Explore Minnesota Fishing Report 3.27.08
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, walleyes continue to be pulled from deeper waters, such 36-40 foot depths in the American Narrows area. Birch Point continues to kick out walleyes during evening hours in depths of 28-32 feet. Cranberry Island and the Rainy Lake City area are giving up northern pike and walleyes in 25-35 feet of water. The crappie bite on the Canadian side remains strong.
Grand Rapids
Bass Lake is producing bluegills in 6-9 feet of water, with crappies being pulled from depths of 12-18 feet at night. Tioga Bay and Poole’s Bay on Lake Pokegama are kicking out bluegills and crappies in 12-20 feet of water. An evening crappie bite is being reported on the south shore of Bowstring Lake in depths of 23 feet. Jay Gould Lake is giving up perch in 7-9 feet of water. Big and Little Cutfoot Sioux lakes have been good for some crappie action in depths of 19-25 feet.
Kabetogama
On Lake Kabetogama, minnows and small jigs are producing crappies in 28-32 feet of water. The key has been to fish slowly during low light hours. Border waters are giving up walleyes and northern pike, with the majority of fish coming from depths of 28 feet or more.
Duluth
Crappies are being pulled from 10-12 feet of water on Fish and Boulder lakes. Anglers are catching kamloops on Lake Superior when the ice remains away from shore. For the most fish, use a looper bug tipped with a waxworm under a float, or try a nightcrawler on the bottom.
McGregor
Crappies can be found suspended over 20-24 feet of water on Big Sandy and Minnewawa lakes. The deep hole on the north end of Big Sandy continues to produce tullibees, with most fish found suspended. Sunfish action has improved in the shallow bays and on the weedlines.
Northcentral/West Minnesota
Baudette
On Lake Of The Woods, the main-lake reefs around Bridges Island and Garden Island are producing walleyes, sauger and jumbo perch in 24-30 feet of water. A few more walleyes are coming from the shallower waters along Pine Island during low light hours. On the Rainy River, there is open water east of Manitou Rapids. And as of March 25, less than seven miles of ice separated the open water and Birchdale, with even less to Franz Jevne.
Waskish
On Upper Red Lake, crappie reports have improved, with a spike in activity at dusk. Two areas to check out include the north shore out from Hillman’s Access, and roughly 3- to 10-miles out from Agassiz Resort, especially in 13 feet of water. For the most fish, use red glow jigs and minnows.
Bemidji
Lake George and Turtle River Lake are producing bluegills in 8-12 feet of water. Perch are coming from Lake Bemidji on jigging spoons tipped with waxworms or minnow heads worked in depths of 22-25 feet. For crappies, hit 20 feet of water or more on Pimushe Lake during evening hours.
Bena
On Lake Winnibigoshish, a few perch are being pulled from 8-12 feet of water on the west shore, however the majority of action is taking place in depths of 25-40 feet. Look to Sugar Bar, Raven’s Humps, and the humps off Zoomer’s Bar for the most keeper-sized perch. A few tullibees are coming from 35-40 feet of water off Raven’s Humps.
Walker
On Leech Lake, consistent perch action is being reported from the flats around Goose Island, and along the east shore of Sucker Bay in 6-14 feet of water. Pine and Cedar points have also offered steady perch action in depths of 8-12 feet. A few bluegills and crappies are being taken in Shingobee Bay over 16-22 feet of water. Tullibee reports have been limited.
Hackensack
There has been a good evening crappie bite on Pleasant Lake over 14-20 feet of water. Sunfish action is improving daily, with most fish coming from depths of 6-22 feet on Birch, Lindsay and Pleasant lakes. The best approach has been Eurolarvae and waxworms.
Detroit Lakes
Area lakes are giving up crappies in 20-24 feet of water, with the majority of sunfish coming from depths of 8-12 feet. For the most fish, check out Floyd, Middle Cormorant, Big Detroit, Sallie and Melissa lakes. Tullibee action has been strong over the deep holes on Long and Loon lakes. For the most fish, use jigging spoons tipped with waxworms.
