Minnesota Fishing Report for February 8 Please remember that ice is never considered totally safe. The Department of Natural Resources 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.html========================
Northeastern Minnesota
International Falls
On Rainy Lake, the east end of the lake, between Dryweed Island and Saginaw Bay, is producing walleyes in 36-40 feet of water. An evening walleye bite has been reported off Birch Point in depths of 38-40 feet, and at the American Narrows in 40 feet of water. The larger northern pike have started showing up in the Rainy Lake City area in 12-16 feet of water.
Grand Rapids
Bluegills and crappies are hitting at a good pace on Bass Lake in 10-18 feet of water. Crappie action has picked up on the north end of Bowstring Lake in depths of 24-28 feet, and on Big and Little Splithand lakes in 22 feet of water. Lake trout are being caught over depths of 40 feet on Pit Lake, and over depths of 50-60 feet on Caribou Lake. Lakes such as Big Trout, Wabana and Pokegama are kicking out northern pike. A few walleyes are being pulled from 14-25 feet of water on Pokegama, Wabana and Sugar lakes during evening hours.
Ely
Crappie action remains consistent on Low, Bass and Farm lakes. Although walleye action has slowed, Shagawa Lake continues to produce fish during afternoon and evening hours. A great lake trout bite is being reported off Burntside Lake, with most fish found suspended over deep water.
Grand Marais
Lake trout action has been very good for anglers using shiners, ciscoes, chubs and spoons. Look for suspended lake trout to be most active over deep water on Clearwater, East Bearskin, Loon and Gunflint lakes. Splake continue to be taken on waxworms in 12 feet of water on Musquash Lake. A good brook trout bite is taking place on Carrot Lake in depths of 12 feet. Anglers are finding good-sized perch in 8-10 feet of water on Pike Lake.
Duluth
The Highbanks area of Fish Lake is producing crappies in 12-14 feet of water. An evening crappie bite is being reported on Caribou and Grand lakes in depths of 15 feet. Tip-ups and chubs are triggering northern pike on Rice Lake in 7 feet of water. The best walleye reports are coming from the bay, right in town, on the St. Louis River.
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Northcentral/West Minnesota
Baudette
On Lake of the Woods, the best walleye activity is taking place in 28-33 feet of water on the reefs and mud flats along the south shore, on to the Gap, and up to Garden Island. At the Northwest Angle, walleyes, sauger and perch are biting in 26-28 feet of water on the reefs around Oak Island. The walleye bite has slowed on the Rainy River, but northern pike and sturgeon have become more active.
Waskish
On Upper Red Lake, Center Bar is producing numbers of walleyes and northern pike in 12-14 feet of water. Walleyes have also been caught closer to shore in depths of 8-10 feet. Red glow jigs have worked best during low-light hours, and gold jigs seem to work best during the day. The best crappie reports are off the north shore, out from Hillman’s Access, in 13-14 feet of water.
Blackduck
Perch continue to be caught on the 20- to 23-foot mud areas of Blackduck Lake. Walleye activity has slowed, with just a few fish coming off Round and Gull lakes. Stay on the move for panfish. Anglers are taking a few crappies over depths of 30 feet or more on Gilstead Lake. Sunfish are coming from 15-20 feet of water on Rabideau Lake.
Bemidji
Lakes Plantagenet and Bemidji are giving up a few walleyes during evening hours in 25-30 feet of water. Tip-ups and sucker minnows are turning northern pike on Lake Hattie and at the north end of Lake Bemidji. Work the smaller area lakes for bluegills and crappies.
Cass Lake
The 12- to 15-foot weed flats of Cass and Pike Bay lakes are producing perch. The east shore of Pike Bay is also producing walleyes during low-light hours in 20-25 feet of water. Northern pike are attacking sucker minnows on the cabbage beds of Kitchi Lake. Crappie action is picking up over the deep holes of Lower Sucker Lake. Hit Lake Grace for bluegills in 15 feet of water.
Bena
On Lake Winnibigoshish, the best action is taking place during morning hours in 18-22 feet of water. Some fish are also being pulled from depths of 28-32 feet. The best locations this week include Moxies Hole, North Moses Bar, Center Bar, South Horseshoe Bar, and Snaghole Bar. The larger pike are coming from depths of 18-22 feet, and walleyes continue to be taken from the main-lake bars in 18-24 feet of water.
