Minnesota Fishing Report
By Outdoor News
East — Walleyes are hitting Lindy Rigs and leeches or crankbaits on the 25- to 30-foot gravel and mud areas during the day. Slip bobbers and leeches have worked best after dark on the 14- to 20-foot rocks and gravel. Smallmouth bass continue to hit on the rocks and points, but pike action has been limited. Muskie anglers are seeing a few fish during the evening in the bays.
West — During the day and early evening hours, spinner rigs and live- bait rigs are working best for walleyes in 24 to 30 feet. After dark, there's a slip bobber/leech bite off the flats in 30 feet or more or on the shallow rocks. A few good-sized pike have been taken off the weedlines in St. Alban's Bay and smallmouth bass are being pulled off the rocks. Muskie action remains limited.
LAKE OF THE WOODS
Walleyes are being taken in five to 10 feet or in 22 to 28 feet around Pine Island, the Lighthouse Gap, Morris Point, and Zippel Bay. Jigs or live-bait rigs tipped with crawlers or minnows have worked best. The deeper holes of the Rainy River are producing walleyes and pike. There hasn't been many reports from the Northwest Angle this week.
LEECH LAKE AREA
Trolling crankbaits on the points and flats has produced walleyes during the evening hours in 10 to 14 feet. Lindy Rigs tipped with crawlers, leeches, or minnows have worked best on the main-lake structure during midday hours. Boy Bay and Steamboat Bay are kicking out bass and muskie anglers are seeing fish, but not catching many. Shingobee Bay is a safe bet for panfish in less than 10 feet.
LAKE MINNETONKA
Slip bobbers and leeches are producing walleyes, tight to the weedlines, in 17 feet. Crappies are scattered among the top of most weed flats and northern pike are hitting sucker minnows on the 15- to 18-foot weed edges. Sunfish remain along the shorelines and bass are an easy catch in six to 10 feet. Muskie anglers are reporting follows, but have hooked very few fish.
LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
Leeches and crawlers are producing walleyes on the main-lake bars and humps in 16 to 20 feet. Sugar Bar, the Snaghole, Bena Bar, and Big Muskie Bar have been most consistent. If the wind blows, a jig and shiner will still produce walleyes on the points and shoreline breaks in eight to 12 feet. Perch and northern pike reports have been limited.
NORTHEAST METRO
A few walleyes, sauger, and white bass are being taken in 12 to 15 feet on the St. Croix River. The smallmouth bass bite has really picked up on the river with crankbaits and live bait. Bone Lake and Centerville Lake started giving up crappies and small sunfish remain active on most lakes. The small pike are hitting along the weedlines of most lakes, while muskie anglers on Bald Eagle Lake and White Bear Lake are seeing fish.
WEST METRO
Walleyes are hitting leeches on the seven- to 14-foot reef edge of Lake Parley. Flathead catfish continue to hit sucker minnows on the Minnesota River and topwater baits are turning bass on most lakes. Lake Auburn and Pierson Lake are safe bets for northern pike, while sunfish remain shallow on lakes Minnewashta and Steiger.
LAKE WACONIA
Look for sunfish on the northwest end of the lake in eight to 16 feet. A few muskies are being raised along the weedlines and swimming beach area and the big bass have moved deep off Cemetery Reef, North Reef, and Center Reef. A few walleyes are being taken of Harm's Point and the south side of Cemetary Reef in 10 to 12 feet during low-light periods with crankbaits or leeches. The Claybanks and Red's Reef are producing some crappies.
ALEXANDRIA AREA
Crawlers and leeches are triggering walleyes in 15 to 20 feet on Lake Mary and in 12 to 15 feet at Reno Lake. A jig and minnow is still producing walleyes on the weedlines or in 18 to 22 feet on lakes Ida and Miltona. Bass are hitting plastics or Rattle Traps on the weedlines of most lakes. Look for crappies on the rock piles and cabbage of lakes Carlos, Darling, and Le Homme Dieu. Sunfish have started moving to the first weedline throughout the Le Homme Dieu Chain.BATTLE LAKE
Sunfish are being pulled from three to eight feet on lakes such as Deer, Long, Star, Dead, Norway, Rush, and West Battle. The 12- to 17- foot weedlines of Blanche Lake, Stalker Lake, Walker Lake, and East Battle Lake are holding crappies. There are walleyes being caught on leeches in 18 to 25 feet at East Battle, Walker, Little Pine Lake, Silver Lake, and Clitherall Lake. On Otter Tail, crawlers have worked best in 18 to 22 feet or 27 to 32 feet. Northern pike are cruising the weedlines of Long, Otter Tail, and South Turtle, while crankbaits and bucktails have raised muskies on West Battle. Look for most lakes to produce bass.
