Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update - June 5, 2015

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Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update - June 5, 2015
 
    
Lake Vermilion, home of the 2015 Governor’s Fishing Opener
Lake of the Woods walleye; photo courtesy of LakeOfTheWoodsMN.com

The weather is cooperating, and the bite has turned more consistent. Leeches are crawlers are turning more fish. The muskie season opens in Minnesota this Sat., June 6! The recent drop in water temperature brought the spawning process to a halt for many species, including some muskie. If you do catch a giant muskie, it’s probably a pre-spawn female -- please return these fish to the water to help replenish the population.

Minnesota fishing opener dates for the 2015/2016 fishing season for most inland waters are as follows: walleye, sauger, northern pike and lake trout, May 9; muskie, June 6. The fishing season for crappies, sunnies, perch and catfish is continuous. Seasons and regulations vary for certain boundary waters and some individual lakes and rivers--consult the Minnesota DNR Fishing Basics web page for the most current information.

 

Northeast Minnesota
Ely

Fishing has slowed a bit due to the fluctuating barometer and temperatures. These changes have also interrupted crappies and bass in the midst of their spawn. The best action has been in the shallows where water temperatures have been highest. Walleye are beginning to scatter and are showing more interest in crawlers and leeches. A spinner rig tipped with either of these will allow you to cover more water and place the bait in front of more fish. Lake trout have begun to sink lower in the water column, and are most active in depths of 45-55 feet. Nice numbers of lake trout are coming in on ciscoes placed on the bottom, and on long-lined silver, white or green spoons trolled well behind the boat. Several 40-plus inch northern pike have recently been reported, with anglers taking most of these fish on large suckers fished along the breaks in the transition areas from shallow flats down to roughly 15 feet. 800-777-7281; www.ely.org

Duluth - Lake Superior and inland waters

Water temperatures are running in the 60-70 degree range in most Duluth area bodies of water, and the bite has been great! The St. Louis River walleye bite is still very good with many fish caught and released recently. Crawler harnesses, crank baits and jigs are producing walleye from Highway 23 to the harbor. A slow troll of .8 miles per hour is the best speed for success. The sharp channel breaks and structure, such as the incredible amount of timber in the St. Louis River system, are holding the most fish. Other species being reported are catfish, smallmouth bass, suckers, crappies and rock bass. Area lakes are also giving up nice numbers of fish, including bluegill, bass, walleye, and northern pike. A slip bobber and live bait combination has been the key to success. Most fish are in a typical spring to summer mode, making them an easy catch. Please remember that many of these fish are spawning so try to not disturb them too much. 800-438-5884; www.visitduluth.com

Grand Rapids

Anglers are having lots of success with the walleye, especially on Big Splithand and Bowstring lakes, Round Lake on Scenic Hwy 7, and several other lakes in Itasca County. Leeches and rigs are starting to produce fish, but a jig and minnow combination remains the top choice due to cool water temperatures. Depths of 12-16 feet of water seem to be best. Northern pike fishing is heating up at the new, emerging weed beds. Crappies are spawning this week on some area lakes, with fish expected to spawn on other lakes next week. Smallmouth bass are beginning to show up on the flats with rock and gravel – these fish offer an amazing fight and are lots of fun for all ages! Everyone should watch for deer out on the roads, with fawns expected to venture out of the forests very soon -- caution is encouraged. www.visitgrandrapids.com

Northwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River

Anglers are reporting a good mix of eating-size and slot walleye this week on Lake of the Woods. Anchored and jigging has worked best, but spinners have been the best approach when it's windy. The mud flats outside of Pine Island are giving up fish in 15-22 feet of water. Pine Island to Zippel Bay is producing walleyes in 24-30 foot depths. Anglers report numbers of fish coming from 19-22 foot depths from Long Point to 12 Mile Reef. Anglers headed north to the reefs have had success in 16-21 feet of water. The best colors have been gold, chartreuse, and pink. On the Rainy River, smallmouth bass and northern pike have been very active, with walleye also being taken. Anglers are finding the most fish in 17-20 feet when jigging with a minnow or frozen shiner -- pink and gold colors are the most productive. On cloudier days, check depths of 14-16 feet. Up at the Northwest Angle, fishing remains excellent with mixed bags of fish being reported. Most groups are taking their limits which have included many large fish. Recent cold temperatures have pushed fish deeper, into waters 20-25 feet deep. On warmer, calmer days, the morning and evening bite has been good in shallower waters. Walleye and northern pike are very active near Little Oak Island, Blackbird Island, and the northwest side of Garden Island -- use gold or orange for the most action. The red buoy and points near Brush Island are giving up nice numbers in 15-20 feet of water. Many anglers are having success using bottom bouncers and a spinner in roughly 15 feet of water. Some northern pike have measured 36-plus inches, and some walleye have measured 25 inches. Pre-spawn crappies and smallmouth bass are starting to move to shallower waters. Groups are reporting lots of bass! In the coming weeks, bring your tube jigs for some incredible action! 800-382-FISH; www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com