Walker
On Leech Lake, perch action has improved in 12-16 feet of water off Sand Point and in Agency Bay. The humps of Walker Bay have been best for walleyes, especially during low-light hours in 25-30 feet of water. Some of the points continue to produce walleyes during low-light hours in depths of 18-22 feet. Bluegill and crappie action remains limited.
Hackensack
Jigging spoons are producing perch in 18-30 feet of water on Woman Lake. Look to Pleasant and Five Point lakes for sunfish. Tip-ups and sucker minnows are turning northern pike on Webb and Portage lakes. Pine Mountain Lake is kicking out quite a few smaller walleyes, with larger fish being pulled from depths of 20 feet on Pleasant Lake.
Park Rapids
Shiner minnows continue to produce walleyes in 28-32 feet of water on Big Sand Lake. Northern pike are coming from 10-14 feet of water on Big Mantrap Lake. Work depths of 12 feet on the Crow Wing Chain and Portage Lake for panfish. Rainbow trout are hitting waxworms in 20 foot depths. On Long Lake, look for rainbow trout in 40-50 feet of water.
Detroit Lakes
Lakes such as Sallie, Melissa and Big Detroit are giving up walleyes in 20-30 feet of water. Northern pike are hitting at the weedlines of most area lakes. There is some crappie action over depths of 20-22 feet on Melissa and Big Detroit lakes. Sunfish are active in 12 feet of water on Big Detroit, Melissa, Island and Floyd lakes, as well as in depths of 20 feet on Sour Lake.
Battle Lake
A few walleyes continue to be pulled from 20-35 feet of water on Otter Tail, West Battle and Clitherall lakes. Waxworms are turning crappies in depths of 17-25 feet on South Turtle, Ellingson and West Battle lakes. Sunfish and northern pike action has been slow.
Alexandria
A few walleyes are being taken on set lines and minnows worked in 30 feet of water or more during low-light hours on lakes Ida, Carlos and Miltona. Crappies can be found suspended over depths of 20-25 feet on Carlos and Le Homme Dieu lakes. Northern pike action has been limited, but the sunfish bite is picking up in 10-14 feet of water on Smith and Mary lakes.
Starbuck
A few sunfish are being taken from 12 feet of water on Lake Minnewaska.
Osakis
On Lake Osakis, the north end is producing sunnies and crappies in 20-24 feet of water. Banana Bar is giving up crappies in 36 feet of water, and walleyes in depths of 16 feet during evening hours. Northern pike are hitting throughout the lake, however most have been small.
Brainerd/Nisswa
Walleyes are hitting glow jigs, and spoons tipped with minnows, in 18-42 feet of water on Gull and North Long lakes. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows on most area lakes in depths of 10-15 feet. Panfish action has picked up on most lakes, especially in depths of 14-20 feet on Nisswa and Round lakes, and on the south end of Gull Lake.
Crosby
Rainbow chubs and shiner minnows continue to produce walleyes on Serpent Lake in 22-26 feet of water. Crappie action has picked up on Cedar, Clearwater, Nokay and Bay lakes. Sunfish are coming from most area lakes, with the larger fish being pulled from the shallows. Northern pike are an easy catch on most area lakes in depths of 15-22 feet.
Isle/Onamia
On Lake Mille Lacs, on the east end of the lake, good-sized perch are being pulled from the mud flats in 28-30 feet of water on jigs tipped with fathead minnows. A few walleyes are coming from the gravel at sunset, with set lines and rainbow minnows working better than jigging spoons. On the west end of the lake, the best walleye action is taking place on the Seven Mile and Eight Mile flats. Work 32-36 feet of water during the day, and slide on top during low-light hours. Some good-sized perch are coming from the deep water off Seven Mile Flat. The deep rocks at Sherman’s Point and Brown’s Point have been good for perch.
St. Cloud/Eden Valley
Walleyes continue to be caught in 15-25 feet of water on Lake Koronis. Work the Stonegate Bar, First Island and Third Island areas for the most fish. Rice Lake has also started giving up a few walleyes in depths of 15 feet. Look to Long, Becker and Pearl lakes for sunnies and crappies in 12-14 feet of water. Mud Lake is giving up rainbow trout in depths of 5-10 feet.
