September 1, 2011 Explore Minnesota Fishing Report Temperatures are turning cooler, and the days are getting shorter. Walleye and jumbo perch action is heating up, and anglers are preparing for incredible fall bite. Some walleye anglers are beginning to switch back to live bait rigs and jigs. Leeches and crawlers are working well, with more anglers also having success using minnows.
Anglers may obtain fishing licenses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by dialing 1-888-665-4236, or accessing DNR License Sales.
International Falls - Rainy Lake & the Rainy River
Walleye remain active in Rainy Lake, especially in the stretch from Dryweed Island west into Sand Bay. Crappies are being pulled from Black Bay and some good-sized pike can be found at the mouths of the bays along the south shore of the lake. The Rainy River has also been good for numbers of fish, with most taken above and below the dam, especially from Woodland Park downstream past the golf course. And, the International Falls Bass Championship was once again an exciting time for everyone! 1-800-325-5766;
www.rainylake.orgKabetogama
Anglers are finding a decent walleye bite on lakes Kabetogama and Namakan, with fish found hugging the bottom in depths of 26-32 feet of water. Many anglers are doing well using leeches and crawlers, however minnows were the preferred bait this past week. For walleye and an occasional perch, use a jig or short snell rig to present live bait. Some anglers are reporting success using lead line presentations or bottom bouncers pulling artificial lures near the bottom at depths of 28-32 feet. Choose a lure that moves both naturally and close to the bottom without snagging or digging in. Large northern pike are occasionally surprising walleye anglers, attacking all types of offerings. Smallmouth bass remain active, chasing artificials along the shorelines, as well as bottom bouncer presentations. The water temperatures are just over 70 degrees keeping most gamefish near the bottom. Mid-Kabetogama on into Namakan offers the most productive water this time of year. 1-800-524-9085;
www.kabetogama.comEly
A strong shallow water walleye bite continues, with good numbers responding to rapalas slowly-trolled or casted near weed beds and drop offs at the mouths of bays. Spinner rigs are still working well in 14-25 foot depths when tipped with a crawler or leech. Large northern pike are attacking topwater baits, as well as tandem spinners worked in 5-8 feet of water. Suckers are also producing nice pike weighing up to 15-pounds, along with a few muskies measuring over 40-inches. Crappies and sunnies are being pulled from 5-10 feet of water on waxies and tube jigs. Area lakes are giving up smallmouth and largemouth bass weighing up to 6-pounds, with topwater chuggers and poppers working great at dawn and at dusk. 1-800-777-7281;
www.ely.orgCook/Tower - Lake Vermilion
1-800-648-5897;
www.lakevermilionresorts.comCook County: Lutsen-Tofte, Grand Marais, Gunflint Trail, and Grand Portage
Lots of lake trout are coming from Seagull Lake, located at the end of the Gunflint Trail. The majority of fish are being pulled from 50-70 foot depths on spoons and pimples. Good numbers of rainbow trout are coming from mid-Gunflint Trail lakes, such as Kimball, Leo, and Esther, with nightcrawlers, spinners, and flies working well. On Caribou Lake, located just north of Lutsen, walleye can be found in depths of 25-30 feet when using leeches and minnows. Northern pike anglers are having a blast using red and white spoons on Crescent Lake, with shore anglers also reeling in fish when working 30 foot depths. And reports of 10-pound fish are coming in from anglers trolling the weedlines. On Lake Superior, anglers using charter boats are having lots of success with schooling trout when trolling depths of roughly 40 feet. The best approach has been a husky jerk, shad rap, or countdown minnow. Salmon are heading to the deeper, darker and cooler waters, where anglers report lots of action.