BEMIDJI AREA
Largemouth bass are hitting spinnerbaits on Deer Lake, Lake Thirteen, and North Twin Lake. Panfish are hitting in the shallows of Grace Lake and Midge Lake. Look for walleyes to hit a jig and shiner in six feet on lakes Bemidji and Plantagenet. Muskie anglers are seeing fish, but haven't got many to commit. Northern pike are hitting minnows on most lakes.
BLACKDUCK AREA
Lindy Rigs and live bait are turning walleyes on Blackduck Lake in 14 feet. Island Lake continues to produce walleyes in 10 to 14 feet. Panfish action has picked up on the weedlines at Gilstead Lake and Rabideau Lake. Bass are hitting plastics and spinnerbaits in the emerging weeds of most lakes.
BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA
Walleyes are scattered between eight and 32 feet, but the shallow bite is most consistent with Lindy Rigs and live bait. Lakes to check include Gull, Round, and North Long. Start working the weedlines with sucker minnows for northern pike on most lakes. Bass are hitting spinnerbaits and plastics throughout the area.
CASS LAKE AREA
Walleyes are hitting leeches in eight to 12 feet throughout Allen's Bay on Cass Lake. Crankbaits are working best during the evening hours on Deadman's Bar and North Cedar Bar. Fatheads are turning walleyes at Big Lake in 10 to 12 feet. Look for perch in four to six feet on Cass. Panfish reports are limited, although Buck Lake is giving up crappies. Muskies are chasing topwater baits throughout the Cass Chain. Grace Lake continues to provide plenty of bass.
CHISAGO AREA
Sunfish and crappies have moved to the outside weed edges on most lakes. Walleyes are hitting leeches and shiner minnows, tight to the weeds, in 10 to 12 feet at Chisago Lake and South Lindstrom Lake. Bass are being found in the shallow and deep weeds on all lakes and sucker minnows drifted over the six-foot weed tops on Sunrise Lake are turning pike.
CROSBY AREA
Spinner rigs and live bait are producing walleyes in 18 to 24 feet during the evening hours at Pelican Lake, Serpent Lake, and Rabbit Lake. Northern pike can be had during the day in eight to 12 feet with spinnerbaits at Lower Mission Lake, Nokay Lake, Mahnomen Lake, and Bass Lake. Plastics will produce bass on these lakes as well. Look for panfish on lakes such as Black, Black Bear, Crooked, and Ross. Limits of rainbow trout are being found suspended at about 35 feet on the Manuel Pit.
DETROIT LAKES
Look for walleyes on the 10- to 16-foot weedlines of Big Detroit Lake, Lake Sallie, Lake Melissa, and Buffalo Lake. Crawlers, leeches, and shiners are all working. Sunfish have moved into six and 12 feet on Big Detroit, Little Detroit, Floyd, Cotton, and Big Cormorant. Bass remain an easy catch on all lakes and muskie anglers reported more follows on Big Detroit this week.
DULUTH AREA
Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows on Rice Lake in five feet and on Fish Lake in six feet. A few walleyes have been taken on leeches at Fish Lake in eight feet. Look for bluegills and crappies on Fish in 10 feet as well. Leeches and crawlers drifted in 10 feet have triggered walleyes on the St. Louis River. On Lake Superior, spoons are producing lake trout about 30 feet down and some cohos have been taken near the surface.
EAST-CENTRAL MINN
The deeper holes of the Rum River and Mississippi River are producing smallmouth bass and a few walleyes. Sucker minnows are turning northern pike in 10 to 12 feet at Blue Lake and Green Lake. There's some sunfish being found shallow on Green, while the weed edges of most lakes are producing largemouth bass.
FAIRMONT AREA
Trolling crankbaits has been the ticket for walleyes at Big Twin Lake during the evening hours. On Fox Lake, you'll catch walleyes during the evening hours on live-bait rigs and leeches. Crappie action remains strong along the shorelines of Hall, Budd, George, and Sissiton lakes. The weedlines of Tuttle Lake are worth noting for pike and an occasional walleye.
FARIBAULT AREA
Small bucktails and crankbaits are raising muskies on the weedlines of French Lake. Trolling spoons on the weedlines of Shields Lake and Lake Mazaska is a safe bet for pike. Crappies are being found suspended over 15 to 20 feet on the bars of Shields and French. Walleye reports have been limited, but numbers of big bass are being pulled from the slop on most lakes.
GRAND MARAIS AREA
Leeches and Lindy Rigs are producing walleyes in 20 to 30 feet at Lake Saganaga, Seagull Lake, and Aspen Lake. Slip bobbers and leeches are working best for walleyes at Devil's Track Lake in 15 to 20 feet. Lake trout are suspended at 40 to 50 feet and hitting ciscoes at Greenwood Lake. Kimball Lake and Mink Lake are best for rainbows. Fly fishing has produced whitefish near the surface at Tom Lake, Greenwood, and Devils' Track.
