Minnesota Fishing Report for September 28
The Fishing Hot Spot this week is the city of Bena, where Lake Winnibigoshish is giving up good numbers of walleyes.
Please note that smallmouth bass are now catch-and-release only on inland lakes.
Anglers 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.html==========================
NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA
Duluth
Crappies are starting to bite late in the evening. Walleyes are active on Boulder and Island lakes. On Lake Superior, anglers are catching good numbers of lake trout and coho salmon, especially on glow-in-the-dark spoons.
Ely
Walleyes are being pulled from area lakes on spinners tipped with minnows drifted through 15-25 foot depths.
Kabetogama
On Lakes Kabetogama and Namakan, unstable weather has lead to inconsistent fishing patterns. Some shallow water walleye action is being reported, with an occasional bass also being taken. For the most fish, try lures, or slip bobbers and slip sinker rigs with live bait. Some avid walleye anglers are using minnows exclusively, and having success with jig and minnow combinations and slip sinker rigs, especially in depths of 35 feet. On Lake Kabetogama, hit the Martin Islands, Blind Ash, and the deeper pockets around Larkin and Green islands. Lake Namakan anglers are concentrating on areas on the East End, and around Tar Point, Namakan Island, Twin Alligators and Gold Island. Northern pike are extremely active at the deep weeds, especially at the windswept bays, with sucker minnows, husky jerks and X-Raps producing fish. The smallmouth bass season remains open on Lake Namakan, with numbers of fish taken from the rock pile edges and gravel bottoms.
International Falls
On Rainy Lake, walleye fishing has been good in 30-40 feet of water around Sand Bay, the American Narrows, Grindstone Island, and east end reefs. In the Rainy River, walleye action has been best when using an emerald shiner near the mouth of the Littlefork River. Crappies are active in Sand and Black bays, with large northern pike also being pulled from Black Bay. Smallmouth bass action has been best at the weedy edges of the bends in Rainy River.
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NORTHCENTRAL/WEST MINNESOTA
Baudette
On Lake of the Woods, water temperatures are roughly 58 degrees at the Northwest Angle and Islands area, and anglers are now trolling for muskies. The waters are starting to clear, and the walleye bite is on. On the Rainy River, the sturgeon season remains open through the last day of September. At one resort, guests caught-and-released 28 sturgeon, with the largest measuring 68-inches! Shiners are moving into the river, and the walleyes will soon follow. On the main lake, anglers are doing well by anchoring and jigging, or by using a slip bobber set up, especially during morning and evening hours in 18-19 feet of water around the Gap. Anglers are taking lots of slot fish, and also practicing catch-and-release.
Blackduck
Anglers are catching walleyes in 10-12 feet of water on Blackduck Lake. For crappies, check out Gilstad Lake, with sunnies coming out of Rabideau Lake.
Bemidji
A good walleye bite is being reported on Lake Bemidji. The fish are hitting redtails and nightcrawlers in roughly 12 feet of water.
Bena
On Lake Winnibigoshish, fishing has been very good, especially on the North Shore from Mallard Point back to the Big Rock Pile. For the most fish, try a fireball jig and rainbow chub in 6-8 feet of water. Other good spots for walleye action are Muskie Bay and The Highbanks. Sunfish are hitting nightcrawler rigs. Northern pike fishing has greatly improved, especially on the west side around Sugar Lake and Raven's Point. The best approach has been trolling shad raps, husky jerks or spoons. On Big Cutfoot Sioux, walleyes are being pulled from 9-14 feet of water. Anglers are pulling some nice-size bluegills and crappies from 14-16 feet of water on Little Cutfoot Sioux.
Walker
On Leech Lake, walleyes are biting off of Pine Point. Panfish, muskies and perch are active throughout the lake.
Pelican Rapids
Pelican and Lida lakes have been best for walleye action, with a jig and minnow producing the most fish.
Battle Lake
Walleyes are being pulled Ottertail Lake on suckers and minnows worked in the shallows. Some anglers are also doing well when using a fathead and jig in the deeper waters. Walleyes are coming out of Stalker Lake on shiners worked in depths of 15-20 feet.
