Minnesota Fishing Report 3.16.08
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/ And, please consult Minnesota DNR rules and regulations for slot limits on specific lakes.
The opening dates for the 2008/2009 fishing season for most inland waters in Minnesota are as follows: walleye, sauger, northern pike, lake trout and stream trout in lakes, May 10; largemouth and smallmouth bass, May 24; and for muskie, June 7. The fishing season for crappies, sunnies, perch and catfish is continuous.
Please remember that ice is never considered totally safe. The DNR reports that 4 inches of ice is the minimum thickness recommended for travel by foot. Ice safety guidelines also recommend a minimum of 5 inches of new, clear ice for snowmobiles and ATV’s, and 8-12 inches of new, clear ice for cars and small trucks. Please note that melting and refreezing makes ice less stable, especially in areas with springs or current. Anglers are asked to please call ahead for the most current conditions before venturing out. Anyone choosing to venture out must use extreme caution and check ice thickness often.
Before heading out, consider learning how to make and use ice picks and claws by checking out the 1-minute video on the DNR website at
www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/index.htmlAnglers may obtain fishing licenses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by dialing 1-888-665-4236, or accessing
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/agents.htmlNortheastern Minnesota
International Falls
On Rainy Lake, the larger northern pike are now cruising the Rainy Lake City area in 16-18 feet of water. Walleye action during the day has been limited, however some decent evening action is being reported off Birch Point and in the Rainy Lake City area in depths of 32-40 feet. The best crappie action remains off the Northwest Bay on the Canadian side of the lake.
Grand Rapids
The north and south ends of Bowstring Lake are kicking out crappies over 24 feet of water. Prairie, Big Splithand and Little Splithand lakes are giving up crappies in depths of 16-19 feet. Look for sunfish in 20 feet of water on Little Ball Club Lake, in depths of 8 feet on Bass Lake, and in 15 feet of water on Sand Lake. Lake trout continue to be found suspended over deep waters on Bluewater and Caribou lakes. Stream trout are coming from depths of 6-14 feet on waxworms and power bait on Taylor and Moonshine lakes.
Ely
Crappie action is improving on most area lakes, with minnows under floats or feathered jigs and plastics turning the largest fish. Lake trout continue to be found suspended over deep waters on Burntside and Snowbank lakes. Some of these fish are just 10 feet below the ice.
Grand Marais
Lake trout are being pulled from most area lakes on large chubs. For the most fish, hit 40-50 feet of water on Gunflint, Bearskin and Clearwater lakes, as well as depths of 15-20 feet on Keno Lake. On Lake Saganaga, lake trout are hitting tube jigs over 50 feet of water. Walleye reports remain nonexistent on these border lakes.
Duluth
A decent crappie bite is taking place during evening hours in 12-15 feet of water on Fish, Boulder and Caribou lakes. A few bluegills can now be found in the shallows on Rice and Fish lakes. A few anglers recently ventured out onto the Lake Superior ice and caught both herring and coho salmon–please note that just one windy day could make future ice access impossible.
McGregor
The deep hole on the north end of Big Sandy Lake is kicking out tullibees. While panfish action has been limited, Bellhorn Bay on Big Sandy Lake is starting to produce crappies. During the next few weeks, check out Gun, Minnewawa and Aitkin lakes for a few sunfish.
Northcentral/West Minnesota
Baudette
On Lake of the Woods, walleyes and sauger continue to be pulled from 30-35 feet of water along the South Shore, especially at the reefs. Jumbo perch and walleyes are active in depths of 26-30 feet around Oak Island at the Northwest Angle. Walleye action on the Rainy River seems to improve each week, with fish currently being pulled from 18-22 feet of water.
Blackduck
Spoons and jigs tipped with waxworms continue to produce perch in 20 feet of water on Blackduck Lake. Thirty-five foot depths on Gilstead Lake remains the area’s best bet for crappies. Rabideau and Gull lakes are providing steady bluegill action in depths of 14 feet early and late in the day.
Bemidji
The north end of Lake Bemidji is producing perch in 20-25 feet of water. Lake Plantagenet is also producing jumbo perch in depths of 20 feet and deeper. Bluegills are being pulled from depths of 12-14 feet throughout the day on Grace Lake. For crappies, hit 15-20 feet of water on Larson Lake during evening hours.
