The Fishing Hot Spot this week is the city of DULUTH, where inland lakes, such as Rice, Pike, Grand and Fish lakes, are giving up good numbers of walleyes.

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NORTHERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

Duluth
Pike Lake walleye anglers are taking fish on lindy rigs and crawlers worked in 17 feet of water, with perch coming from depths of 30 feet on small crappie minnows and worms. Grand Lake is producing lots of northern pike on spoons, and on sucker minnows under a bobber, in 6 feet of water. Large perch and walleye are also being pulled from Grand Lake–try 12-18 foot depths using a lindy rig and leech for the most fish. Fish Lake has been steady for walleyes, with crankbaits taking fish from the flats in 14-18 feet of water. For bluegills, hit the 4-6 foot weedlines using small crappie minnows or worms under bobbers. On Island Lake, use planer boards and snap weights in 20 feet of water and deeper. Walleyes and crappies are coming from Rice Lake on spinners and crawlers worked in 6 feet of water. Caribou Lake is giving up good numbers of bass and northern pike on topwater lures and spinners worked in the shallows. Lake Superior trout and salmon fishing has been good from Two Harbors on north using spoons in less than 30 feet of water. Towards the city of Duluth, lakers up to 20 pounds, and 10- to 20-pound salmon are being reported. Try dragging the bottom with flashers and flies in depths of 110-130 feet. Bass and muskie are active in the St. Louis River at the shallow weedlines.

Kabetogama
The weather fluctuations on Kabetogama and Namakan lakes have caused the fish to scatter. Anglers are finding walleyes in shallow weeds throughout the day, but morning hours have been best. The reefs and island structures with shallow shelves down to 30 feet seem to be the most productive locations for the walleyes during lowlight hours. During the day, large northern pike are being pulled from the bays, such as Daily, Nebraska and Lost bays on Kabetogama, and Moose, Junction and Hoist bays on Namakan. Smallmouth bass and walleyes are hitting crankbaits trolled through 12-16 feet of water, and northern pike are hitting crankbaits just outside the weedbeds. Leeches and crawlers remain the best bait for walleyes, and spinner rigs with slip sinker rigs are also taking a few fish due to murky waters.

International Falls
On Rainy Lake, walleyes are coming off the submerged reefs, as deep as 25 feet, and hitting gold or hammered spinners with a leech. Some of the areas to check out include Saginaw Bay and Kettle Falls, however lots of anglers are concentrating on the Sand Bay end of the lake. Smallmouth bass are very active, and anglers participating in the upcoming International Falls Bass Championship are having fun practicing for this event.

Grand Rapids
Numbers of nice catch-and-release muskies are coming from North Star Lake on topwater baits worked over the weeds. Some walleyes are being caught on Bowstring, Sand and Round lakes, especially during lowlight hours on rigs tipped with crawlers or leeches. A few fish are also coming from the weedlines on slip bobber rigs. Crappies can be found during evening hours using small minnows and jigs. Bass remain active, with a 22-inch catch-and-release fish recently coming from Lake Pokegama. Northern pike have been aggressive, and are hitting larger suckers under a bobber, especially at the weedlines of Balsam, Hanson and Northstar lakes.

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NORTHCENTRAL/WEST MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

Baudette
On Lake of the Woods, walleyes have moved into deeper waters along the South Shore. Many of the charters are now downrigging in 30-35 feet of water. Anglers are also taking fish by jigging at the rocky reefs and rubble piles–the best approach has been a gold spinner tipped with a worm. The Rainy River has been great for smallmouth bass action where there is a steep drop along the shoreline. For the most fish, try a soft-bodied tube bait. The shorelines have also been great for northern pike now that the grass and reeds are tall. And there continue to be reports of gigantic sturgeon rolling and splashing in the Rainy River. At the Northwest Angle and Islands area, anglers are having success with the walleyes and muskies. For the most walleyes, try hot pink jigs tipped with minnows.

Blackduck
Anglers are catching panfish at the shallow water weeds on Gilstad, Rabideau, and North and South Twin lakes. A few large northern pike are also being reported.

Bemidji
Walleye anglers are catching a few fish in 9-11 feet of water on jigs tipped with a minnow. Some anglers are also taking fish on leeches pulled through the shallows. Northern pike action has been great on Upper Red, Big and Bemidji lakes, especially when using sucker minnows or crankbaits. Muskie action has also been good, with a couple of 50-inch catch-and-release fish recently reported. Panfish are active in the shallows, and anglers using fathead minnows are reporting a good bite on Big, Bemidji and Plantagenet lakes.

