June 16, 2011 Explore Minnesota Fishing Report The shiner minnows are completing their spawn and beginning to move to deeper waters. Walleye will then relocate, heading for deeper waters and mid-lake structure where major insect hatches will occur over the next several weeks. The jig and minnow bite is slowing down, and many anglers are switching to live bait rigs tipped with leeches, nightcrawlers or larger minnows. Hit the deeper waters during the day, and move into shallower depths during evening hours.
All fishing seasons are open. Fishing opener dates for the 2011/2012 fishing season for most inland waters in Minnesota are as follows: walleye, sauger, northern pike and lake trout, May 14; largemouth and smallmouth bass, May 28; muskie, June 4. The fishing season for crappies, sunnies, perch and catfish is continuous.
International Falls -Rainy Lake & the Rainy River
Walleye anglers report that the fish are starting to move from the bays and shorelines to the deeper waters and reefs of Rainy Lake, but fish can still be found in 10-15 feet of water, especially along the windy sides of the rocky shorelines. On calm days, try jigging with a minnow; if there's a slight breeze, switch to a slowly-trolled spinner rig. Black Bay continues to be a popular spot, probably because a good crappie bite is also taking place. Smallmouth bass are in the process of spawning, and northern pike are getting more aggressive as the waters warm. Popular spots for northern pike have been Lost and Cranberry bays. The Rainy River is giving up good numbers of walleye near the mouth of the Littlefork and Big Fork rivers, with fish preferring shiner minnows. 1-800-325-5766;
www.rainylake.orgKabetogama
On Friday of last week, 4-12 foot depths gave up lots of keeper-size walleye and saugers on lakes Kabetogama and Namakan. On Saturday, however, the walleye were less eager to bite, and it was harder to find those 12-16 inch fish. This week, jig heads and slip sinker rigs tipped with minnows and leeches are the best methods for catching walleye. During the day, fish 22-26 foot depths; late in the afternoon, use a slow presentation in the shalllows. Water temperatures are hovering in the low 60s, and these water temperatures should result in a nightcrawler bite. Anglers should continue to work the soft bottom shorelines and bays, concentrating on windblown structures. Anglers fishing the west end of Kabetogama should check out the shallows of Tom Cod, Peterson, Mud, Daily and Nebraska bays. On the east end of Kabetogama, try Cuculus Island, Wolf, Green and Round Bear Islands, as well as the Blind Ash Entrance for some great structure. Crappie anglers are expected to do well at the crappie holes when using slip bobbers with plain hook or small jigs. And northern pike and smallmouth bass action remains strong. 1-800-524-9085;
www.kabetogama.comEly
While the walleye fishing has slowed a bit, anglers willing to put in the effort continue to be rewarded with nice catches. Try working the drop-offs around the flats in 12-18 feet of water. Lindy style spinners trolled near the edges are a great way to locate fish. Once a school is found, switch to a jig and leech combination. Northern pike are responding well to trolled crankbaits and spoons. Work depths of 5-15 feet at the weed edges or points for the most fish. Crappie action is heating up, especially near shore in less than 10 feet of water. Small tube jigs and small minnows under a bobber are the best bet. And some lake trout are falling for spoons and larger profile diving plugs worked in 30-50 feet of water. 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 good fishing reports are coming from anglers fishing Boundary Waters area lakes, where lake trout are eagerly hitting live rigs and leeches. These fish are becoming very active in the rapidly warming shallows of the local lakes. A few guides were catching some large lakers on Thrush Lake, located off of Ball Club Road, where a canoe or small boat can easily maneuver the portage in. Don't be surprised if you land a few trophy-sized fish. On Elbow Lake, which is just a few miles out of Grand Marais and easily accessible, anglers are reporting aggressive walleye and northern pike when pitching jigs tipped with minnows into the shallow weedlines. Most of these fish are measuring just over 20-inches. On Jackson Lake, north of Hovland, the walleye are very active in 5-15 foot depths, with shiners working best. The clear waters of Caribou Lake, just out of Lutsen, allows healthy plant habitat for smallmouth bass, and anglers are reporting lots of healthy fish. And all of the fishing charters in Tofte and Grand Marais are now open and ready to take you out on a Lake Superior fishing adventure.
