The Fishing Hot Spot this week is the city of Kabetogama, where Lakes Kabetogama and Namakan are giving up excellent numbers of walleyes and sauger.
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NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA
Duluth
Island Lake is producing walleyes during morning and evening hours in 12-15 feet of water on top of the humps. The best approach has been a lindy rig tipped with a leech or crawler. Fish Lake is also giving up walleyes. Smallmouth bass are coming from the upper stretch of the St. Louis River, with fish found in the deeper holes due to low water levels. On Lake Superior, lake trout, coho and chinook are all biting. The cohos are averaging about 3-pounds, and the chinooks are coming in at more than 10-pounds. Fish are biting between Duluth and Two Harbors, with greater numbers of coho and lakers being pulled from waters north of Two Harbors. Walleyes are being pulled from the south shore and the harbor. In the harbor, fish are holding in roughly 30 feet of water, tight to the bottom. The best approach is to slowly troll purple and glow spoons, with flies and dodgers also starting to produce.
Ely
Walleye action has improved, with limits coming from area lakes once again. The best approach is to troll a crankbait, or use a lindy rig with a leech or crawler on the drops in 6-14 feet of water. It's unusual that walleyes are coming from such shallow depths, but anglers have stringers of fish to prove this has been the case! After dark, fish these areas using a minnow under a slip bobber. Smallmouth and largemouth bass are hitting crankbaits and tubes in the shallows.
Kabetogama
On Lakes Kabetogama and Namakan, walleyes continue to be pulled from waters less than 18 feet deep on slip-sinker rigs tipped with live bait. Casting and retrieving a 1/4-inch jig and leech in the shallows is also producing fish. During the day, walleyes and saugers can be found at the deeper structure in 30-40 feet of water when using a jig and minnow. Artificial lures are also starting to produce fish--try trolling a crankbait through 12-18 foot depths along the windswept shorelines, or target fish in depths of 30-plus feet using weights or lead-line setups. Kabetogama and Namakan both offer good late summer and fall walleyes and northern pike fishing. For the most fish, hit the deep water areas on Kabetogama, such as Martin, Cuculus, Green and Larkin Islands. Fishable structure can be found throughout Lake Namakan.
International Falls
On Rainy Lake, cooler and more overcast weather patterns are predicted, and fish are expected to relocate to the submerged reefs. Walleyes have been holding in the deeper waters and hitting crawlers and leeches, but should soon be found in more shallow waters--try a few types of bait and presentations to learn what works best. Anglers pre-fishing for the upcoming International Falls Bass Championship are reporting lots of fish on both Rainy Lake and the Rainy River. The annual sturgeon fishing championship is also right around the corner, and there have been reports of good sturgeon fishing near the mouth of the Littlefork River and below the rapids at Birchdale. And recently, some anglers are having success with the crappies and northern pike.
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NORTHCENTRAL/WEST MINNESOTA
Baudette
On Lake of the Woods, fishing remains excellent. Walleye anglers and guides are having success trolling and pulling plugs on the mud flats, with limits being taken. Areas to check out include west of Bridges Island, south of Stoney, and north of Graceton Beach. Some anglers are also doing well down-rigging in 30-33 feet of water. On the Rainy River, fish have moved into deeper waters, and can be found in depths of 21-23 feet. Try anchoring and jigging using a spinner and crawler for the most fish. Hot spots can be found from Clementson Rapids to Frontier Landing. At the Northwest Angle and Islands area, walleye fishing has been excellent around Little Oak Island, Crowduck, and Oak Island. Jigging with crawlers has been best. Muskie action also remains good at the Northwest Angle.
Blackduck
Anglers are taking a few walleyes from 7-10 feet of water using spinners or crankbaits on Blackduck Lake. On calm days, Upper Red Lake is giving up lots of nice-size northern pike. Panfish remain active on most area lakes.
Bemidji
Anglers are doing well by trolling lindy rigs tipped with crawlers and redtails on Lake Bemidji. At the rock piles, fish can be found in 20-25 feet of water, with lots of walleyes measuring 14- to 15-inches. On Cass Lake, crankbaits are producing walleyes after dark. Muskie action remains fairly consistent, with anglers taking fish. A few crappies are coming out of Big Lake. Sunnies can be found on most area lakes.
Bena
On Lake Winnibigoshish, the shoreline bite has been best for walleyes. Many of the weedbeds along the east side of the lake near The Highbanks and Musky Bay are producing fish on jig and minnow combinations, and on rigs tipped with crawlers. Another productive area is Ravens Point. On windy days, also check out Stony Point. Along the North Shore, anglers are doing well by pulling shad raps and minnow raps through 8-11 feet of water. Nice-size northern pike are also showing up, with many fish weighing over 5-pounds. The crappie and bluegill bite has been sporadic, but fishing should improve as the water temperatures cool.
Park Rapids
Walleyes are hitting crawlers and leeches worked in 14-20 feet of water on Long and Fishhook lakes. Bass are hitting plastics and wacky rigs on most area waters. For smallmouth and largemouth bass, hit Potato Lake. Bluegills and crappies are active in 14 feet of water along the cabbage weeds, with crappie minnows on a jig working best. Northern pike and muskie action has been good at the weed edges when trolling bucktails with sucker minnows.
Pelican Rapids
Walleyes and bass are biting on the outside edges of the cabbage weeds. For bluegills, hit 17-20 feet of water. Muskie fishing has been good throughout the area. For walleyes, hit 25-30 foot depths on Lakes Lida and Star.
