Explore Minnesota Fishing Report for June 21
The Fishing Hot Spot this week is Crosslake, where the Whitefish Chain is giving up good numbers of walleyes, as well as lots of northern pike, bass, crappies and sunnies.
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NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA
Duluth
Walleye fishing has been best on Isle Lake using a slip bobber and leech in roughly 15 feet of water. The Rice Lake shallows are also giving up walleyes--for the most fish, hit depths of 3 feet using leeches by the stumps. On Fish Lake, try leeches at the weedlines. Some fish are being pulled from the St. Louis River. On Lake Superior, fishing has been excellent. Lots of coho and lake trout are being reported. Anglers are doing best when fishing in 80 feet of water, roughly 40 feet down, in front of Duluth and up to the Knife River. The walleyes are biting on the south shore in depths of 30 feet of water, about 12-14 feet down. Anglers are having the most success when trolling purple or green stickbaits. Lots of 25- to 30-inch walleyes and a few large fish were recently pulled from Lake Superior, with one measuring 32-inches. The catfish bite has also been extremely good.
Ely
Area lakes are giving up limits of nice eating-size walleyes. Shagawa, Burntside, The Eagles Nest and Fall lakes have been best for good numbers of fish. Day trips into the Boundary Waters have also been productive. Smallmouth bass are slamming surface lures during early morning hours. During the day, use mid-depth diving plugs for some good bass action. Northern pike anglers are having lots of success using spoons, spinnerbaits and live sucker minnows, however most types of bait and styles of lure will produce fish.
Kabetogama
On Lakes Kabetogama and Namakan, fishing has been very good. Mayflies are emerging from the lake bottoms, and walleyes can be found chasing mayflies in the sand and muck bottom areas. Anglers report success in the shallows during morning and evening hours. During the day, check out 30 foot depths. Leeches have been the most effective for numbers of walleyes, followed by nightcrawlers. For saugers and perch, use minnows. Recently, several 40-plus inch northerns were reported, however most are averaging 2- to 4-pounds. For the most fish, troll or flip baits over the weed tops in bays where weeds are just emerging. Crappies are moving deeper and can be found suspended in summer hangouts. Saugers, measuring over 15-inches, have been very aggressive. For numbers of fish, hit slightly deeper waters using minnows.
International Falls
On Rainy Lake, graphs have been very helpful since walleyes have not been behaving in a consistent manner. Some fish can be found in 25-30 feet of water on the submerged reefs, and some are coming from the shallow bays. Minnows and leeches on jigs and spinners are turning fish near Blueberry Island, Kettle Falls, and around the east end of Sand Bay. Anglers expect the smallmouth bass and crappie bite to improve shortly. Northern pike remain active at the weedy edges of Black and Cranberry bays. Lake levels are returning to normal since the recent rainfall, and patterns may soon become more consistent. Water carity in the Rainy River worsens near the in-flow from the Littlefork and Bigfork rivers--anglers should consider the deeper channels upstream from these tributaries.
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NORTHCENTRAL/WEST MINNESOTA
Baudette
On Lake of the Woods, fishing remains excellent. Anglers are taking limits around the Lighthouse Gap, Zippel Bay and Pine Island areas. Fish are moving into deeper waters, and can be found in depths of 27-31 feet. Try anchoring and jigging a frozen shiner, minnow, leech, or crawler on a 3/8-ounce jig. Some anglers have had success drifting spinners. A few are also doing well by downrigging. At the Northwest Angle and Islands area, good numbers of fish are coming in on gold and chartreuse jigs worked in 21-22 feet of water around Oak Island. The lake has risen roughly one foot around the islands due to recent rainfall. The Rainy River has started to produce nice numbers of walleyes and saugers, along with a few smallmouth bass. Some huge sturgeon were caught and released during the last few weeks on the Rainy River. Please remember that the sturgeon season opens July 1st, and a special sturgeon tag must be purchased.
Blackduck
On Blackduck Lake, walleyes remain active at the mid-lake humps. Anglers are having lots of success using a lindy rig and crawler. The panfish bite has also been good, with most area lakes producing fish.
Bemidji
Walleye action remains strong on many area lakes. On Lake Bemidji, fish have moved deeper and are hitting lindy rigs and redtails, as well as crawlers on rigs. Northern pike action is improving. Bluegills are beginning to leave their beds. Muskies remain sluggish, however action should improve as the temperatures warm.
Bena
On Lake Winnibigoshish, the walleye bite has been good despite recent storms and rising water levels. The humps and bars are now producing the majority of fish, with slip sinker rigs tipped with a leech or crawler working best. There was a bug hatch this past week, causing fish to move deeper and prefer something other than a jig and minnow. The outside edge of Raven's Point, the mid-lake Humps, and Bena, Long, Sugar and Moses bars are all giving up nice numbers of walleyes. For the most success, use a graph and stay on the move until you locate active fish. Northern pike action has been good at the weed beds around Sugar and Third River bays.