Bena
On Lake Winnibigoshish, fishing seems to have slowed due to the large amount of baitfish and huge schools of perch. For a few walleye, try leeches and roach rigs, with 5- to 7-foot snells, at the drop in Musky Bay, and at some of the mid-lake humps. Anglers using shad raps are starting to have success when trolling the shorelines and rocky areas. Try #5 shad raps in 7-9 feet at the edges of the weeds, or use a #7 or #8 shad rap when trolling depths of 10-15 feet. Bluegill, blue-silver and clown patterns seem to be working best. Northern pike are active at Raven’s Point, the east side near the Highbanks, Stony Point, Mallard, and on top of Bena Bar, with a few walleyes mixed in as well. For jumbo perch, check the rocky area off Raven’s Point. There have been some reports of large muskies being seen along the weedbeds near the Highbanks.

Walker
On Leech Lake, walleyes are being pulled from just south of Sand Point, and from the deeper edges along the south shore. Muskie action has been excellent, with lots of sightings. And bass fishing has been tremendous, with some anglers reporting up to 25 catch-and-release fish a day.

Hackensack
Ten Mile, Birch and Woman lakes have been best for walleyes. During the day, use leeches, and during evening hours, work crankbaits in the shallows. The bass bite has been best on Birch Lake, and sunfish are very active in 12-15 feet of water on Pleasant Lake.

Park Rapids
Northern pike are biting on Fish Hook Lake in 16 feet of water, with some large fish reported this past week. Crappies can be found suspended in 20 feet of water on Big Mantrap Lake. The Crow Wing Chain is giving up good numbers of bluegills in 16 feet on waxworms. Bass action has been great throughout the area, with spinnerbaits and Carolina rigs working best.

Detroit Lakes
Walleye fishing remains best after dark, with anglers having success when trolling shad raps across some of the shallow water flats on area lakes. During the day, hit the thick weeds or deep waters. Some of the better locations include Pelican, Detroit, Big Cormorant, Star, Strawberry, White Earth, Shell, Cotton and Island lakes. Some nice crappies and bluegills are coming from the tops of the sunken islands in 5-7 feet of water during the middle of the day–for the most fish, try little nipper jigs and 2-inch grub plastic tails. The largemouth bass bite remains excellent using plastics in the shallows, and out at the deep weed edges. And anglers report lots of muskie follows on Detroit and Pelican lakes.

Battle Lake
Crappies are biting on Rush, West Battle and Dead lakes. Sunnies and bass are active on Dead Lake. Northern pike action has been best on West Battle Lake. Walleye action has started to improve on Ottertail Lake–for the most fish, work 14-18 feet of water using small- to medium-size sucker minnows during morning hours. After dark, troll the flats using shad raps in waters as shallow as 6 feet. On Battle Lake, walleyes are hitting leeches and crawlers in depths of 16-24 feet during evening hours. After dark, slide into 8-15 foot depths using shad raps. And anglers are seeing muskies around the docks in the shallows.

Alexandria
Bluegills are active throughout the area, and crappies biting on the Chain of Lakes along the 12- to 18-foot weedlines. Lowlight hours have been the most productive. Bass action has been great in the shallows and at the weedlines. For the most walleyes, work leeches and crawlers on the larger area lakes during lowlight hours. After dark, switch to plugs.

Starbuck
Catfish remain very active on the Chippewa River. On Lake Minnewaska, sunfish, crappies and bass are keeping anglers busy. Bass are holding in the deeper waters, and hitting plastic worms worked in roughly 12 foot depths. Sunfish are most active towards Starbuck, with small leeches and waxworms on small jigs taking fish from depths of 12-13 feet. Crappies can be found in similar locations, but are suspended in 6-7 feet of water. And a few walleyes are being pulled from depths of 24-26 feet on nightcrawlers.

Crosslake
For a few walleyes, hit 34-38 feet of water on Upper Whitefish, Crosslake and Pelican lakes using a lindy rig and redtail chub. The best walleye action has been after dark, with fish hitting shallow-running crankbaits over the weeds. Northern pike are being pulled from the 18-foot weedlines on Gull Lake and the Whitefish Chain on pike minnows and spinner rigs. Lindy rigs and large creek chubs are also working well. Bass are active in the weeds, under docks, just off the second breakline, and directly in the slop, with spinnerbaits and plastics both working well. Crappies can be found suspended in 12-14 feet of water using small jigs and minnows. Sunfish can still be found in depths of 18-20 feet.

