Minnesota Fishing Report 9.8.08
In general, muskies and walleyes have been sluggish due to cooler temperatures.
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Northeastern Minnesota
International Falls
On Rainy Lake, walleyes are hitting minnows and crawlers in 30-38 feet of water on many of the main-lake reefs. Sand Bay is giving up walleyes in depths of 20-30 feet, mostly on minnows. The American Narrows is kicking out both walleyes and a few good-sized northern pike in 20 feet of water. Look to Lost Bay for northern pike. The Rat Root River area of Black Bay is worth noting for crappies.
Grand Rapids
A jig and minnow combination is producing walleyes on the 17- to 26-foot bars of Trout Lake. On Lake Wabana, a leech and spinner is working best in 16-22 feet. Lake Pokegama is producing walleyes on a crawler and spinner worked in depths of 22-26 feet. Lake Pokegama continues to give up large northern pike in 25-35 feet of water. An evening crappie bite is being reported on the deep weedlines of Pokegama and Prairie lakes. Bass Lake remains the area’s best bet for sunfish, especially in 16-18 feet of water.
Kabetogama
On Lake Kabetogama, walleyes are hitting crankbaits, as well as jigs tipped with minnows on the 8- to 12-foot weedlines, and the 28- to 34-foot reef edges. Northern pike are coming from the deep weedlines on minnows. Smallmouth bass continue to be found on the 8- to 15-foot rock edges and rock piles.
Tower
On Lake Vermilion, minnows are starting to produce a few more walleyes at the saddles and breaks. The key has been to stay on the move, while picking off a fish here and there. Crankbaits have also started working for walleyes on the weedlines and main-lake breaks. Muskie anglers are offering mixed reports, with some fish being raised at the windswept shorelines and points. Sunfish are an easy catch in the shallows.
Ely
Crankbaits and minnows are providing steady walleye action in 15-25 feet of water on Burntside, Shagawa, One Pine, and Bear Island lakes. During low-light hours, some decent catches have come from 6-10 feet of water as well. Crappies can be found over 30 feet of water. Sunfish continue to cruise the weedlines and humps on most lakes.
Grand Marais
A few walleyes are coming in on minnows worked in 15-18 feet of water on Devil’s Track, Two Island, and Seagull lakes. Slip bobbers and crawlers are turning rainbow trout on Kimball and Trout lakes, and brook trout are being pulled from Carrot Lake. Jigging spoons have turned lake trout at Kemo Lake. Sucker minnows continue to provide numbers of northern pike on Tom and Northern Lights lakes.
Duluth
Walleyes are hitting minnows and stickbaits in 12 feet of water on Fish Lake, and in depths of 15-30 feet on Island Lake. Look to Rice Lake for northern pike and bluegills in 6 feet of water. On Lake Superior, good numbers of king salmon are coming in on spoons worked roughly 30-40 feet down in the Gooseberry Falls and Silver Bay areas.
Northcentral/West Minnesota
Baudette
On Lake of the Woods, walleyes are hitting all along the south shore, from the Lighthouse Gap to Long Point, in 20-30 feet of water. Downrigging, jigging, and drifting with live bait rigs have all worked well. On the Rainy River, sturgeon, smallmouth bass, and northern pike are coming from the Clementson Rapids area. At the Northwest Angle, a jig and minnow combination is turning walleyes on the 10- to 15-foot mud flats.
Blackduck
Walleyes are hitting minnows and crankbaits during evening hours in 10-16 feet of water on Gull, Blackduck, and Island lakes. Northern pike and bass remain active on most area lakes. Panfish can be found on the deep side of most weedlines throughout Rabideau, North Twin, Gilstead, and South Twin lakes.
Bemidji
Crankbaits and minnows are producing walleyes during evening hours on Lake Bemidji in depths of 8-14 feet. Muskie anglers are taking fish using bucktails and topwater baits on Lakes Bemidji and Plantagenet. Crappie and bluegill action is getting better each day, with lakes such as Pimushe, Lower Sucker, Grace, and Ball Club all kicking out fish. Bass and northern pike are cruising the deep weed edges of most lakes, with fish being taken on crankbaits and large minnows.
Cass Lake
Minnows and leeches are producing walleyes in 25 feet of water along East Cedar Bar and Buck’s Bar on Cass Lake. The evening bite has been good when using shad raps in 6-8 feet of water at O’Neal’s Point, North Cedar Bar, and on the north side of Star Island. On Wolf Lake, spinners and minnows are triggering walleyes along the weedlines. The best perch action has been at the 7- to 9-foot sand flats. Bluegills are being pulled from Boomerang Bar in Allen’s Bay on Cass Lake. Lake Andrusia is starting to produce northern pike.