www.VisitCookCounty.comGrand Rapids
www.visitgrandrapids.comNorthwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
Some windy weather has caused the waters to clear on Lake of the Woods, and the fish are biting! Anglers are taking good numbers of walleye and sauger from the Pine Island shallows. Plugs or spinners with a minnow are working best in 5-9 feet of water. The hot spot on the north end of the lake is around Little Oak, with nice numbers of walleye taken on leeches and crawlers. 1-800-382-FISH;
www.lakeofthewoodsmn.comBemidji
Surface water temperatures have risen to the mid-60s in most area lakes. Members of the sunfish family, which includes largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegills and crappies have finished spawning in most lakes. They are beginning to move off their beds and establish summer patterns. The sunfish will move to the deeper cabbage and coontail weed beds, while crappies will mix between the deep weeds and suspending just off of structure in deeper waters, making feeding movements to structure during morning and evening hours. Walleye are starting to move away from the shoreline structure as the shiners finish their spawn. Walleye have been holding on cabbage weeds or rocks feeding on shiners and perch most of the spring. Once the shiner minnows begin to move to deeper waters, many walleyes will also head for the deeper water and mid-lake structure where major insect hatches will occur for the next several weeks. The jig and minnow bite is starting to slow down, with many anglers switching to live bait rigs tipped with leeches, nightcrawlers or larger minnows. Some walleye anglers have also started using bottom bouncers with spinners. While muskie anglers continue to see good numbers of fish, few catches have been reported due to clear waters giving muskie the advantage. Muskie fishing typically picks up as surface water temperatures increase, with the peak bite occurring when the algae blooms begin to reduce visibility in the lakes. 1-800-458-2223;
www.visitbemidji.comCass Lake
Walleye fishing on Cass and Pike Bay lakes has been great between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Fish are biting in depths of 18-20 feet when it is calm, and in depths of 12-14 feet as the wind speed increases. Jig and shiner combinations, as well as lindy set-ups with a 4 foot snell, 2 beads, a #6 hook and a leech or minnow have been best. The perch are hanging outside the pencil reeds in 7-8 foot depths on Cass Lake. Lower Sucker Lake is giving up nice-size pike to anglers trolling #6 floating rapalas in orange. Lake 13 has been great for catch-and-release bass. Grace Lake is giving up nice bluegill. Walleye are still biting in the shallows of Big Winnibigoshish, Bowstring, Sand and Big Island lakes. For the most fish, hit depths of 7-12 feet using jigs tipped with shiners. Bass action has been good on all area lakes. Look for crappies around the pencil reeds and rocks, with spinnerbaits being the most effective presentation. 1-800-356-8615;
www.casslake.comWalker - Leech Lake
Leech Lake has been the site of two major walleye fishing tournaments the last two weeks, and both amateur and professional anglers have had lots of success. Many nice eating-size fish were caught and released, with many more slot fish also released. At present, minnows, crawlers and leeches are all producing walleye. Jigs and a 3-4 foot lindy rig and red hook have been a good set-up. Anglers preferring structure for the larger fish should hit the Walker Bay humps, while the main lake rocks are producing some good numbers. Star Point and the Goose Island Flats have also given up some nice fish in 6-10 feet when there was a strong northwest wind. The Deadhead Bay weedlines are giving up limits. Please be informed of the new DNR rules regarding Aquatic Invasive Species for all public and resort landings. For more information, contact the Walker DNR fisheries office at 218/547-1683. 1-800-833-1118;
www.leech-lake.comPark Rapids
1-800-247-0054;
www.parkrapids.comDetroit Lakes
