Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update, Oct. 17, 2014 Fishing remains strong throughout Minnesota! In addition to great fall fishing action, anglers are enjoying the current warm temperatures, sunny skies, and beautiful fall colors!
Consult the Minnesota DNR Fishing Basics web page for the most current information on seasons and regulations. Anglers may obtain fishing licenses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by dialing 1-888-665-4236, or accessing DNR License Sales.
Northeast Minnesota
International Falls - Rainy Lake & the Rainy River
Rainy Lake’s Black Bay and the Rat Root River are the hottest spots for walleyes and crappies at this time. The Rat Root flows through its own lake and into the west end of Black Bay where anglers are finding walleyes in 10-15 feet of water throughout this stretch of water. The crappies are in the same locations, but a little tougher to find. There have also been good reports of walleye action both above and below the Ranier Rapids. The Rainy River has been hot for walleye all the way from International Falls to Baudette. The annual fall run of walleyes follows the run of emerald shiners. If possible, use emerald shiners as your bait, however, walleyes should respond to other minnows as well. 800-325-5766;
www.rainylake.orgKabetogama
Temperatures in the 60s, moderate winds and lots of sunshine is making everyone, including anglers, very happy. Fall fishing is in full swing, and anglers are quite satisfied with the bite. Walleyes are steadily hitting on the reef structure and at times along the shorelines in 28-32 feet of water. Walleye anglers are also pulling in a few jumbo perch, fat saugers and crappies. Northern pike are being caught at a good pace, but the larger fish are still evasive. For the most fish, use a jig and minnow, or slip bobber and sucker minnow. Areas around mid-Kabetogama on down towards Lake Namakan are best for walleyes. For northern pike, hit the weedlines and windswept bays in 10-18 feet of water. 800-524-9085;
www.kabetogama.comDuluth/Grand Marais - Lake Superior
The Lake Superior Lake Trout Fishing Season and the summer creel survey ended quietly, with low effort and fair fishing success for those who fished through the last weekend. The Lake Trout Season is now closed and will reopen on December 1. To protect spawning Lake Trout from October 6 to November 30, fishing is not allowed from boats near Duluth between the mouth of Chester Creek and the Duluth Lighthouse. Otherwise, anglers may fish for salmon, rainbow trout, and walleyes in Lake Superior and in tributaries below posted boundaries. Most salmon are caught while trolling near shore in the upper 80 feet of the water surface. All unclipped rainbow trout must be released immediately. Weekly fishing updates will begin again in the spring of 2015 when the tributaries open up and the Spring Creel Survey commences. The summer creel survey will begin on May 23, 2015 and the summer fishing reports will begin on May 28, 2015.
www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/lakesuperiorGrand Rapids
Fall fishing has been excellent on area lakes, and anglers are having a hard time putting the boat away! Walleyes have been especially active on Big Cutfoot and Bowstring lakes, as well as Trout Lake in Coleraine. Northern pike and crappie fishing remains good on several area lakes, and it is expected to remain good for the next couple weeks. Leaves are falling, grouse hunting has been great, the air is fresh, and the weather has been and will remain outstanding for fall activities through the weekend!
www.visitgrandrapids.comNorthwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
While high winds have kept anglers close to the south shore on Lake of the Woods, anglers continue to take limits. Jigging with a frozen shiner has been the most effective. Check depths of 18-28 feet in front of Zippel Bay and Pine Island, or check 25 foot depths outside the Lighthouse Gap. Some anglers are also doing well when pulling spinners with crawlers through 15-25 feet of water near Garden Island. The shiner run continues in the Rainy River, and walleyes have been active in the river. Fish are moving at bit deeper, holding in roughly 17-20 feet of water. For the most action, use a 3/8-ounce pink/gold jig with a live minnow from the International Bridge on towards The Gap. Trolled crankbaits have also been effective. Up at the Northwest Angle, Little Oak and Oak Islands are the hot spots, especially when jigging with frozen shiners; gold colors and depths of 18-24 feet have been best. The crappie bite has started as well, with mixed bags being reported. The muskie bite remains good, with walleye anglers catching muskies on jig and minnow combinations meant for walleyes. The rock points and reefs are giving up the most fish. Trolling methods are also turning muskies. The bite is on! 800-382-FISH;
www.lakeofthewoodsmn.comBena -Lake Winnibigoshish
Walleyes are hitting jigs and minnows worked along the weed edges in 8-12 feet of water on Lake Winnibigoshish. Remain mobile until you catch a fish, then double back to check for more. Try to play the wind as going along with the wind is best right now. Perch are in the weed beds in 6-11 feet of water. Some crappies continue to be pulled from Cutfoot Sioux; they seem to be moving deeper.