www.VisitCookCounty.comGrand Rapids
www.visitgrandrapids.comNorthwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
On Lake of the Woods, the Northwest Angle and Islands area is giving up lots of walleye, muskie, smallmouth bass and northern pike. Downrigging has been best in the northern waters of Big Traverse, with colorful tackle attracting the larger walleye and sauger when worked in roughly 30 feet of water in the open waters and around the reefs. In the southern part of the lake, fishing remains great in the Morris Point and Lighthouse Gap areas in 23-27 feet of water. For the most fish, use crawlers on bright tackle, especially at the rocks and around the reefs. Limits, including trophies, are being reported. 1-800-382-FISH;
www.lakeofthewoodsmn.comBemidji
Fall fishing patterns are beginning to develop in many lakes, even though surface water temperatures remain above 70-degrees. Anglers are seeing a movement of perch into the shallows in most of the larger lakes. Walleye and northern pike are using many of the same shallow flats as with the perch. Most anglers are using jigs and fathead minnows for the perch, which usually results in a mixed bag of fish. Walleye anglers are finding walleye on the deep edge of the cabbage weeds, on top of the humps and bars, and also along steep breaks on the sides of structure. Most anglers start out by varying the depth until they catch a walleye or start to see fish on sonar. For the most success, it is important to "zero-in" on the depth of the most active walleye each day. Visibility in the lakes is still limited by algae, so some walleye anglers are using bottom bouncers and spinners. Other anglers are beginning to switch back to live bait rigs and jigs, with similar results to spinner rigs. Algae will begin to die-off quickly once the lakes begin to cool; while there will be a new layer of dead algae at the surface each morning, visibility will increase as fall progresses. 1-800-458-2223;
www.visitbemidji.comCass Lake
1-800-356-8615;
www.casslake.comWalker - Leech Lake
Leech Lake anglers are doing well when pulling crankbaits after dark, with some nice fish being reported. The High Banks in Walker Bay and the area around Cedar Point have been good after dark. The deep humps of Walker Bay and Sand Point continue to produce walleye in 40-50 feet of water just before dark. While walleye fishing has been difficult during the day, muskie action remains good in Portage and Sucker bays and around Little Pelican Island in the cabbage weeds. Miller and Steamboat bays can be counted on for some great panfish action, as well as some largemouth bass. The perch bite is improving, especially at the Walker Narrows, Miller Bay and Uram Bay. The surface water temperature is holding at 72-degrees. Walleye and perch should become more active with this week's cooler temperatures. 1-800-833-1118;
www.leech-lake.comPark Rapids
Anglers have been catching a nice mixture of fish. While the walleye bite has slowed, anglers still report nice catches using several different techniques. Live bait continues to produce numbers of walleye, but deep-water trolling with crankbaits is also working well. Northern pike and muskies have become very active, with reports of large northern pike and lots of muskie follows and catches. Bucktails and swimbaits are working well for both species in depths of 10-25 feet. The crappie and sunfish action has been phenomenal! Lots of large bluegills and slab crappies are coming from a number of different lakes on 1/16th-ounce mimic minnows. Largemouth and smallmouth bass action remains good, especially during lowlight hours. Topwater lures and crankbaits have been the most productive. 1-800-247-0054;
www.parkrapids.comDetroit Lakes
Water temperatures continue to drop in the Detroit Lakes area and daylight hours are from roughly 6:00 a.m. until 8:15 p.m.; plan your fishing outings accordingly to get the most of the great fall bite! Fish that have been relating to the same structure for several weeks have started their transition. Bite times, frequency and the length of duration have also started to change. Quality leeches are getting harder to obtain so try to bring some along. The minnow bite for walleye has started to pick up again, with fish now taking larger baits. The rigging bite with leeches and crawlers is also producing. This week, vertical jigging minnows along a 15 foot weedline produced a couple muskies in the upper 40- to lower 50-inch range on Big Detroit Lake; it appears the transition to more aggressive fall feeding has begun! Bass and panfish remain very active at the weed edges. 1-800-542-3992;
www.visitdetroitlakes.comCentral Region
Otter Tail Lakes Area
1-800-423-4571;
www.ottertailcountry.comWhitefish Chain of Lakes Area
Walleye action has improved, with good numbers coming in on lindy rigs and redtails worked in 17-25 feet of water during low-light hours. Nighttime anglers are having success pulling diving rapalas. Northern pike anglers are doing well using medium to large minnows on lindy rigs or jigs in 20 feet of water just outside of the weeds. Rattlin' rapalas and rattle traps are also working well. Bass are hitting nearly everything cast around the docks or trolled at the outside weedlines. Topwater baits cast over the lily pads have also been productive. Panfish anglers are having a great time using worms, waxworms and small leeches under bobbers at the weedbeds in 12-18 feet of water.