Detroit Lakes area lakes remain unseasonably cool due to recent below-normal air temperatures. This has kept many fish in the shallows feeding on shiner minnows and yearling perch. It may be several weeks before fish transition to summer patterns. For now, jig and minnow presentations remain the best method for catching all gamefish. Leeches and crawlers are turning some fish, but they are not yet the dominate baits. Crappies and sunnies continue to hit small jigs tipped with minnows. Sunfish are attacking small leeches and pieces of nightcrawler on hooks under bobbers. Check the developing weeds on the edges of the flats for excellent numbers of active fish. Leeches under bobbers are turning lots of walleye in the sparse cabbage weeds on several area lakes. Lots of muskie anglers are out on Pelican and Big Detroit lakes, with chunking baits being the best tactic at this time. For those that want to avoid boat traffic, be advised that there will be a walleye tournament on Otter Tail Lake this Friday and Saturday. 1-800-542-3992;
www.visitdetroitlakes.comCentral Region
Otter Tail Lakes Area
Walleye can be found in depths of 10-25 feet at the weedlines and humps on Otter Tail Lake. Crawlers, leeches and minnows are all working well. Crappies and sunnies have been active on most area lakes in depths of 5-10 feet. The bass bite is better than it has been in years; use buss baits and sally jigs in the shallows for the most fish. 1-800-423-4571;
www.ottertailcountry.comMiltona
1-877-833-2350;
www.VisitLakeMiltona.comPine River Area Lakes
1-800-728-6926;
www.pinerivermn.comWhitefish Chain of Lakes Area
Walleye action remains good on the Whitefish Chain of Lakes, with an early morning bite leading to some trophy-size fish. Anglers are finding the walleye in 24-30 feet of water during the day, and in shallower waters during evening hours. Leeches and crawlers on lindy rigs continue to be the top producer. Bass are hitting plastic worm rigs and spinnerbaits worked around the docks and along the weedlines at the submerged structure. Northern pike are moving to deeper waters and hitting crankbaits worked in depths of 25-30 feet. Crappies are finishing their spawn and moving to their summer haunts. For the most fish, try working jigs and minnows in 4-8 feet of water at the weed edges.
http://www.whitefish.orgBrainerd Lakes Area
Leeches, redtails and shiner minnows are producing walleye in depths of 8-18 feet on Gull Lake. On North Long Lake, hit depths of 12-18 feet, with Pelican Lake anglers doing best in depths of 14-23 feet. Trolling chubs along the weedlines of most area lakes has been best for northern pike. Bass and crappies are at the weedlines. The sunfish have just started sliding up to the sandy shorelines. Toward the city of Crosslake, walleye are hitting minnows and leeches during the day in 18-24 feet of water on most area lakes. At night, try rapalas in 4-8 foot depths. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits and sucker minnows are producing northern pike at the weedlines of most lakes. Bass remain active in the shallows. Crappies can be found in the shallow vegetation. Big Trout Lake is giving up a few lake trout.1-800-450-2838;
www.explorebrainerdlakes.comAitkin
Walleye continue to bite on Farm Island Lake at the rubble/rock points and bars in 16-20 feet of water. Crawlers and leeches on lindy rigs with a 4 foot leader are working well. Bass fishing continues to be great on Cedar Lake in 4-8 feet of water. On the north end of Lake Mille Lacs, lots of walleye continue to be pulled from the shallows on long lindy rigs and leeches, with crawlers starting to produce fish. The evening bobber bite at the shallow rocks in depths of 8-12 feet has been excellent, especially between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. The daytime bite has been best at the sand-to-rock transitions in 16-18 feet of water. Anglers report mixed results at the mud flats. The night ban has been lifted and anglers are now allowed to fish past 10:00 p.m. 1-800-526-8342;
www.aitkin.comIsle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs
The Lake Mille Lacs bite remains strong, especially close to shore at Three Mile, Myr Mar, and Sherman's flats. Use a long-line spinner in hammered gold or hammered nickle tipped with a nightcrawler. The bite has also been strong on the breaklines along the north end sand and Myr Mar areas; hit depths of 14-20 feet during the day, and 11-16 feet during evening hours. Anglers report the most success using lindy rigs tipped with a large leech or spinners tipped with a crawler. On the south end rocks and gravel, use a lindy rig tipped with a leech during the day, and toss a bobber and leech later in the day. Big Point, Tundra and the Graveyard are just a few of the areas producing good numbers on the south end of the lake. 1-888-350-2692;