www.lakewinnie.netDetroit Lakes Area Lakes
The fall bite for all species has been good this week, and the nice weather looks like it should continue at least through the weekend! Trophy muskies and walleyes are coming from multiple lakes. There are several lakes that still have schools of walleyes in the shallows and in the deeper waters, and other area lakes where walleyes are relating only to the deeper basin areas. Jigs or rigs with minnows, jigging rapalas, and trolling crankbaits have been best. Muskie anglers are taking fish on large sucker minnows, with Big Detroit, Sallie, Pelican, Beers and Many Point lakes all producing well. Water temperatures continue to hover around 40 degrees in the Detroit Lakes area. The water is low so come prepared for launching and loading boats. 800-542-3992;
www.visitdetroitlakes.comCentral Region
Sauk Centre - Sauk Lake
The walleyes are biting at the Narrows Bridge, with anglers taking fish from boat and from shore when using shiners. The best times to catch walleyes are early morning and late evening. Good numbers of crappies are coming from the deep hole on the north end of Sauk Lake, with fish found suspended when using a tube jig with a crappie minnow -- use your fish finder to locate these fish. 855-444-SAUK;
www.visitsaukcentre.comGarrison/Isle -Lake Mille Lacs
As of last weekend, the walleye bite had picked up. Leeches were the top live bait producers, followed by shiners and rainbows. After dark, some people were having some success when trolling crankbaits. Northern pike action was decent for anglers using suckers in 12 feet or less along the remaining weedlines. 888 -350-2692;
www.millelacs.comWillmar Lakes Area
The feeding frenzy is heating up as the water temperatures drop! Area lakes were at roughly 57-degrees as of Oct. 15. Green Lake anglers have been catching good numbers of walleyes, with most measuring 16- to 19-inches in length. Walleyes and crappies are biting on Eagle, Willmar, Foot and Ringo lakes. Anglers are excited to head out this weekend and take advantage of another stretch of warm and wonderful weather! 800-845-8747;
www.willmarlakesarea.comSouthern Minnesota
Lanesboro -Southeast Bluff Country Trout Streams
As of Oct. 9, all area streams and river are clear with normal water levels. More blue-winged olives were seen on the Middle Branch Whitewater at Crow Springs. And on Oct. 7, a nice blue-winged olive hatch was observed on North Branch Whitewater. Some crickets were also making a lot of ruckus on the dry gravel bars. Most trout are in excellent condition, and very heavy for their length. Please note that the catch-and-release only season for stream trout in this region closed on Oct. 15. The catch-and-release only season will resume Jan. 1, 2015. As further updates on stream conditions become available, they are posted on the Southeast Minnesota Stream Conditions web page. You are also welcome to call the office for updates at 507-467-2442. Before traveling, please check out the new detailed fishing easement maps. 800-944-2670;
www.lanesboro.comOrtonville -Big Stone Lake
As of last weekend, the perch bite remained strong on Big Stone Lake. In addition to nice size perch, anglers are taking a few crappies and even some walleyes during evening hours. Anglers having the most success with the perch have been fishing the Bay View area, and the shoreline between Grapevine and BayView. The walleyes have mostly been a night bite, hitting pitched jigs and twister tails off the concrete pier in Ortonville and along the shoreline. This is a pretty common bite this time of year when water temperatures drop to the mid to lower 50s. 800-568-5722;
www.bigstonelake.com
