Explore Minnesota Fishing Report as of Thursday, August 14
In general, anglers are enjoying the abundance of panfish and bass action, especially with the decrease in walleye action.
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Northeastern Minnesota
International Falls
On Rainy Lake, the deep humps and reefs are giving up walleyes in 36-45 feet of water. Live bait rigs tipped with crawlers or leeches have worked best both early and late in the day. The smallmouth bass bite has been very good on the Canadian side. The deep weedline in Lost Bay is holding northern pike, with the larger fish hitting minnows and crankbaits.
Grand Rapids
Crappies can be found suspended near the weedlines on North Star, Big Splithand, Wabana, and Little Splithand lakes. Bluegill action remains strong in 10-14 feet of water on Bass, Spider, and Little Cutfoot lakes. Walleyes tend to prefer spinner rigs tipped with leeches or crawlers worked in depths of 18-25 feet on Pokegama and Trout lakes, as well as in 14-20 feet of water on Sand Lake, and in depths of 16-22 feet on Swan Lake. Muskie reports remain limited, but northern pike are hitting minnows on Lake Pokegama in 20-25 feet of water.
Grand Marais
Walleye anglers are taking fish on leeches worked in 20-30 feet of water on Saganaga, Two Island, Devil’s Fish, and Twin lakes. Smallmouth bass have been an easy catch on the rocky shorelines of most lakes. Spoons are producing northern pike on Northern Lights Lake. Carrot Lake is giving up brook trout, and good numbers of rainbow trout are being pulled from both Mink and Trout lakes.
Duluth
Bluegills continue to bite in 10 feet of water on Fish Lake. Rice Lake is giving up numbers of northern pike in depths of 5 feet or less. Walleyes can be found using stickbaits over 30-40 feet of water on Lake Superior. The best lake trout and salmon action is taking 20-70 feet below the surface on Lake Superior. Fish Lake is producing walleyes on crawlers and leeches worked in depths of 12-14 feet.
Northcentral/West Minnesota
Baudette
On Lake of the Woods, leeches and nightcrawlers are triggering walleyes in 17-28 feet of water at the Lighthouse Gap, Morris Point Gap, and the larger reefs. Some walleye anglers are doing well when downrigging in the deeper waters. At the Northwest Angle & Islands area, the 20-foot reefs around Little Oak Island, Crowduck, and Oak Island continue to produce walleyes. These reefs, and the weedlines adjacent to them are also holding muskies.
Blackduck
Small walleyes remain active on Blackduck Lake, with Island and Gull lakes kicking out most of the larger fish in 10-14 feet of water. Bluegill and crappie action remains strong in depths of 6-12 feet on North Twin, South Twin, and Pimushe lakes. Northern pike and bass have been an easy catch at the weedlines of most lakes when using live bait or crankbaits.
Bemidji
A few walleyes are being pulled from Lake Bemidji and Pike Bay Lake during the day on spinners and crawlers worked in 20 feet of water. Crankbaits have also produced walleyes after dark in depths of 10-12 feet. Grace Lake continues to provide steady bluegill action in 10-14 feet of water. The weedlines of Julia Lake are holding northern pike. Bucktails have raised quite a few muskies on Bemidji and Plantagenet lakes during low-light hours.
Cass Lake
On Cass Lake, the most consistent walleye bite is taking place at night, with anglers taking the most fish on shad raps. North Cedar Bar, Tom’s Bar, and O’Neal’s Point have all been good locations to check out. Some good-sized perch are coming from North Cedar Bar on minnows worked in 10-12 feet of water during the day. Work the weedlines of Allen’s Bay for northern pike and bass. Muskie action remains slow, and those that have been caught have been small.
Bena
On Lake Winnibigoshish, leeches and live bait rigs are turning walleyes on the main-lake bars in 18-24 feet of water. On windy days, the shallow weedlines and shoreline breaks are also producing walleyes to anglers using jigs and minnows at the wind-driven areas. Good-sized perch are being taken on minnows, and on short lindy rigs and crawlers, worked on the rocks and humps. Northern pike are active in the weeds, however most of the netted fish have been small.