Bemidji Area Lakes

Water temperatures are holding in the upper 50s after another rollercoaster ride this past week. The drop in water temperature has slowed the insect hatches and algae blooms. And while some of the crappies, sunfish and bass have been able to spawn, others are have not spawned, including a few muskies. The muskie season opens in Minnesota this Sat., June 6. Anglers may have a shot at some pre-spawn muskies early in the season, which raises the possibility of a huge pre-spawn female getting caught. Many muskies will be post spawn on the opener, which means the most likely fish to get caught will be male muskies that usually top out in the mid-40 inch range. Most muskies that top out over 50 inches are female muskies, which take longer to recover after they spawn. In-line bucktail spinners are a good early season bait for muskies because they can easily be worked over the top of the emerging weed beds. The retrieve is simple -- just cast as far as you can and reel in as fast as you can while keeping the lure from breaking the surface of the water. Walleye continue to be caught in a variety of places in most lakes. Some of the walleye are feeding in the cabbage weeds or along windswept shoreline rocks. The rest of the walleyes have moved into deeper water, feeding on the sides of structure, moving up and down the breakline as they alternate between feeding and resting. 800-458-2223; www.visitbemidji.com

Bena -Lake Winnibigoshish

The weather has stabilized, and the bite has turned more consistent on Lake Winnibigoshish. On windy days, jig or rig the main lake bars such as Bena Bar from Big Musky out to the Bens, and Snag Hole and Sugar to the west. Tops of the breaks, from roughly 15 feet down the sides to about 28 feet, have been the best. During late evening hours, run the outside edges of the new weeds using a #5 shad rap. Look for some northern pike to start moving into the weed beds. Crawlers, leeches and minnows are all working well; use a set up that allows you to switch baits easily since fish have been very aggressive. Perch are being caught with a jig and chub on some of the same drops, but a bit deeper. Sunfish are pre-spawn. The crappies are biting, especially in Cutfoot Sioux early and late in the day. Most of these fish are just outside of the new weed edges. A small jig with a two inch twister tail under a bobber will work wonders. www.lakewinnie.net

Walker - Leech Lake

Last weekend’s Leech Lake Walleye Tournament was a huge success. While nearly 1300 fish were brought to the scales, there was a 98% live release rate! Fish are now being caught by anglers using a variety of techniques in many different locations. During the tournament, anglers had success lindy-rigging with a jig and minnow, and pulling spinners. Since fish are transitioning into their summer patterns and haunts, consider aggressively snap-jigging along the sand flats and breaklines in 8-12 feet of water, or try pitching jigs into the cabbage. Changing up the color depending on cloud-cover has often been the key to success. Many anglers have done well when rigging leeches and crawlers along the shoreline breaks and transition lines of rock/gravel or sand and gravel. A long snell in the 6-plus inch range with a smaller hook and glow bead has been very effective. Spinner fishing is also starting to pick up -- check depths of 12-16 feet at the rock edges on the main lake reefs or at the shoreline breaks around Sand Beach and Two Points for nice numbers of fish. Depending on weather conditions, travel between 1- and 1.5 m.p.h. 800-833-1118; www.leech-lake.com

Central Region
Otter Tail Lakes Area

The water temperature is roughly 58 degrees in Otter Tail Country lakes. With a nice warm spell, the temperatures should rise to/exceed 60 degrees, leading to a strong walleye bite. Anglers will want to bring along leeches, crawlers and crank baits in addition to their minnows. Panfish continue to spawn for another couple of weeks, ending with the sunfish. 800-423-4571; www.ottertailcountry.com

Perham Area Lakes

The walleye remain fairly shallow on most area lakes, with the majority of fish coming from Big and Little Pine lakes. Fish are being pulled from 8-10 foot depths on jigs and shiners, and also while trolling shallow flats at night – fishing this week has been especially good due to the full moon! Ottertail Lake is producing walleye in 14-18 feet of water, with anglers taking the most fish using red tails and leeches.  Crappies have moved a bit deeper to their nesting grounds in 12-14 foot depths. For slabs, hit Marion, McDonald, Star and Dead lakes. Sunnies are also in their spawning areas at the bulrushes and pencil reeds. Northern pike are having a blast on a variety of lakes when using crankbaits trolled through 8-12 feet of water. For some exciting bass action, cast spinnerbaits or shallow-running crank baits around the 8 foot weed beds. www.perham.com; 218-346-7710