Nisswa
Anglers have been busy catching bass, northern pike and panfish at the weed edges found in 10-18 feet of water. Plastic worms are working well for the bass. For some nice-sized pike, use sucker minnows on Upper Gull and Roy lakes. Panfish are hitting worms on most area lakes. And for a few crappies, hit Lake Hubert during evening hours.

Isle
On Lake Mille Lacs, the walleye bite remains pretty good–recent strong winds have brought about an increase in action at the 12- to 18-foot rock humps, and it appears the bobber bite has started all over again. Reefs, such as Agate, Lakeside, Banana and Kings have been very productive on windy days. When the wind subsides, head back to the mud flats, which continue to offer a great day of fishing. The smallmouth bite remains good, however the water is stained to about 3 feet of visibility. And muskie action is definitely improving.

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TWIN CITIES FISHING REPORTS

Eden Valley
Pearl and Cedar Island lakes are producing good numbers of panfish on waxworms and small leeches. Some larger fish are coming from 6-10 feet of water on Rice Lake, and a few are being pulled from the shallows of Koronis and Becker lakes. A few walleyes are being pulled from Pearl Lake on leeches and lindy rigs worked in 18 feet of water. Also try 18-22 foot depths on Lake Koronis using the same presentation, although jig and minnow combinations are also working well. Northern pike are aggressive at the shallow weeds, the weed pockets, and off the 12- to 14-foot weed edges, with sucker minnows and spinnerbaits taking the most fish. Catfish are in the deep holes on the Sauk River, just out of Cold Spring. The best approach has been a nightcrawler or catfish bait. And look for smallmouth and largemouth bass under the docks and right in the weeds.

Annandale
Panfish are active on Clearwater, Sylvia and Sugar lakes, especially at the cabbage beds and coontail with a sharp drop-off nearby. Northern pike action has been great on Clearwater, Pleasant, John and Middle Spunk lakes, with fish hitting sucker minnows trolled along the 15- to 20-foot weedlines. Anglers continue to catch a few walleyes on Clearwater Lake–the best approach has been a spinner rig and leech worked in 20-25 feet of water. Towards the city of St. Cloud, the Mississippi River is producing a lot of catfish, a few crappies, walleyes, and some smallmouth bass. For the walleyes, cast shad raps or other crankbaits at night. Smallmouth bass anglers are taking fish on live bait and artificials worked at the weedlines and cabbage.

Waconia
On Lake Waconia, large bass are hitting jigs and plastic worms off the reefs in the deeper waters, especially at Cemetery and Anderson reefs. Good muskie action, with fish over 40 inches in length, are coming from the Beach, Center Reef and North Reef. For sunfish, work the weed edges using leeches and waxworms.

Wayzata
On Lake Minnetonka, sunfish are active along the weed edges of most bays. Crappies are coming from the weeds as well. Muskies can be seen on top of the weed edges during morning and evening hours. And for largemouth bass, hit the weed pockets.

Chisago City
Chisago, Sunrise, and North and South Center lakes are producing good numbers of panfish. Northern pike are also active on Sunrise. Bass action has been good, especially on North Center Lake around the Islands, on Chisago Lake at the A-frame and at the Islands, and on South Center Lake around Pancake Island. A few walleyes were recently pulled from the area off Needle Island on South Center Lake during evening hours.

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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

Red Wing
On the Mississippi River, walleye and sauger anglers are having succes at Upper Pool #4 in 5-12 feet of water on jigs tipped with nightcrawlers or leeches. Some anglers are also doing well with crankbaits. Red crawdad and firetiger seem to be the most productive. At Lower Pool #4, anglers are doing best while slowly trolling crankbaits through 8-12 foot depths. Smallmouth and largemouth bass action has been excellent in the backwaters at Indian Slough, near Wabasha-hit the rip rap and eddies with a slight current for the most fish.

Mankato
On Lake Washington, walleyes are hitting crankbaits in 18 feet of water, 10 feet down, at Grassy Island. Minnesota River catfish are taking large suckers and large chubs during evening hours. Large pike are active on Little Jefferson Lake, with fish hitting spinnerbaits cast towards the weedlines. Bass can be found using spinnerbaits and plastic worms on Lake Tetonka.

Montevideo
Large catfish are taking cutbait, stinkbait, worms, crawlers and dead minnows on the Minnesota River near Granite Falls.

Ortonville
On Big Stone Lake, perch and bluegills are being pulled from the Islands, all the way to the south end of the lake. Work the 7- to 8-foot weed edges on the South Dakota side during evening hours for the most fish. Catfish are chasing nightcrawlers in the Minnesota River. The stretch from Odessa to Lake Lac qui Parle Lake seems to be the most productive.