Cass Lake
The south side of Star Island and the Stoney Point area are producing perch in 10-12 feet of water on Cass Lake. A few good-sized perch are also coming from the shallower waters near the bulrushes. For tullibees, work the deep points during the day. A few bluegills and crappies continue to be pulled from depths of 25-30 feet on Kitchi Lake.
Bena
On Lake Winnibigoshish, limits of perch are being taken when weather patterns have been stable for a few days. For the most fish, hit 28-30 feet of water at the humps located north and west of Center Bar. Perch are also being pulled from depths of 25-30 feet at Zoomer’s Bar, as well as at the humps off Raven’s Point in 26-28 feet of water. Jigging spoons and minnow heads seem to be producing the largest perch.
Walker
On Leech Lake, perch action remains strong in 10-12 feet of water on the Grand Vu Flats and in Trader’s Bay. Walker Bay is producing perch in depths of 18-20 feet. Also check out Pine Point and the Goose Island Flats in 11-15 feet of water for a few fish. Bluegill and crappie action remains limited in the Leech Lake bays, and on most area lakes.
Hackensack
Some good-sized perch are being pulled from the “old access” area on Woman Lake. The bluegills and crappies that are being taken are coming from the deeper waters on area lakes. For crappies, hit 18-35 feet of water, with sunfish being pulled from depths of 18-24 feet. Expect these fish to move into the shallows in the next couple of weeks.
Park Rapids
Bluegills are being taken from 12-14 feet of water on Fish Hook Lake and the Crow Wing Chain of Lakes. East and West Island lakes are giving up crappies and bluegills in slightly deeper waters. Crappies can be found suspended over depths of 25-30 feet during evening hours on Big Mantrap Lake.
Detroit Lakes
Lizzie, Lida, Island, Big Detroit and Floyd lakes are giving up both crappies and sunnies, with the morning and evening bite being the most consistent. For crappies, hit 20-22 feet of water, with sunfish being pulled from depths of 14-20 feet. Tullibees can be found suspended over the deep holes on Long, Loon and Rose lakes.
Battle Lake
Pelican Bay on Otter Tail Lake is producing crappies during evening hours. Perch action remains strong throughout Otter Tail Lake in 20-22 feet of water, as well as in depths of 30-35 feet. Crappies and sunnies are hitting on West Battle Lake during evening hours in 20-25 feet of water. Sunfish are biting in depths of 13-15 feet on Rush, Deer, East Lost, West Lost, North Turtle and South Turtle lakes. The deep holes of Mollie Stark and Pickerel lakes are holding tullibees.
Alexandria
Sunnies are crappies are coming from both 20-24 feet of water and the 8-12 foot weedlines on most area lakes. Some of the better locations this week include Victoria, Geneva, Carlos, Darling, Ida and Miltona lakes. Anglers that remain mobile are taking numbers of fish. Crappie anglers will also want to try minnows in 10 feet of water on Lake Reno during evening hours.
Starbuck
There have been a few reports of sunfish coming from 12 feet of water at the Glenwood end of Lake Minnewaska, however the bite has not been consistent. Crappie action is expected to heat up in the near future.
Osakis
On Lake Osakis, the north end remains best for numbers of sunnies and crappies, especially in 18-24 feet of water. During the day, most fish have been small, with the larger panfish being taken just before dark. Anglers recommend staying mobile and drilling lots of holes.
Sauk Centre
Long Bridge Lake has been good for sunnies and crappies in 14-17 feet of water. Numbers of small crappies are coming from Sauk Lake over depths of 28-30 feet. Fairy Lake is giving up sunfish in 10-12 feet of water early and
late in the day. The 17-foot weedlines on the west side of Maple Lake are producing sunfish throughout the day.
Brainerd/Nisswa
Sunfish are hitting waxworms and Eurolarvae in 10-16 feet of water on North Long, Upper Gull and Cullen lakes. For crappies, use glow jigs and minnows in depths of 14-22 feet on Round, Gull and Pelican lakes. Morning and evening hours have been the most productive. Gull and Whitefish lakes are starting to give up some nice perch as well.
Isle/Onamia
On Lake Mille Lacs, the 28- to 30-foot rock and gravel areas on the east end continue to provide the best perch action. Stay on the move for the most fish. A few crappies are also coming from Isle Bay over 9-11 feet of water. On the west end of the lake, perch action is improving, especially on the rocks in 23-27 feet of water. Seguchie, Sherman’s and Brown’s points remain the best options. The mud flats are also starting to produce fish. The best approach has been a jigging spoon worked in depths of 30 feet or more at the Seven and Eight Mile flats.