GRAND RAPIDS AREA
Crawlers and leeches are providing steady walleye action around the islands of Lake Pokegama in eight to 14 feet. There's an evening walleye bite with minnows on Lake Wabana in eight to 12 feet. Look to the south end of Trout Lake for walleyes in 12 to 16 feet. King's Bay and Poole's Bay on Pokegama are giving up sunfish and crappies in three to five feet. Bluegills also remain active at Bass Lake in five to eight feet. Bass action remains strong in the area and Pokegama is a safe bet for pike in 20 to 30 feet.
HACKENSACK AREA
Work 10 to 17 feet with minnows and crawlers on Woman Lake for walleyes. The weedlines of Woman and Ten Mile Lake are producing pike on minnows and crankbaits. Smallmouth and largemouth bass action remains strong on area lakes, while the south end of Pleasant Lake is worth checking for panfish.
LAKE OSAKIS
Walleyes are hitting leeches and crawlers on the eight-foot weedlines in Miller's Bay, on the Two Mile and Four Mile bars. Sunfish are just starting to move onto the flats in 10 to 12 feet. Trolling crankbaits on any weedline or shallow flat has produced pike. Bass are set up on the established weed edges and tend to prefer large plastics or spinnerbaits.
MANKATO AREA
Casting X-Raps on the six- to eight-foot weedlines in the east bay of Madison Lake has produced walleyes. Work the dredge lines and southeast end of Lake Hanska with spinners and crawlers for walleyes. Northern pike are hitting spinnerbaits on Little Jefferson Lake. Lake Washington and Madison are safe bets for sunfish and bass seem to be hitting on all lakes.
ORTONVILLE AREA
Spinners and crawlers are triggering walleyes at Lake Oliver in eight to 10 feet. The south end of Artichoke Lake is worth noting for crappies in eight feet, while the north end is producing walleyes via crankbaits in 10 feet. On Big Stone Lake, trolling crankbaits on the north end has been best for walleyes.
PARK RAPIDS AREA
Leeches and crawlers are producing walleyes on Big Sand Lake in 18 feet, Fish Hook Lake in 20 to 22 feet, and at Long Lake in 16 feet. Big Toad Lake, Potato Lake, the Crow Wing Chain, and Eagle Lake are safe bets for sunfish in eight to 10 feet. Work the weed edges of Two Inlets Lake for crappies. Smallmouth bass are hitting at a good pace on Lake Belle Taine and Potato and most lakes are producing largemouth.
RAINY LAKE
The reefs around Blueberry Island are producing walleyes in 30 to 40 feet. Look to Black Bay in eight to 10 feet for walleyes. The islands inside of Sand Bay also have provided steady walleye action. Gold spinners and minnows are working best, but a jig and minnow will work as well. Look for crappies in Black Bay and the weedlines in Lost Bay have started giving up pike. The Canadian side remains a safe bet for smallmouth bass.
RED LAKE
Spinners and leeches are turning walleyes in six to eight feet along the east shore. The Tamarack River is kicking out big walleyes in eight feet, mainly on jigs and minnows. Speed trolling crankbaits and spoons has worked for pike in this area as well. Work the cribs and rock piles for crappies.
ST. CLOUD/EDEN VALLEY AREA
The shallow weeds of Lake Koronis and Rice Lake are producing walleyes via leeches and crawlers. Panfish remain shallow and active on Horseshoe Lake, Cedar Island Lake, Long Lake, Rice, and Koronis. Bass continue to hit spinnerbaits in the weeds on area lakes. Bobbers and sucker minnows are turning pike at Browns Lake and Horseshoe in 10 to 12 feet of water. Catfish are an easy catch throughout the Sauk River.
SAUK CENTRE AREA
Leeches are turning walleyes on the 18- foot flats of Big Birch Lake and in 12 to 14 feet of water at Maple Lake. Look for sunfish on the shorelines out to 10 feet at lakes Villard, Maple, and north end of Sauk. The north end of Sauk also is kicking out crappies in three to 18 feet. The 12- to 16-foot weed edge of Fairy Lake is worth noting for northern pike and largemouth bass.
STARBUCK AREA
Sunfish are scattered throughout Lake Minnewaska in 10 to 14 feet. Walleyes continue to hit leeches on Minnewaska in 12 to 18 feet. Bass are hitting anything thrown their way on most lakes and northern pike action has been limited.
WATERVILLE AREA
The weedlines on the south side of Lake Sakatah are holding sunfish and northern pike. The Highway 13 bridge area is worth noting for crappies on Sakatah. Look to Lake Tetonka for small walleyes in front of the lagoon. On Horseshoe Lake, leeches are triggering walleyes in 13 feet.
WILLMAR AREA
Green Lake is giving up a few walleyes in 30 to 40 feet. Lakes such as Florida, Eagle, and Diamond also have produced walleyes, mainly on leeches. Work the shallow weedlines of Games Lake, Nest Lake, and Lake Andrew for sunfish. Bass and northern pike seem to be active on the weedlines of most lakes.