Explore Minnesota Fishing Report: January 9, 2009
This report is brought to you by Explore Minnesota Tourism. Anglers choosing to venture out are encouraged to call ahead for the most current ice conditions. Please note that the Department of Natural Resources reports that 4 inches of new, clear ice is the minimum thickness recommended for travel by foot. Ice safety guidelines also recommend a minimum of 5 inches of new, clear ice for snowmobiles and ATV's, and 8-12 inches of new, clear ice for cars and small trucks. Please note that ice is never considered totally safe. For more on ice thickness guidelines and ice safety tips, check out Ice Thickness Guidelines by the Department of Natural Resources website. Anglers may obtain fishing licenses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by dialing 1-888-665-4236, or accessing DNR License Sales
Northeastern Minnesota
International Falls
Most anglers are catching walleyes and some crappies in Sand Bay, with anglers doing especially well at Birch Point. For the most fish, hit 25-35 feet of water using a jig tipped with a minnow. Travel has become a bit tougher due to the abundance of snow on the lake, however anglers using sleds and portable gear are finding some hot spots further east. And, some larger northern pike have recently been taken from the area near the mouth of Black Bay. The Green Lake Trail is open and staked from Black Bay to Ash River. As always, please make safety your first priority. For more information, dial 1-800-325-5766, or check out
www.rainylake.orgEly
Ice conditions are slowly beginning to improve and anglers are starting to report some nice numbers of walleyes and northern pike. Snowmobiles remain the best way to get around due to some large patches of slush covering the ice. Buckshot spoons tipped with minnow heads are working best for walleye anglers fishing 20-30 feet of water. The northerns are being taken on sucker minnows fished 1-2 feet off the bottom in 5-15 feet of water. While in Ely, stop in at one of the bait shops for the most current conditions. For further information, dial 1-800-777-7281, or visit
www.ely.orgDuluth
Fish Lake continues to be produce lots of crappies, with most found by anglers using minnows or waxworms in 17 feet of water. Rice Lake remains good for numbers for northern pike, and two northerns weighing over 20 pounds were taken last week. Walleye action has picked up in the St. Louis River Bay and at Boy Scout Landing. Bay and river anglers are asked to please contact the local bait shops for the most current conditions for these areas. To learn more, dial 1-800-438-5884, or check out
www.visitduluth.comNorthcentral/West Minnesota
Baudette/Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
Lake of the Woods continues to have a great winter season. The fish remain very active, and walleye anglers are moving their fish houses to deeper waters. At present, the houses are sitting roughly five miles off shore over 25-30 feet of water, and the bite is picking up. The best approach has been a jig tipped with a frozen shiner. The majority of fish have been the smaller, eating-sized walleyes. A few trophy walleye have been caught further north, near Garden Island. And at the Northwest Angle and Islands area, anglers are having lots of success around the reefs south of Oak Island. Jigging and live lines, along with a variety of tackle, are all working well. For more information, dial 1-800-382-FISH, or visit
www.lakeofthewoodsmn.comBemidji
Most of the recent walleye action has taken place during morning and evening hours in the clear water lakes. During the day, anglers are also taking fish from the lakes with stained water. Lake Bemidji is giving up a few walleyes, and the perch tend to be on the small side. The best action has been during stable weather and at night when the noise on the ice is at a minimum. Upper Red Lake offers a better day bite since it is relatively shallow, and just as the name implies, the water is stained. Walleye anglers are pulling fish from 10-12 feet of water on the shoreline break, and out on the basin flats in 12-15 feet of water. Most crappies are being taken accidentally by walleye anglers fishing the deeper waters. Lake Winnibigoshish continues to be one of the better lakes in the area for walleyes and perch. Anglers are having lots of success fishing the larger bars in the middle of the lake. Most walleyes are coming from 16-24 feet of water during morning and evening hours. The best perch action has been slightly later in the day. Anglers will want to consider the Beaver Pride Hardwater Classic Fishing Contest taking place on Lake Bemidji on Saturday, January 17, with cash prizes for 1st-, 2nd- & 3rd-place fish in two categories, as well as random prizes given to anglers taking the first 50 fish. To learn more, dial 1-800-458-2223, or check out