Battle Lake
Sunfish can be found suspended over depths of 15 feet of water on South Turtle, Dead, Star and Rush lakes. Flasher spoons and waxworms are turning tullibees in the deep holes of Star, Pickerel and Mollie Stark lakes. An evening crappie bite is being reported on South Turtle, Rush and Battle lakes in 18-20 feet of water.
Alexandria
Crappies and bluegills are being pulled from 10-12 feet of water on most area lakes, however expect to do some sorting. Lakes currently producing fish include Miltona, Reno, Geneva, Darling and Le Homme Dieu, especially during morning and evening hours.
Sauk Centre
The west side of Maple Lake is producing sunnies and crappies in 12-17 feet of water. The north end of Sauk Lake is kicking out sunfish in depths of 10 feet. Crappies can be found suspended over 25 feet of water during evening hours in Red Barn Bay on Sauk Lake. Sunfish activity has improved on Cedar Lake in depths of 8 feet.
Brainerd/Nisswa
Glow jigs and minnows are triggering crappies, with fish found suspended in 16-30 feet of water. The majority of sunfish are coming in on moon glows and Eurolarvae worked in depths of 6-10 feet. For the most fish, hit Nisswa, Round, North Long and Gull lakes.
Cross Lake
Crappies are hitting glow jigs tipped with minnows or waxworms in 12-16 feet of water. Most area lakes are producing crappies, especially at dusk and shortly after sunset.
Onamia/Isle
On Lake Mille Lacs, good mid-day perch action is being reported on the east end of the lake at the 14- to 16-foot rock and gravel areas. During evening hours, the east-side bays are producing crappies in 8-10 feet of water. On the west side, few reports are available, however some perch are being pulled from depths of 16-21 feet in the Rocky Reef area.
Twin Cities vicinity
Annandale
The majority of sunnies and crappies are coming from 10 feet of water or less on most area lakes. The most consistent reports are coming from Sylvia, Clearwater, Pleasant, Buffalo, Ramsey and Pelican lakes.
Prior Lake/West Metro vicinity
The northwest corner and northern side of Lake Waconia are giving up sunfish in 6-11 feet of water. Christmas Lake is producing sunfish in depths of 10 feet. On Parley Lake, crappie action has been strong in 12 feet of water just to the right of the access. And, the Ford Dam area of the Mississippi River has been good for large walleyes.
Wayzata
On Lake Minnetonka, some sunfish are coming from 12 feet of water throughout Crystal Bay and Spring Park Bay. Lake Sarah is giving up sunnies and crappies. Most fish can be found suspended over 20 feet of water, especially during low-light hours.
Chisago City
Crappies are active in 28 feet of water on Chisago Lake. The south end of the lake is producing sunfish in depths of 6-10 feet. The Bluewaters area of North Center Lake, and the Pancake Island area of South Center Lake are offering a nice mix of panfish.
White Bear/Northeast Metro vicinity
Keeper-sized crappies are coming from 10-12 feet of water on Lake Jane. Lake Peltier is producing sunfish in depths of 12-16 feet. And, Pool 2 on the Mississippi River is giving up walleyes and silver bass on jigs and minnows.
Southern Minnesota
Red Wing
Limits of nice saugers and large walleyes continue to be taken just below the dam on the Mississippi River. For the most fish, use Ike’s hair jigs and fatheads, brightly-colored Sonars, and ringworms in 18-25 feet of water.
Faribault
Panfish are active on most area lakes, with the best reports coming from Bulrush Bay on Lake Mazaska. For the most fish, use Eurolarvae. The mouth of Bulrush Bay is giving up crappies in 15-18 feet of water. The bars on the west end of Shields Lake are holding sunfish and good-sized perch.
Mankato
Crappies and sunnies are being pulled from 6-10 feet of water on Madison Lake. Baker’s Bay on Lake Washington has been good for steady panfish action in depths of 10-12 feet throughout the day. A morning and evening sunfish bite is taking place on the west side of German Lake in less than 12 feet of water.
“The information in this report is provided courtesy Outdoor News, and Explore Minnesota Tourism.”