Walker
On Leech Lake, anglers covering a lot of water using nightcrawlers and spinners are taking walleyes from 12-18 feet of water during the day. During evening hours, work the flats and breaks near Stoney Point, Sand Point, Grandview Flats, and Goose Island using crankbaits. Topwater baits are producing bass in the rice beds throughout Boy Bay. A few panfish are coming from Shingobee Bay and the Walker Narrows. Muskies have not settled into a particular pattern, however anglers do report that bucktails seem to be working best at the weedlines.
Hackensack
Leeches, crawlers, and crankbaits are all producing walleyes on Ten Mile Lake. The 8- to 12-foot cabbage beds on Birch and Pleasant lakes are giving up sunfish and crappies. Bass are hitting plastics on most area lakes. Bucktails continue to raise muskies on Baby, Little Boy, and Wabedo lakes.
Park Rapids
Spinners tipped with crawlers and leeches are producing walleyes during low-light hours in 24 feet of water on Long Lake. Hit Big Mantrap Lake using sucker minnows in 14 feet of water for lots of northern pike, or throw topwater baits into the weeds for muskies. Bluegills remain active on the 12- to 14-foot weed edge of Island Lake and the Crow Wing Chain. Crankbaits are triggering rainbow trout, most of which have been suspended over deeper water on Bad Medicine Lake.
Detroit Lakes
Walleyes are taking leeches and crawlers at the weedlines of Sallie, Melissa, Big Detroit, and Island lakes. Muskie anglers are finding some success using bucktails and topwater baits on Big Detroit. Lakes Melissa and Sallie are kicking out northern pike. Panfish continue to be taken from the deep weed edges on most area lakes.
Battle Lake
Walleyes are hitting leeches and crawlers during evening hours on Otter Tail and West Battle lakes. Clitherall Lake is providing steady crappie and bluegill action in 15-20 feet of water, with most of the larger fish found suspended. Sunfish are coming from depths of 12-15 feet on Stalker, Rush, Elbow, and West Battle lakes. Largemouth bass remain active in the weeds of most area lakes, with the larger fish coming from Blanche and Long lakes. For muskies, troll minnows or crankbaits at the inside weed edges of West Battle Lake.
Alexandria
Lakes Miltona, Reno, and Ida remain the area’s best bet for walleyes, with depths of 12-18 feet giving up the most fish. The larger bass are now hitting crankbaits on the main-lake bars of most area lakes, mainly in 14-17 feet of water. Look to Carlos, Le Homme Dieu, Geneva, Mary, and Darling lakes for numbers of panfish, especially in 12-16 feet of water.
Starbuck
Walleye action has slowed, but northern pike have been active, and can be found using minnows at the creek inlets on Lake Minnewaska. Minnewaska is also producing sunfish in 10-12 feet of water, and bass have been an easy catch throughout the lake.
Osakis
On Lake Osakis, sunfish action is picking up on the main-lake bars in 9-12 feet of water. Bass and northern pike are cruising the weed edges and hitting live bait and crankbaits. Work the sunken island, bars, and north-end breaks using crawlers and leeches in depths of 15-22 feet for walleyes.
Brainerd/Nisswa
Crankbaits, plastics, and minnows have been best for bass and northern pike on Gull, North Long, Round, and Whitefish lakes. Sunfish are holding at the deeper weedlines of most area lakes and are coming in on jigs tipped with small leeches. For walleyes, hit 14-18 feet of water using live bait rigs tipped with redtails or leeches on Gull Lake.
Crosby
Serpent, Horseshoe, and Clearwater lakes are producing northern pike and bass on spinnerbaits worked at the 12- to 15-foot weedlines. Bluegills are hitting small leeches in 10-14 feet of water on Rose, Mahnomen, and Serpent lakes. Pennington and Huntington pits continue to produce trout on power bait and crawlers. Walleye action has been best late in the day when using crankbaits in depths of less than 15 feet on Rabbit and Pelican lakes.