Walker
Leech Lake walleye action has been excellent. Anglers are taking good numbers of fish from the Little Hardwoods on a jig and minnow combination. Bigrock Reef has also been very productive, however a leech and lindy rig, with a 6-7 foot snell and red hook, has been best. Use little silver spinners when there is a sufficient amount of wind. Good numbers of fish measuring more than 25-inches are being taken, including a 27 1/2-inch fish recently caught by an 8-year old boy! Walker Bay has been best for lots of "keeper-size" fish, with most measuring 13- to 16-inches. Try a jig and minnow combination on the humps, or a nightcrawler at the points and flats. Water temperatures are on the rise, and northern pike have become more aggressive. There have been reports of a few large muskies coming from Sub Island and the Red Rocks. Panfish are active in Steamboat Bay, especially at twilight. Anglers have been pleasantly surprised by the number and weight of these fish.
Hackensack
Ten Mile Lake is giving up walleyes in 22-26 feet of water on green and yellow spinner rigs tipped with leeches. Also try trolling during evening hours using a rapala floater in 12-20 feet of water. Large sunfish are coming from the warmer, smaller area lakes on waxworms and small ice jigs. Crappies have moved into 10-14 feet of water, with some being taken on beetle spins and crappie minnows when trolling very slowly with an electric motor. When the wind blows, head into the wind and set the motor just fast enough to make the boat move forwards. Look for weeds that have grown a few feet tall, and pull the bait just over the tops of the weeds. Evening hours are best. Webb and Ten Mile lakes have been good for lots of northern pike. To entice smallmouth bass, work the rocky shorelines with gravel or rocky bottoms using a flu-flu or other small jig that falls slowly. Largemouth bass are coming from the shallow weeds on plastic worms and spinnerbaits, with some pulled from 12-16 feet on hard baits.
Park Rapids
Walleyes are hitting leeches worked in 14-19 feet of water on Long Lake. Northern pike are coming from Fishhook Lake on jig and minnow combinations fished in depths of 12-14 feet. Crappies can be found suspended in 16-18 foot depths on Big Mantrap Lake at the deep weed edges. Sunnies are biting on the Crow Wing Chain in 9-12 feet of water, with waxworms working best. For bass, use spinners in the pencil reeds on any area lake.
Pelican Rapids
Walleye fishing has been good on Lida and Lizzie lakes. For the most fish, use crawlers or leeches in 18-20 feet of water. Most sunnies and crappies have moved out of all the shallow bays due to rising water temperatures. Hit the cabbage for these fish. A few muskies have been recently caught and released on Pelican Lake, however no large fish have been reported.
Battle Lake
Walleyes are biting on Ottertail Lake, and hitting many types of baits and lures. Anglers are doing well in 7-22 feet of water, deeper during the day and shallower towards night. On windy days, anglers are doing best up on the flats. On Battle and Clitheral lakes, the walleyes are holding in depths of 15-20 feet, hitting leeches and golden shiners. Bass are active on West Battle lake, with lots of fish weighing over 5-pounds being reported. Crappies can be found suspended in 10-15 feet of water using small leeches, especially on Battle, Molly Stark, Clitheral and Walker lakes. For northern pike, try trolling suckers along the weedlines. Lots of muskie follows are being reported.
Starbuck
On Lake Minnewaska, walleyes are hitting leeches and spinners worked in 14-18 feet of water on the flats and points on the Glenwood end of the lake. Bass have been very active throughout the lake. Sunnies are also very active, and can be found in the bullrushes on the north side of the lake. A lot of small northern pike are being reported. A few walleyes continue to be pulled from Mary and Emily lakes. Overall, surface water temperatures are now in the 70’s.
Nisswa
Fish are hanging near the weed flats and edges of the cabbage weeds. Bass are hitting leeches and plastic worms. Northern pike are slamming spinnerbaits, tipped with a medium-size sucker minnow, trolled in 8-15 feet of water. For crappies and sunnies, hit depths of 8-10 feet. Crappies have been most active during evening hours. The sunnies are active all day. Walleye action has been sporadic. The majority of fish are coming from Gull and Pelican lakes. On Gull Lake, use a bottom bouncer and redtail chub in the weeds for the larger fish, with some smaller fish still coming from the weedlines. Anglers are also having success anchoring and using a slip bobber with a redtail or leech. On Pelican Lake, a live bait rig and redtail chub at the weedlines has worked best. Warmer weather has caused the lake temperatures to rise into the 70s, which has resulted in more active fish.
Crosslake
Walleye action has been good on the Whitefish Chain, especially during early morning and late evening hours. The best approach has been a redtail minnows or leech on a lindy rig worked at the steep drops in 18-26 feet of water. Northern pike action has been excellent, with fish hitting spinnerbaits at the weedlines. A pike minnow on a spinner rig or under a bobber has also worked well. Bass are active in depths of 4-8 feet of water, and hitting plastic worms and spinnerbaits at the docks and other shaded areas. Crappies and sunnies are hitting small jigs tipped with worms, waxworms and minnows, with fish found suspended in 12-18 feet of water.