Bena
On Lake Winnibigoshish, the southeast corner of the lake is producing limits of walleyes. Hit Bena Bar, Big Muskie Bar, Little Stoney Point, and the shoreline breaks using lindy rigs tipped with leeches and crawlers. The west-side points and weedlines are also giving up walleyes, with northern pike being taken as well. The best perch reports continue to come off the rocks near Raven’s Point.
Walker
On Leech Lake, topwater baits have started producing muskies at the weedlines and rocks around Pipe Island, Pelican Reef, and in Portage Bay. During the day, jigs and minnows are the best walleye option in 10-14 feet of water, especially near Sand Point, the Goose Flats, and at Big and Little Hardwood islands. Crankbaits continue to work best during evening hours in these areas. For large walleyes, try minnows on the Walker Bay humps in 25-30 feet.
Park Rapids
Walleyes are hitting minnows and crawlers on Long Lake in 25-30 feet of water. The Crow Wing Chain and Island Lake are giving up lots of bluegills in 12-14 feet. Muskie anglers are raising fish when using topwater lures on Big Mantrap Lake. Troll or drift sucker minnows at the weedlines of Big Mantrap for northern pike.
Detroit Lakes
Walleyes are hitting minnows in 20-24 feet of water on lakes Sallie, Melissa, Big Detroit, Pelican, and Big Cormorant. The deep cabbage of Island, Floyd, Big Detroit, and Melissa lakes has been good for lots of panfish. Work the humps of Big Detroit and Pelican lakes using cowgirls for muskies. Northern pike and bass are active at the deep weedlines of most lakes.
Battle Lake
Otter Tail and West Battle lakes are giving up walleyes on jig and minnow combinations worked in 10-12 feet of water. Northern pike are hitting spoons and sucker minnows at the weedlines of Otter Tail, West Battle, and Clitherall lakes. Look for sunfish in 15 feet of water on Dead and Star lakes. A few crappies can be found suspended over 15-20 feet on West Battle Lake. Topwater lures have produced several large muskies on West Battle this past week.
Alexandria
Walleye anglers report an evening crankbait bite in 10-14 feet of water on Lake Reno. Lakes Miltona, Ida, and Reno have also produced walleyes during the day in 16-22 feet. Panfish action remains strong at the weedlines of lakes Mary, Geneva, Darling, and Le Homme Dieu. Bass are holding at the main-lake bars, and tend to prefer crankbaits and spinnerbaits.
Starbuck
Both ends of Lake Minnewaska are producing sunfish in 12-14 feet. Walleyes continue to hit crawlers worked through 14-18 feet of water on Lake Minnewaska, with the shallow, evening crankbait bite to begin very soon. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are hitting plastics in the weeds and at the shorelines of Minnewaska.
Osakis
On Lake Osakis, look for sunfish in 12 feet of water along the north end of the lake and at Two Mile Bar. Redtails are turning walleyes in depths of 18-28 feet at Four Mile Bar. Spinners and sucker minnows have been best for northern pike in 12-14 feet of water. Bass remain active on the weedlines, with plastics and spinnerbaits producing the larger fish.
Brainerd/Nisswa
The north and south ends of Gull Lake are giving up walleyes in 16-32 feet of water, mostly on lindy rigs and redtails. Minnows are turning a few walleyes during evening hours in 14-26 feet of water on Round and North Long lakes. Northern pike are biting along with the walleyes. Bass continue to be pulled from the deep weedlines and bars on most lakes. Look for sunfish in the shallow weeds of North Long, Pelican, and Cullen lakes.
Crosby
Crankbaits are producing walleyes after dark in 8 feet of water on the reefs and bars around Slug Island on Pelican Lake. The 12-foot holes on the Mississippi River are also giving up walleyes. Look to Rabbit and Serpent lakes using crankbaits and plastics for bass. The 13-foot weedline on Horseshoe Lake is kicking out bluegills, northern pike, and bass. The best northern pike action has been on the Mississippi River, between Little Rabbit and Rice lakes, and in the Sagamore Pit.
Isle/Onamia
On Lake Mille Lacs, on the east end of the lake, the rocks remain the best option for walleyes. During the day, hit 18-22 feet of water, and check-out depths of 8-15 feet at night. Crankbaits and slip bobber/leech combination have been best. A few good-sized perch are coming from the bays. Smallmouth bass are active on the rocks. On the west end of the lake, slip bobbers and leeches continue to turn some walleyes on the mud flats at night. Sucker minnows and crankbaits are triggering northern pike at the weedlines of St. Alban’s Bay. Look for perch in the bays and on the deep rocks. Smallmouth bass action remains strong at the rocks.