www.visitbemidji.comWalker/Leech Lake
Ice conditions vary greatly on Leech Lake. At Walker Bay, there is 10-12 inches of ice, and some anglers are starting to venture out up to one-quarter of a mile from shore and landing locations using small- to medium-sized vehicles. Some of the smaller area lakes have up to 18-22 inches of ice. The crappie and sunfish bite has been excellent, with fish coming from 18-20 feet of water. Good numbers of northern pike continue to be taken using both angling and spearing methods. Jumbo perch are still active during daylight hours. Walleye anglers continue to do well at sunset. Roads are plowed from Anderson’s Grand Vu Lodge and Adventure North Resort. For more information, dial 218/547-1313, or visit
www.leech-lake.comPark Rapids
Travel on many area lakes remains difficult. A few lakes have plowed roads, but many do not. Vehicle and ATV travel is very limited, and snowmobiles remain the best option due to the abundance of snow, flooding and slush. Anglers that have made it out, however, have had lots of success. The panfish are eagerly biting along the weedlines. Both bluegill and crappie anglers have done well using ice jigs tipped with a waxworm, spike, eurolarva or small minnow. Since the largemouth bass inhabit the same areas as the panfish, anglers report quite a few largemouth bass mixed in with the crappies and sunnies. Northern pike have been very active this past week, with a lot of nice-sized pike, and a few 6- to 10-pound fish, being reported. The best bet for these large fish has been a large sucker minnow on an equally large hook. Walleye anglers have seen varied success this past week. For the most fish, use a shiner on a plain hook, or a buckshot rattle spoon tipped with a fathead minnow, in depths of 15-22 feet. Evening hours have been best for numbers of walleyes, but some nice fish have also been taken during the day. To find out more, dial 1-800-247-0054, or check out
www.parkrapids.comBrainerd
The abundance of snow has created some tough conditions for lake travel. Most anglers are driving out with trucks, ATVs or snowmobiles. Please be sure to bring a shovel since it is easy to get stuck due to all of the slush. Ice on most area lakes currently measures 12-16 inches. The walleye bite has been decent on Gull, Pelican, and North Long lakes. Fish have been most active in 14-25 feet of water, with shiner minnows or jigging spoons tipped with fatheads working best. Quite a few eating-sized walleyes are coming in with the smaller fish. The northern pike action remains good on Edwards, the Gull Lake Chain, and Whitefish lakes. Some nice-sized fish are being taken on sucker minnows or shiners under tip-ups placed along the weedlines. The crappie and panfish bite remains strong, and has offered lots of fun this winter. Good reports seem to be coming from all of the smaller area lakes. The crappies are stacked up in the basin areas and feeding during evening hours. For the most fish, use a demon jig and crappie minnow. During the day, panfish are hitting small ant-style jigs tipped with a spike or waxworm. Good sunfish lakes include Nisswa, Edna, Pelican, and Cullen. And anglers will want to remember the upcoming Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza on Gull Lake on Saturday, January 24. For further information, dial 1-800-450-2838, or visit
www.visitbrainerdlakes.comIsle/Onamia/Lake Mille Lacs
Lake Mille Lacs resort owners continue to pull out fish houses and plow roads. At present, the best walleye bite is in the deeper waters, both off the mud flats and at the deeper rock areas. Anglers heading to Mille Lacs with portables or wheel houses should check depths of 20-plus feet of water during the day, and the shallower waters during evening hours. Try to stay mobile to locate fish–hit your favorite spot, but be prepared to move if necessary. Minnows and fatheads continue to be the bait of choice. Anglers report that lake travel has not been difficult due to snowcover. For more information, dial 1-888-350-2692, or check out
www.millelacs.com “The information in this report is provided courtesy of community organizations throughout Minnesota. This report is brought to you by Explore Minnesota Tourism.”