Battle Lake
Walleyes are being pulled from 7 feet of water on the Ottertail Lake flats. During the day, use minnows and jigs. At night, switch to shad raps. Battle Lake is producing walleyes on leeches worked in depths of 15-23 feet. On Stalker and Silver lakes, hit depths of 20-25 feet using minnows. Northern pike anglers are doing well at the weedlines using sucker minnows, with a few larger fish coming out of Battle Lake--please be aware of the slot limits. Sunfish are hitting leeches worked in the shallows on Dead, West Battle and Clitheral lakes, with the largest fish coming from 15 feet of water. Crappies are biting in similiar depths on West Battle Lake during evening hours. The bass bite remains strong throughout the area--for the most fish, use either top water lures, or a jig and minnow.
Osakis
On Lake Osakis, northern pike are biting along the weedlines. The sunfish are active at Half-Mile Bar, with waxworms working best. A few walleyes continue to be taken throughout the lake.
Crosby
Bass are very active at the weedlines of most area lakes, with plastic worms working best in 8-15 feet of water. Northern pike action has been good in the mine pits, as well as Serpent and Rabbit lakes. For the most fish, hit the weed edges using sucker minnows and crankbaits. Little Rabbit Lake and the Mississippi River have been good for sunfish. Smallmouth bass are hitting topwater baits on the Mississippi River, as well as Clearwater and Serpent lakes. Walleyes are being pulled from Serpent Lake on live bait. On Pelican and North Long lakes, use crankbaits. Trout fishing has been the best during early morning hours when using powerbait.
Isle/Onamia
On Lake Mille Lacs, jumbo perch were taken from the shorelines last weekend. Walleyes were caught while bobber fishing and pulling crankbaits in 28-32 feet of water at the mud, gravel and rocks. Muskies have been reported from the north end sand to Isle Bay, and around the Hennepin Island area. Smallmouth bass have been offering the most excitement, with fish found around the shallow rocks in 10-14 feet of water when using rubber baits, or crawlers under bobbers.
Grey Eagle
Crappies and sunnies are being pulled out of Pine Lake. Crappies are also coming out of Kings Lake near Freeport. Little Birch and Big Birch lakes are giving up a few walleyes. Oxygen levels have increased with the recent rains, and this has lead to an increase in activity. For the most fish, use a crawler or minnow. The bass bite remains strong on the Mississippi River, with lots of catfish also being taken.
St.Cloud
Sunfish are active on Horseshoe and Sylvia lakes. Northern pike and bass action has been good on most area lakes, and especially on Pearl Lake. The Mississippi River continues to produce catfish, walleyes and smallmouth bass.
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TWIN CITIES VICINITY
Annandale
On Clearwater Lake, sunnies are hitting worms at the weedlines in 5-10 feet of water out near the 2nd Island. The northern pike are hitting large sucker minnows worked in roughly 10 feet of water at the weedlines. A few crappies are coming from behind the island, along with the sunnies, during evening hours. Bass are very active, and hitting plastic worms and spinnerbaits.
Anoka
The Rum River is giving up nice-size smallmouth bass and walleyes on redtails and jigs. Try Green, Rush, and Crooked lakes for lots of sunfish, with small crawlers working best at the weedlines. Crappies can be found during evening hours when using cubbies and flu-flus. A few walleyes and northern pike are being pulled from Diamond Lake.
Forest Lake
Panfish are biting on North and South Center lakes, with a few walleyes also being taken. The best lakes for walleyes are currently Clear and Forest. Muskies can also be found on these lakes. The St. Croix River is giving up lots of catfish on large sucker minnows and dead bait worked at the deeper holes.
Waconia
On Lake Waconia, sunnies are active at the weedlines in 5-10 feet of water, especially at Anderson's Reef. Bass are coming from the drop on south side Cemetery Reef, Anderson's Reef, and from the shorelines and under the docks. Muskies are biting on the south side of Anderson’s Reef, as well as from the beach area, with a few fish also coming from the big weed beds at North Reef. Walleye anglers are taking a few fish from 12-16 feet of water at the weed edges of Anderson’s and North reefs.
Chisago City
Panfish are biting in 8-20 feet of water on Chisago Lake near the big island, with the larger sunnies coming from the deeper waters. Bass remain very active throughout the area. Northern pike continue to hit suckers and redtails, with Sunrise Lake giving up the most fish.
Oakdale/East Metro area waters
A few crappies are coming out of Bald Eagle Lake during evening hours, with fish found suspended in 15-20 feet of water, roughly 5-6 feet off the bottom. The best approach has been a small jig tipped with a waxworm or minnow. A few fish are also coming out of Lake Peltier. Bass are active throughout the area. Northerns can be found just outside the weedlines. Some large sunnies were recently pulled from White Bear and Peltier lakes. Some walleyes continue to be pulled from the deeper pools of the St. Croix River.
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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
Red Wing
On the Mississippi River, walleyes and sauger continue to come from the deeper waters of Lake Pepin on plugs, crawlers and minnows. Northern pike are still biting around the Rush River and Pine Creek areas, and being taken by anglers casting red-eye spoons and large sucker minnows. Catfish are hitting stinkbait and suckers up by the dam.
St. Peter
On the Minnesota River, catfish continue to hit frozen cutbait in the deeper pools. The sunnies are biting on Shields Lake in 10-12 feet of water. Please note that recent rains could change current fishing patterns.
Waterville
Panfish and northern pike are very active on Tetonka and Sakatah lakes. For lots of pike, troll spoons and spinnerbaits. German Lake is giving up lots of sunnies and crappies. Lake Francis has also been good for sunnies.
"The information in this report is provided courtesy The Outdoors Weekly, and Explore Minnesota Tourism."