St. Cloud/Eden Valley
A few walleyes were recently taken on minnows worked at the weedlines and shoreline breaks of Koronis and Horseshoe lakes. Sunfish and crappies are coming from 6-10 feet of water on Cedar Island, Pearl, Horseshoe, and Long lakes. The Sauk River is giving up lots of channel catfish on crawlers and minnows. Minnows and crankbaits are producing northern pike on Pearl, Rice, and Grand lakes in 12-14 feet of water.
Twin Cities vicinity
Annandale
Walleyes are hitting minnows on Clearwater Lake in 18-24 feet of water. Look for consistent sunfish action at the weedlines of lakes Sylvia, Sugar, and Clearwater. Spoon plugs and crankbaits are triggering northern pike in 20-25 feet of water on Pleasant and Sylvia lakes. Bass action remains strong in the slop out to roughly 14 feet on most lakes.
Prior Lake/West Metro vicinity
An evening catfish bite is being reported on the Minnesota River. Lakes such as Minnewashta, Steiger, Pierson, Auburn, Bavaria, and Whaletail are all giving up bass and a few northern pike on crankbaits and minnows. Hydes and Pierson lakes are kicking out sunfish in depths of 10-12 feet.
Waconia
On Lake Waconia, topwater lures and bucktails worked on the reefs continue to entice muskies during evening hours. The reef edges are producing some walleyes on jigs and minnows during evening hours. Sunfish action is strong at the weedlines and reefs in 12-18 feet of water. Work the deep weeds using jigs and plastics for bass.
Wayzata
On Lake Minnetonka, a jig and fathead minnow is producing a few more walleyes in 18 feet of water throughout Brown’s and Wayzata bays. Plastics are turning bass on the inside weedlines. Sunfish remain active at the shallow weed edges. Topwater lures are raising muskies on top of the weeds and flats.
Chisago City
The deep weedlines of Chisago Lake are giving up bass, sunfish, and a few walleyes during evening hours. Sunrise Lake has been good for both sunfish and northern pike in depths of 10-15 feet. North Lindstrom and South Center lakes are safe bets for panfish in 10-14 feet of water.
White Bear Lake/Northeast Metro vicinity
Lots of smaller sunfish and a few larger fish are being taken from less than 10 feet of water on most area lakes. Crappies can be found suspended at the weedlines of Peltier and Centerville lakes. Bass action has been very good on most lakes, with most of the larger fish coming off Demontreville and Big Marine lakes. White Bear and Forest lakes are safe bets for northern pike. The St. Croix River is producing some walleyes and catfish in the deeper waters.
Southern Minnesota
Red Wing
Walleyes and sauger are hitting crankbaits worked in 20-25 feet on Lake Pepin. The backwater areas of the Mississippi River are providing steady panfish action. Work the rock piles on Lake Pepin using crankbaits or minnows for lots of smallmouth bass. Northern pike continue to hit spoons and minnows at the mouth of the Rush River.
Faribault
Walleyes continue to hit leeches worked in 12-14 feet on Lake Mazaska. Spoons, crankbaits, and spoon plugs are triggering northern pike at the weedlines of Shields Lake. Sunfish action is strong in 6-8 feet of water on Mazaska and Hunt lakes. Bass are hitting jigs at the deep milfoil patches on Cedar Lake. Muskie anglers are reporting quite a few follows on French Lake when using bucktails.
Mankato
Bluegill action remains consistent in 10-12 feet of water on Lakes Washington and Francis. Rattle traps are producing walleyes in depths of 5 feet on Lake Tetonka. Shad raps are working well in 6-8 feet of water on Lake Hanska. Crappies can be found suspended over 14-20 feet of water on Madison Lake. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows on Big Jefferson Lake in 12-14 feet.
Fairmont
Minnows have started to produce some walleyes on Fox Lake during evening hours. Look for crappies and bluegills in 8 feet of water on Hall, Budd, and George lakes. Bass are hitting plastics on lakes Sissiton and Budd.
Ortonville
Jumbo perch have started hitting on Big Stone Lake. Work the Grapevine, Schmidt’s Landing, Rocky Ledge, and Windmill Reef areas using minnows or waxworms in 12-14 feet of water for the most fish. Nightcrawlers continue to produce catfish on the Minnesota River throughout the day.
Willmar
The weedlines of Diamond Lake are producing sunfish and a few walleyes during low-light hours. Sunfish are active in 10-15 feet of water on lakes Andrew, Nest, North Long, Games, Eagle, and Norway. Hit 12-25 foot depths on Green Lake for walleyes and smallmouth bass.
“The information in this report is provided courtesy of Outdoor News, and Explore Minnesota Tourism.”