Crosby
Walleyes are being pulled from West Rabbit and Serpent lakes, as well as the Mississippi River, during evening hours. Bass action has been best using plastics on Serpent, Rabbit, Horseshoe and Edwards lakes. Most area lakes are producing lots of northern pike, with Serpent, Horseshoe, Nokay, Lower Mission and Rabbit turning the most fish. For panfish, check out Manhomen, Blackhoof, East Rabbit and Clearwater. Trout continue to be taken roughly 15-25 feet down from the pits. Muskie action is heating up on Cedar Lake, and should continue to improve.
Isle
On Lake Mille Lacs, excellent numbers of walleyes continue to be taken from the rocks, mud and gravel. Up on the rocks, use a slip bobber and leech. At night, use a lighted bobber, with lots of 23- to 27-inch fish being reported. On the mud, troll a crawler on a spinner rig or lindy rig. Anglers are also having success at the deep gravel when drifting a lindy rig tipped with a crawler or jumbo leech.
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TWIN CITIES VICINITY
St. Cloud
Pearl, Big Birch and Big Swan lakes are producing good numbers of sunfish depths of 2-8 feet of water. Anglers are doing well using waxworms, beaver tail worms and panfish leeches. Walleyes continue to be pulled from Big Birch lake on leeches and nightcrawlers, with a few also coming from Grand Lake. Bass and northern pike are active on Pearl Lake. Mississippi River anglers are catching smallmouth bass, walleyes, crappies and catfish. Catfish are also biting on the Horseshoe Chain.
Annandale
On Clearwater Lake, bass are active along the weedlines, from roughly 10 feet of water into the shallows. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows under a bobber in 10-15 feet of water. Lots of sunnies are coming from the weeds on small leeches and waxworms. Walleyes are being taken on leeches and fatheads worked in roughly 15 feet of water at the east end humps. Crappies are biting at sunset in depths of 5 feet of water in the weeds.
Anoka
Good smallmouth bass action is being reported on the Mississippi River, especially between Monticello and Otsego on topwater plugs and spinnerbaits. Walleyes continue to be pulled from the Rum River during evening hours on redtails worked in the deeper holes. George and Crooked lakes are giving up some huge bass. Nice-size panfish are coming out of many area lakes.
Waconia
On Lake Waconia, a couple of muskies, measuring 42- and 44-inches, were recently caught and released. Lots of follows have also been reported. The sunnies are holding in depths of 8 feet or less, as well as out in the 20 foot range. Northern pike are very active, with a 9-pound fish taken last week. Crappies can be found at the reefs and deeper. Bass action has been best in 4 feet of water in the weeds.
Wayzata
On Lake Minnetonka, fish remain in the weeds. Northern pike are hitting spinners tipped with sucker minnows in 15 feet of water and less. Sunnies are active at the weeds throughout the lake. Crappies are being pulled from the channels at day break, as well as in deeper waters as the day progresses. For walleyes, work the weeds in roughly 15 feet of water using a jig tipped with a leech. Water tempertures have risen dramatically over the last week. The warmer water temperatures are expected to result in an increase in northern pike and muskie activity. Trolling deep and fast should soon be the key to success with these larger fish.
Forest Lake
Muskies have become very active with the increase in water temperature. Crappies have moved into deeper waters. The sunfish remain shallow. Walleyes are coming out of the shallows on Clear, Forest, and North and South Center lakes at night, and from depths of 15-20 feet during the day. Northern pike are becoming more active, with anglers doing well casting and bobber fishing.
Chisago City
Sunnies and crappies have been very active with the recent warm temperatures. Walleyes are biting during early morning hours in 10-18 feet of water at the hard bottom areas. Bass action on Chisago Lake has been excellent, but please remember that this lake is catch and release only for bass. Anglers are taking crappies from depths of 12-14 feet.
East Metro waters
Big Marine, Big Carnelian and Bald Eagle lakes are giving up lots of bass and northern pike. The sunnies are biting on Little Lake near Lindstrom, as well as on Peltier and White Bear lakes. Crappies are coming out of the St. Croix River, Bald Eagle Lake, and Jane Lake during evening hours. Walleyes and sauger are active on the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers. A few muskies have also been recently reported.
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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
Red Wing
On the Mississippi River, anglers continue to take a few walleyes and sauger by pulling plugs. The flats have also been good. On the Rush River, anglers are taking a few large northern pike on red eye spoons and large sucker minnows. Bay Point Park remains good for sunnies, with crappies being pulled from the backwaters.
St. Peter
The panfish bite has been good on area lakes. A few walleyes are being taken from the 2nd and 3rd points on Lake Washington, along with a few sunnies. Northern pike are active on Lake Elysian. Bass anglers are doing well on German Lake.
Waterville
Lake Tetonka is giving up lots of northern pike and muskies. Muskies measuring 49- and 45-inches were recently taken on suckers and chubs. Shore anglers are catching quite a few crappies and large bass in the canal between the lakes. Lake Francis is producing plenty of panfish. Walleyes are active on Lake Elysian, with anglers doing well jigging and trolling leech and crawler rigs.
"The information in this report is provided courtesy The Outdoors Weekly, and Explore Minnesota Tourism."