Brainerd/Nisswa/Crosslake
Walleye action has been good on the Whitefish Chain, as well as on Crosslake, North Long and Pelican lakes. Anglers are finding fish in 25-32 feet of water near the steep drops. The best approach has been a lindy rig tipped with a redtail minnow, with leeches also working well. Now that the harvest moon has arrived, also consider trolling rapalas through the shallows at night. Northern pike and bass action remains strong along the weedlines. Northern pike are coming in on tandem spinnerbaits worked in the weeds. Bass are hitting spinnerbaits and worm rigs around the shallow humps. Crappies and panfish can be found suspended in 12-16 feet of water when using minnows or worms on small jigs.
Crosby
Rabbit, Clearwater, Nokay, Serpent and Pelican lakes are all producing good numbers of walleyes. Redtails worked along the weeds and in 22-40 foot depths have been best. Bass are hitting frog-type baits and topwater lures fished along the shallow shorelines of most area lakes, with a few pulled from deeper waters on plastics. Northern pike are taking spinnerbaits tipped with suckers from the shallow, weedy bays. Live, green weeds have been best. Crappies and nice-size bluegills are active on Serpent, Little Rabbit and Greer lakes. Lots of rainbow trout are being pulled from most area pits, and a few really nice-size brook trout recently came from Snowshoe, Mallen and Huntington lakes. Northern pike can be found suspended over the deep waters surrounding the timbers in these pits. The Mississippi River, and Serpent and Clearwater lakes have been great for smallmouth bass action. The best approach has been a leech under a bobber or a topwater lure during low-light hours.
Isle
On Lake Mille Lacs, perch action has been excellent! Anglers are having the most success in the bays using a variety of techniques, such as small leeches, crappie minnows, fatheads, and angleworms. Limits of nice-size fish are coming in, with some fish measuring over 10 inches. Walleyes are active in 19-22 feet of water during the day. Towards dusk, hit 9 foot depths using crankbaits or a slip bobber.
Grey Eagle
Crappie fishing has been excellent, with anglers taking lots of fish from Mound and Big Birch lakes. Bass are active on most area lakes. For sunnies, check out Swan Lake.
St. Cloud
Sunfish are coming from the Horseshoe Chain. Crappies continue to bite on the Mississippi River. The best approach has been a fathead or crappie minnow worked at any kind of structure. Walleyes and smallmouth bass are also biting on the Mississippi River--please remember that smallmouth bass are now catch-and-release only. Trout are biting at Quarry Park and Big Watab.
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TWIN CITIES VICINITY
Annandale
On Clearwater Lake, sunnies are coming from 10 feet of water along the weedlines. Walleyes are being taken on fatheads worked in depths of 18-22 feet. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows worked in 10-15 feet of water on most area lakes.
Anoka
The walleye bite is improving throughout the area. Nice crappies and smallmouth bass are being pulled from the Mississippi River. Texas-rigged worms and tubes are working best. Please remember that smallmouth bass fishing is now catch-and-release only.
Waconia
On Lake Waconia, sunfish are active in 10-12 feet of water in Waconia Bay. Walleyes are coming from Anderson’s and North reefs.
Wayzata
On Lake Minnetonka, walleye anglers are taking fish from 17-25 feet of water at the weedlines, with some pulled from even deeper waters. For the most fish, use a jig and minnow. For bass, hit the weedlines using live bait. For muskies, target the points and outside weedlines.
Forest Lake
Clear Lake, as well as North and South Center lakes are producing walleyes. Panfish can be found suspended on most area lakes. Northern pike and bass anglers are doing well throughout the area.
Chisago City
On Chisago Lake, walleyes are coming from the channel between Big and Little Green Lakes, and near Nelson’s Island. Crappies are biting on Kroon Lake.
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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
Red Wing
On the Mississippi River, walleyes are starting to hit brightly-colored hair jigs tipped with a minnow near the dam.
St. Peter
Nice sunfish are being pulled from 10-12 feet of water on Lake Tetonka. Crappies are biting in 20 feet of water on German Lake. For walleyes, hit Lake Washington.
"The information in this report is provided courtesy The Outdoors Weekly, and Explore Minnesota Tourism."