www.millelacs.comWillmar
The fish are biting like mad on many area lakes. Anglers are taking lots of fish from 10 feet or less on the shallower lakes, such as Solomon, Long, Ringo, and Big Kandiyohi lakes. The bite on Green Lake is increasing rapidly. Sunfish are starting to spawn, so they can be found in the shallows. Bass and northern pike are very active. Most species are responding to leeches and crawlers. Panfish, however, have preferred waxworms. 1-800-845-8747;
www.seeyouinwillmar.comTwin Cities Greater Metropolitan vicinity
Northeast Metro/Chisago Lakes Area
651/257-1177;
www.chisagolakeschamber.comWhite Bear Lake Area Lakes
Bass and sunfish are actively feeding in waters less than 5 feet deep on White Bear and Bald Eagle lakes. Leeches and nightcrawlers are producing the majority of fish. Northern pike have also been active, with nice fish taken on spinnerbaits and crankbaits trolled through depths of 8-10 feet. For a few walleye, hit Bald Eagle Lake using leeches and fathead minnows in 10-12 feet of water. 651/653-5122;
www.ExploreWhiteBear.orgWaconia
On Lake Waconia, fluctuating air temperatures have caused a fluctuation in water temperatures, with low 60s to mid 70s measured in different parts of the lake. Walleye anglers report that while the bite has slowed, walleye continue to be pulled from the corners of the island, as well as the mid-lake reefs, such as Keg's and North. Most of the fish being taken measure at least 18 inches, with fewer young fish being caught. Please remember that walleye cannot be kept unless they measure more than 16-inches, with only one walleye over 20-inches allowed. Most panfish anglers are catching sunfish in the areas where they normally spawn. Angleworms or waxworms on a small jig, beetle spin, or small fly are working best. Most of the crappies have moved off their beds and are headed to deeper water. Bass have been working the shallows around their spawning areas, and hitting plastic worms, spinnerbaits, and jig and leech combinations under a bobber. Anglers targeting large bass have had the most success fishing the reefs, such as Center, Pillsbury and North. 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 June 13, good evening mayfly activity was reported in Forestville State Park, along with some other unknown species. Some caddis were coming off on Trout Run last weekend. And as of June 10, conditions were clear and normal for Duschee Creek, Forestville Creek, Trout Run, and the South Branch Root River at Forestville State Park. Camp Creek was considered off and normal, and the South Branch Root River at Lanesboro was off and slightly high. 1-800-944-2670;
www.lanesboro.comFaribault Area Lakes
1-800-658-2354;
www.visitfaribault.comAlbert Lea
Walleye continue to actively hit leeches worked in the channel between Fountain and Albert Lea lakes. Anglers are taking the greatest numbers between 8:30 p.m. and midnight. And catfish anglers are having lots of success using fatheads and leeches on Fountain Lake. 1-800-345-8414;
www.albertleatourism.orgFairmont Area Lakes
1-800-657-3280;
www.fairmontcvb.comOrtonville - Big Stone Lake
Big Stone Lake continues to produce good numbers of fish. The south end remains a hot spot for anglers working bottom bouncers and spinners tipped with a crawler over the weeds along the shorelines. The larger, nicer walleye tend to be taken here, with anglers reporting just as many fish measuring over 20 inches as measuring under 20 inches. For those anglers that don't like the "weeds," good areas to check out are near the reef off Manhattan Island, and across from Hartford Beach on the Minnesota side from Mallard Pointe to Salmonson's Point. Lots of 12-20 inch walleye are being taken by anglers trolling a bottom bouncer and spinner. Dock anglers are also doing well, with white bass dominating the evening bite and families having a blast catching these fish, along with some walleye and northern pike. 1-800-568-5722;
www.bigstonelake.com
