech or redtail chub seem to be working best. Sunfish are coming in on waxworms worked on the lower Crow Wing lakes. Large bluegills have completed their spawn, and are moving to the deeper weed edges found in depths of 11-14 feet. Crappies are hitting small jigs and power grubs, with fish found suspended 10-12 feet down in 16 feet of water.
DETROIT LAKES
Walleyes are coming out of Big Cormorant, Floyd, Cotton, Shell, Height of Land, Island, Little Bemidji, Elbow and Round lakes. Jigs and minnows are the best approach, however lindy rigs and spinners tipped with leeches or crawlers are also working well. Hit the sharp breaks and deep weedlines for the most fish. The largemouth bass bite remains excellent for anglers using jigs and pigs, tubes, plastic worms, and spinnerbaits at the deep weed edges, inside weedlines, and at the docks. Large bluegills and crappies have been most active at the deep cabbage. Large northern pike can be found along the deep weeds. The muskie bite is heating up on Detroit Lake.
PELICAN RAPIDS
Sunfish action has been good on Prairie, Lida, Lizzie, Sallie and Melissa lakes at the deeper weed edges. Walleyes are hitting crawlers and leeches in 30 feet on Lake Lida. Northern pike are extremely active along the weedlines, and hitting trolled spoons. A good bass bite is being reported in the shallows on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits early in the day. The muskie bite is improving on Pelican Lake.
ALEXANDRIA
Walleyes have moved into deeper waters–start in 30 feet of water, and work your way out towards 50 feet of water on Miltona and Ida lakes. For the most fish, try leeches or crawlers on a lindy rig and six-foot snell with a spinner or float. The panfish bite has been good at the weedlines of Le Homme Dieu and Darling lakes, with some large fish being reported. Northern pike are active at the weedlines, and hitting spoons, spinnerbaits, and sucker minnows under a bobber. Bass action has been best in 1-8 foot depths.
STARBUCK
On Lake Minnewaska, panfish are hitting small jigs and slip bobbers in 10-12 feet of water. The crappie bite has been good along the south end, roughly 6 feet down in 12 feet of water, with crappie minnows and flu-flus working best. Northern pike anglers are having success using red-eye wigglers speed-trolled off the bulrushes along the north end of the lake. For walleyes, hit 25 foot depths off the points using crawlers and leeches on spinners. And there has been a good bass bite during morning hours in the bulrushes and around the docks. As the sun gets higher and the fish move deeper, switch from spinnerbaits to plastics.
BRAINERD
Bass and northern pike are active on Hubert, Edwards and North Long lakes. For bass, hit the second weedline found in 13-17 feet of water using drop-shot jigs, or jig and worm combinations. Large northern pike are being pulled from the outside weedlines on white spinnerbaits, and sucker minnows on spinner-rigs. Hit 17-20 feet of water on Lake Edwards for the most fish. One angler recently landed a 15-pound northern pike, with pike action expected to improve due to current warm temperatures. Sunnies and crappies continue to bite in 8-12 feet of water. Try worms during the day for sunfish, and minnows during evening hours for crappies. A good crappie bite is being reported on Pelican and North Long lakes, as well as the smaller lakes around the Whitefish area. The larger bluegills are coming from the sunken islands that top off in depths of 14 to 18 feet. And for a few walleyes, hit Gull and Pelican lakes, especially on overcast and/or windy days. The best approach has been a lindy rig and redtail chub worked slowly along the weed edges, with a 31-inch fish recently caught-and-released on Whitefish Lake. Also try the 20-30 foot reefs.
ISLE
On Lake Mille Lacs, decent numbers of fish are being taken from the mud flats during the day. For the most fish, try a crawler on a gold, copper or pink spinner, or slowly work a leech and floating rig, especially at Seven Mile and Center bars. The deep gravel bite has been sporadic–during evening hours, try your favorite rock reef using a slip bobber and leech, tight to the structure, in depths of 6-28 feet. Smallmouth bass have moved into depths of 3-8 feet, and are hitting small crankbaits and plastic grubs. Hawkbill Reef has been excellent for smallmouth bass action. Northern pike are hitting suckers drifted under a bobber, especially at Cove and Vineland. And for non-stop action, toss a lure into the slop and weeds for numbers of largemouth bass.
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TWIN CITIES VICINITY FISHING REPORT
ST. CLOUD
The Mississippi River remains high, however walleye anglers are having success below the dams when using jig and minnow combinations. Smallmouth bass are being taken by throwing rapalas into the current breaks. Carp anglers are having a blast using a crawler and plain hook at the bottom, with fish weighing 20-pounds. The same technique is producing some nice channel cats in the 2- to 10-pound range, especially below the 10th Street Dam.
EDEN VALLEY
Panfish are hitting waxies on a plain hook in roughly 7 feet of water on Pleasant, Pearl, Rice, Horseshoe and Cedar Island lakes. Crappies can be found in depths of 15 feet using a flu-flu jig and crappie minnow at the points. Walleyes are active in 15 foot depths on Lake Koronis, and taking lindy rigs tipped with leeches or fathead minnows. A few walleyes are also being pulled from 24-28 feet of water on leeches. Northern pike are cruising the weed edges of Rice and Browns lakes, and hitting sucker minnows under bobbers, as well as live bait rigs in 12-15 feet of water. Smallmouth bass are taking topwater lures, leeches and crawlers at the lily pads and other thick weed beds during lowlight hours. Dock anglers are having success using plastic worms, and jig-n-pig combinations.
ANNANDALE
On Clearwater Lake, sunfish are hitting waxworms at the 10-foot weedlines. Crappies are mixed in with sunfish in depths of 10-15 feet. Schools of crappies can be found suspended during the day in deeper waters. Bass are at the weedlines hitting leeches and plastic worms. For northern pike, try a sucker minnow under a bobber in 10-15 feet of water, with numerous 2- to 4-pounders being taken. Walleyes are hitting leeches along the bottom of the weedlines. Some anglers report catching larger fish on lindy rigs and spinner rigs worked in depths of 26 feet of water during the day.
WACONIA
On Lake Waconia, northern pike are active at the deep weed edges and up in the weed tops, with a 13-pound fish recently reported. Muskies are hitting bucktails and other hair baits. Sunfish continue to guard their nests. Crappies have moved to the deeper weed edges. For a few walleye, hit the deeper reefs and weed edges during the day.
WAYZATA
On Lake Minnetonka, bass are very active in the weeds, with black plastics taking the most fish. Walleyes are sluggish during the day, and most fish have not been feeding until after 1:00 a.m. Panfish action remains steady, with sunnies and a few crappies being pulled from depths of 10 feet or less. Northern pike are aggressive in the weeds, and a few muskies are coming in on large plastics.
CHISAGO CITY
Little Lake is producing numbers of panfish, and Croon Lake has been good for both sunnies and crappies. Northern pike are coming out of Sunrise Lake. And for numbers of bass, hit Chisago Lake.
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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORT
MONTEVIDEO
Anglers are enjoying the exciting channel cat action on the Minnesota River, especially between Montevideo and Granite Falls. Water levels are just starting to drop on the river. On Lake Lac Qui Parle, the walleye bite has slowed due to high water.
ORTONVILLE
On Big Stone Lake, a few walleyes are coming in on slip bobber rigs worked at the rock piles at night, with an occasional fish taken from the docks. And a few anglers have had success late at night using bottom bouncers and spinners, or crankbaits down the center of the lake.