Brainerd Lakes Area

The walleye bite has been a little inconsistent due to the changing weather conditions. Gull, Pelican, and North Long lakes are giving up some nice fish, with several fish measuring around 25 inches taken this week. They were as shallow as 8-12 feet and as deep as 30-33 feet depending on the day and lake. Use you electronics to cover water and search them out. If you can’t seem to locate them on the graphs when in water deeper than 15 feet check the shallows while pitching a jig and shiner. If you spot them in the deeper waters, use a slip weight rig and shiner or a jigging rapala. The bass bite has been outstanding on nearly every lake in the area. For the most action, pitch a jig worm set-up into water less than 6 feet deep, preferably around the docks, however, the shorelines will also produce. Seven-inch power worms have been ideal. The crappies continue to bite, and this can be fast action as well. The males are up guarding the beds and are easy to locate. Look for them in the shallows around the pencil reeds or cover, then toss your favorite plastic under a float in front of them. 800-450-2838; www.explorebrainerdlakes.com

Isle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs

Lake Mille Lacs launches are reporting excellent numbers of walleye, with fish found shallow and on the deeper gravel. Evening anglers can find fish on the rock reefs, with fish moving from the edges to the reef tops as the evening progresses. Most anglers are choosing to fish a leech under a cork, but rigging and crank baits have also produced fish on the deep gravel. Walleye of all sizes are being taken, including lots of keepers. Many more year classes seem to be present than was previously suggested. The fish are fat and healthy, and the small yearlings are abundant. Smallmouth bass anglers are hitting the lake in droves, and smashing huge fish now that they are post-spawn. These fish are hitting everything from plastics to crank baits in the shallow waters. The northern pike are hitting spinner baits on the weedlines and at the reeds on the bay edges. And many anglers have taken a muskie or two when casting for pike. Don't miss out on the great fishing action and many wonderful memories Lake Mille Lacs has to offer! 888-350-2692; www.millelacs.com

Willmar Lakes Area

The sunfish and crappie bite has picked up steam this week, with lots of fish coming from the shallows and near the docks. Popular lakes included Andrew, Florida, Norway, Games, Eagle, Henderson and George lakes. Walleye are being taken by anglers using spot tail shiners in 30 feet of water on Green, Eagle and Diamond lakes, primarily during morning hours. Northern pike and bass have been active in lakes throughout the area, but especially on Green, Eagle and Nest lakes. 800-845-8747; www.willmarlakesarea.com

Southern Minnesota
Winona – Mississippi River/Lake Pepin

Water temperatures on the Mississippi River are in the 60s, and the sunfish and crappie are spawning.
Good action is being reported by anglers fishing around the edges of Lake Pepin. Silver Bass are being pulled from Lock and Dam #5. The river has risen due to considerable rainfall recently so fishing has been best in the back sloughs where the current isn’t as strong. 507-452-0735; www.visitwinona.com

Lanesboro -Southeast Bluff Country Trout Streams

As of Thursday, June 4, area streams and rivers monitored by fisheries staff were mostly clear, with normal water levels. Whitewater Steam conditions clarity was mostly off. March Browns were coming off of the South Branch Root in Forestville State Park. Many species of caddis were out, along with numerous blue-winged olives. Dobson fly adults were also seen. Craneflies are abundant in the vegetation on the stream bank. Fishing should be spectacular! Anglers are encouraged to stop by a DNR Fisheries office in southeast Minnesota to pick up a copy of the new 2015 Trout Angling Opportunities in Southern and Central Minnesota booklet. Check the DNR Fisheries web page for locations.   As updates on stream conditions become available, they are posted on the Southeast Minnesota Stream Conditions web page. You are also welcome to call the office for updates at 507-467-2442. 800-944-2670; www.lanesboro.com

Rochester -Southeast Minnesota Lakes and Rivers

Anglers fishing below the Lake Zumbro power dam all the way to the County 7 Bridge (about a 5 hour float by canoe) have had some great action. While the water levels have been a bit high, waders have no longer been needed since water temperatures have warmed nicely. These warm water conditions have also increased the bite. In about a week, the spawning season should be over and fish should start responding well to topwater lures. 800-634-8277; www.rochestercvb.org

Ortonville - Big Stone Lake

Big Stone Lake is giving up good numbers of crappies, bluegill, bullheads, northern pike and white bass. The walleye remain more elusive, probably due to fluctuating water temperatures and strong winds. The panfish have been most active near the rearing ponds around Mud and Skeleton islands. Some anglers have also had success fishing from shore. Anglers having the greatest success, however, are fishing off the docks during evening and nighttime hours. 800-568-5722; www.bigstonelake.com