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Twin Cities vicinity
Elk River/Zimmerman
Crappies and sunfish are in 9-12 feet of water on Elk Lake. On Blue Lake, panfish are coming from depths of 22 feet on the north end of the lake, while the south end is producing a few walleyes in 24 feet of water. Green and Spectacle lakes continue to produce panfish.
Annandale
Pleasant, John, Cedar, Marie and Clearwater lakes are giving up sunfish in 12-20 feet of water, with crappies found suspended over 24-60 feet of water. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows at the weedlines on Pleasant, Cedar and French lakes. One or two walleyes continue to be pulled from depths of 26-30 feet each night on Clearwater Lake.
Waconia
On Lake Waconia, check 11-13 feet of water at Center Reef for sunfish and crappies. Sunfish have also been found in 21-24 feet of water south of Pillsbury Reef. The best walleye reports are coming from the 12- to 14-foot weedlines off Nelson’s Flat, and on Anderson’s Reef in depths of 12-17 feet.
Wayzata
On Lake Minnetonka, jigging rattle spoons is producing walleyes at dark at Brown’s Bay from the weedlines out to 28 feet of water. Northern pike are hitting on top of the weed flats in 10 feet of water. Crappies can be found suspended over depths of 19 feet in Brown’s Bay. Crappies have also been found suspended over 30 feet of water on lakes Independence and Sarah.
Prior Lake/West Metro vicinity
Whaletail Lake is producing sunfish to the right of the access in 10-12 feet of water. Crappies are coming from depths of 18 feet, and northern pike are being pulled from the back bay. Sunfish are biting in 10 feet of water on the south end of Hydes Lake, on Eagle Lake, and on Lake Sarah in depths of 14 feet. The best crappie bite is taking place in the middle of Hydes Lake in 13 feet of water. Northern pike action has improved, especially in 10 feet of water on lakes Minnewashta, Steiger and Zumbra.
Chisago City
The south end of Chisago Lake is producing panfish and northern pike in 8-12 feet of water. On North Center Lake, sunfish can be found during the day, with walleyes and crappies taken from depths of 8-12 feet at night. The Pancake Island area of South Center Lake is giving up panfish. Kroon Lake has started giving up crappies over 28 feet of water.
White Bear/Northeast Metro vicinity
Small sucker minnows are turning numbers of largemouth bass in 12 feet of water on Lake Jane. Largemouth bass are also being pulled from depths of 10-13 feet on Big Marine Lake. Northern pike are biting in 6-12 feet of water on Big Marine, Jane and Demontreville lakes. Demontreville is also producing sunfish in 6-10 feet of water. Crappies can be found suspended over depths of 25-35 feet on the St. Croix River. A few walleyes were recently taken from 20-25 feet of water on White Bear Lake after dark.
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Southern Minnesota
Red Wing
Boat anglers continue to take walleyes and sauger on jig and minnow combinations worked in 25-30 feet of water on the Mississippi River. Work the Frontenac Pond area for northern pike. The docks in Baypoint Park are giving up lots of panfish to ice anglers.
Faribault
Roberds Lake is producing crappies and a few walleyes in 20 feet of water. Shiner and sucker minnows are turning northern pike in depths of 15-20 feet on Shields and Kelley Dudley lakes. Look to Shields Lake for the area’s best sunfish action in 16 feet of water.
Mankato
Jigging rapalas continue to produce walleyes between the Second and Third points on Lake Washington in 17-20 feet of water. Lake Hanska is giving up walleyes at night in 6 feet of water. Look to Little Jefferson Lake for northern pike. For sunfish, hit depths of 10-12 feet on East Jefferson Lake.
Willmar
Crappies are coming from 45-55 feet of water on Eagle Lake. Diamond Lake is giving up crappies and sunnies in depths of 10-20 feet, with a few walleyes coming from 10 feet of water after dark. For panfish, hit Norway and Games lakes, as well as the northeast corner of Green Lake. The 10- to 15-foot weedlines of Lake Andrew are producing walleyes during low-light hours.
Ortonville
The south end of Big Stone Lake is producing perch in 9 feet of water. Work the Twin Silos area in 14 feet of water for a few walleyes. Walleyes and crappies are being pulled from depths of 10 feet on Artichoke Lake just north of the narrows. Tip-ups and minnows continue to produce northern pike near the Highway 75 Dam on the Minnesota River.
"The information in this report is provided courtesy Outdoor News, and Explore Minnesota Tourism."