www.whitefish.orgBrainerd Lakes Area
Late last week, walleye were responding to redtails worked on the north end of Gull Lake in 17-22 feet of water. Redtails were also working well in 12-22 feet of water on the south end of Gull, and in depths of 21-23 feet on North Long Lake. Bass fishing remains great at the deep weedlines of most area lakes. For sunfish, hit depths of 12-18 feet on Sullivan and Round lakes. Toward the city of Crosby, the Mississippi River is producing lots of walleye and smallmouth bass around the Highway 6 Bridge, with good largemouth bass, panfish, and northern pike action between Little Rabbit Lake and Rice Lake. On Rabbit Lake, walleye are hitting crankbaits trolled deep during the day and leeches drifted on the breaklines during evening hours. Bay Lake is kicking out northern pike and bass along the weedlines. Crappie anglers are taking fish during the last hour of daylight on tube jigs worked in 16-19 feet of water on Clearwater and Serpent lakes. 1-800-450-2838;
www.explorebrainerdlakes.comAitkin
Fishing is a bit slower now as fish transition from summer to fall patterns. Bass have moved into heavier cover in shallower waters. Walleye are scattered, and northern pike have moved to the deeper breaks in 18-24 feet of water. Crappie action remains strong at the deep weed edges of Cedar and Bay lakes. At the north end of Lake Mille Lacs, anglers that continue to venture out are having some success. Walleye are being caught during evening hours on slip bobbers and leeches. There have also been some reports of walleye hitting small crankbaits pulled over the shallow rocks in the evening. The shoreline break in front of the Red Door Resort is giving up some fish on lead core and crankbaits pulled throughout depths of 26-28 feet. 1-800-526-8342;
www.aitkin.comIsle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs
The Mille Lacs walleye bite remains good. On windy, cloudy days, troll the shallow rock reefs using #5 shad raps for the most fish. On the clear, calmer days, try trolling lead core through the deeper waters. Bobber fish the deep water at the mud flats for some nice perch action. Smallmouth bass anglers are doing well when pitching tube jigs at the mid depth rocks. Northern pike and muskie action continues to improve along the weedlines. 1-888-350-2692;
www.millelacs.comWillmar
1-800-845-8747;
www.willmarlakesarea.comTwin Cities Greater Metropolitan vicinity
Northeast Metro/Chisago Lakes Area
Late last week, bass were biting in the shallows and deeper waters on all area lakes, especially during morning and evening hours. During the day, anglers were having success working depths of 10-18 feet with deep-diving crankbaits. Northern pike were active outside the weedlines, hitting sucker minnows under bobbers on Chisago, Sunrise and North Center lakes. Panfishing remained very good. Crappies could be found suspended just outside the weedlines in 12-20 feet of water on South Lindstrom, South Center and Chisago lakes. Limits of sunfish were coming from nearly every dock. The largest sunfish were pulled from depths of 8-12 feet. 651/257-1177;
www.chisagolakeschamber.comWhite Bear Area Lakes
Fishing is heating up on White Bear and Bald Eagle lakes, and all species are biting. Muskie are very active in the weeds, with some nice fish also coming from the rocks. Crappies are biting at the weedlines, and sunfish are being pulled from the weeds. Northern pike and bass are coming from the weed edges and rocks. For walleye, hit depths of 18-30 feet using fatheads and leeches. 651/653-5122;
www.ExploreWhiteBear.orgWaconia
952/442-5812;
www.destinationwaconia.orgSouthern Minnesota
Lake City - Lake Pepin/Pool #4 Mississippi River
1-877-525-3248;
www.lakecitymn.orgLanesboro - Southeast Bluff Country trout streams
As of Friday, August 26, all streams were in good condition. Hoppers were thick in the meadow areas of streams. Tricos were still out. Several were seen in a spider's web at Whitewater State Park, and small swarms of flying ants were observed on Crow Springs (Middle Branch Whitewater). The South Branch Root River downstream of Lanesboro finally had some turbidity. And late last week, the Whitewater River system watersheds were normal, and most streams and rivers had normal flows and clear conditions. 1-800-944-2670;
www.lanesboro.comFaribault Area Lakes
1-800-658-2354;
www.visitfaribault.comAlbert Lea
1-800-345-8414;
www.albertleatourism.orgFairmont Area Lakes
1-800-657-3280;
www.fairmontcvb.comOrtonville - Big Stone Lake
Perch fishing remains strong on Big Stone Lake, with anglers reporting a very aggressive bite! The traditional perch hot spots, such as the Grapevine, Bayview, Windmill Reef, Shady Beach, and SoDak Supper Club areas are producing good numbers. In fact, one angler staying at Schmidt's Landing caught a variety of fish each evening right off the dock, including catching and releasing roughly 30 smaller perch in one evening. Perch anglers are finding a few 11- to 13-inch fish, but most of the perch are averaging 9-inches. The most popular baits are grubs (spikes), crawlers, and even minnows. 1-800-568-5722;
www.bigstonelake.com