Isle/Onamia
On Lake Mille Lacs, the east-end weedlines and shallow rocks are holding muskies, with most of the fish coming in on bucktails and topwater lures during evening hours and after dark. The evening hours continue to provide the majority of walleye action. For the most fish, work the mid-depth rocks and mud areas using a slip bobber and leech. Smallmouth bass are hitting tube jigs at the shallow rocks. On the west-end of the lake, the nighttime walleye bite is improving, with fish being taken on leeches and slip bobbers worked at the mud flats in 28-30 feet of water. Spinners and live bait are producing some walleyes during the day off the flats, however the day bite remains inconsistent. Smallmouth bass action has been excellent at the rocky points, with a variety of artificial presentations producing fish. For northern pike, work the weedlines of any west-end bay. Muskie reports have been “sporadic” at best.
St. Cloud/Eden Valley
Sunfish are being pulled from 6-12 feet of water on Becker, Horseshoe, Cedar Island, and Rice lakes. Crankbaits are producing a few walleyes at night on Lake Koronis in depths of 10-14 feet. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows at the 10-foot weedlines of Rice and Browns lakes. For channel cats, work the deeper holes of the Sauk River using nightcrawlers.
Twin Cities vicinity
Elk River/Zimmerman
Smallmouth bass are hitting minnows, spinners, and plastics on the Mississippi and Rum rivers. Hit Elk and Blue lakes using sucker minnows in 9-12 feet of water for northern pike. Sunfish are coming from 8-12 feet of water on Blue Lake. Work the deep holes of the Mississippi River using nightcrawlers for catfish.
Annandale
Walleye action has been limited to a short window of evening activity on Clearwater Lake, with fish coming from 14-24 feet of water. Sunfish remain active at the 12- to 14-foot weedlines of Clearwater, Sylvia, Twin, Pleasant, and Sugar lakes. Bass and northern pike are being pulled from the shallow weeds out to 14 feet of water on Bass, Cedar, Francis, Clearwater, and Pleasant lakes. A few more muskies have been recently taken on topwater lures during low-light hours on Sugar Lake.
Prior Lake/West Metro vicinity
Sucker minnows are producing northern pike at the 10- to 12-foot weedlines of Steiger and Zumbra lakes. Plastics remain the best option for largemouth bass on Bavaria, Auburn, and Minnewashta lakes. The Minnesota River continues to give up catfish.
Waconia
On Lake Waconia, an occasional flurry of walleye activity is taking place during evening hours on the reefs in 17-20 feet of water. Sunfish are active in depths of 10-15 feet along the weedlines of Pillsbury, Center, and Anderson’s reefs, as we as in Reinkie’s Bay. Muskies have started chasing topwater lures near the swimming beach and Center Reef. Bass are coming in on topwater lures worked in the shallows both early and late in the day, with fish also being taken on plastics worked in the shallows near deep structure during the middle of the day.
Wayzata
On Lake Minnetonka, the 17- to 20-foot weed edge has been best for northern pike, panfish, bass, and an occasional walleye. The 17- to 24-foot weedlines on Medicine Lake have been providing similar results. Look for bucktails or sucker minnows to trigger muskies on Minnetonka and Lake Calhoun.
Chisago City
Good numbers of sunfish and bass are being pulled from the 10- to 15-foot weedlines of North Center, Chisago, South Lindstrom, and Little lakes. Sucker minnows continue to produce northern pike in depths of 12-16 feet on Sunrise Lake. Walleye reports have been minimal.
White Bear Lake/Northeast Metro vicinity
Northern pike and bass are hitting spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and minnows worked at the weedlines of White Bear, Big Marine, Olson, and Demontreville lakes. Muskies are coming in on topwater baits and bucktails worked on Bald Eagle and Forest lakes. Sunfish seem to be active on most area lakes in 10-12 feet of water. The catfish bite remains strong on the St. Croix River.
Southern Minnesota
Ortonville
Jointed shad raps are turning walleyes on the east and west sides of Lake Oliver in 12-15 feet of water. Look to the rock piles on the north end of Lake Traverse for good numbers of bluegills early and late in the day. The Highway 75 Dam area on the Minnesota River is kicking out channel catfish, with most of these fish coming in on nightcrawlers.
“The information in this report is provided courtesy of Outdoor News, and Explore Minnesota Tourism.”