St. Cloud/Eden Valley
An evening crappie bite is being reported in 18-25 feet of water on Rice and Koronis lakes. Goodner Lake is giving up sunfish in depths of 10-14 feet, with Cedar Island and Long lakes producing fish in 12-14 feet of water. Rainbow trout continue to be pulled from the Mud Lake shallows. Channel cats are active in the deeper waters on Horseshoe and Long lakes.
Twin Cities vicinity
Annandale
A few sunfish are coming from 14-16 feet of water on Clearwater, John, Sugar and Indian lakes. Look for crappies in slightly deeper waters during evening hours on Clearwater, Cedar, Buffalo and Pleasant lakes.
Elk River/Zimmerman
Crappies can be found suspended over 25 feet of water on Green Lake during evening hours. Blue Lake is giving up sunfish in depths of 12-15 feet early and late in the day. Hit 9 feet of water on Little Elk Lake for a mixed bag of sunfish.
Prior Lake/West Metro vicinity
Wagener’s and Waconia bays on Lake Waconia are producing sunfish in 12 feet of water. Crappies and sunnies continue to be found to the right of the access on Whaletail Lake in 12 feet of water. The south end of Hydes Lake is giving up a few small crappies during low-light hours.
Wayzata
On Lake Minnetonka, sunfish remain active over 14 feet of water in Spring Park, Carsons and Phelps bays. Crappies have been most active after dark in depths of 19 feet throughout Wayzata and Browns bays. Crappies and sunnies are coming from 26 feet of water on Lake Sarah, with fish continually moving shallow.
Chisago City
The bays and main-lake areas of North Center and South Center lakes are producing sunnies and crappies in 6-12 feet of water. Chisago Lake has been good for panfish throughout the day in depths of 8-12 feet. On Kroon Lake, the crappies tend to get most active during evening hours in 24-26 feet of water.
White Bear/Northeast Metro vicinity
The evening hours have been best for sunnies and crappies on Lake Peltier in 12-18 feet of water. Jane and Demontreville lakes are safe bets for crappies in depths of 12 feet. A few crappies continue to be pulled from 35 feet of water during low-light hours on the St. Croix River.
Southern Minnesota
Red Wing
Walleyes, and numbers of sauger measuring up to 22 inches, are being caught below the dam on the Mississippi River. Bright-colored hair jigs or plastics have been best in 22 feet of water. Ice anglers continue to find crappies around the docks at Baypoint Park during evening hours. Jigging rapalas are producing sauger in depths of 25 feet in the Frontenac and Methodist Camp areas of Lake Pepin.
Faribault
Roberts Lake is producing crappies during the day in 20 feet of water, and at night over depths of 15-18 feet. The sand bars located on the southwest end of Shields Lake are holding sunnies, with fish coming from 10-14 feet of water. Work depths of 10-15 feet at Bulrush Bay on the west side of Lake Mazaska for lots of bluegills.
Waterville
Hatchery Bay on Lake Tetonka continues to produce nice-size bluegills in 17-22 feet of water. The key to catching the larger fish has been a small jig and red Eurolarvae. Jefferson Lake is kicking out a few sunfish in depths of 11-14 feet.
Mankato
Crappies have become active during evening hours on German Lake in 16-20 feet of water. Sunfish are biting early and late in the day on East Jefferson and German lakes in depths of 12-16 feet. The northwest end of St. James Lake, and Baker’s Bay on Lake Washington, continue to produce sunnies and a few crappies.
Willmar
The northwest corner of Green Lake is giving up crappies. Diamond Lake is producing fish in 20-22 feet of water. Crappies and sunnies are scattered, but active, in depths of 12-18 feet on Willmar, North Long, Norway and Games lakes. Look to Eagle Lake in depths of 30-40 feet during evening hours for crappies.
Ortonville
A few perch continue to be pulled from 10-12 feet of water just north of the Peninsula on Big Stone Lake. A few crappies are coming from Long Tom and Artichoke lakes during evening hours.
“The information in this report is provided courtesy Outdoor News, and Explore Minnesota Tourism.”
