Explore Minnesota Fishing Report January 20, 2012 The current cold front should add an inch or two of ice to most lakes over the next couple of days--the forecast for this weekend is expected to turn milder, resulting in some great fishing action once again. Please note that ice conditions continue to change. Anyone considering a trip out onto the ice must first check with local bait shops and resorts for the most current ice conditions. Anglers heading out are asked to carry ice claws and a long rope, wear a floatation device, and check ice depth often. Anglers are also encouraged to wear ice cleats for increased stability due to slick ice. Please stay informed, and consult the Minnesota DNR Ice Safety Tips before heading out on your next ice fishing adventure. The most current Minnesota DNR Conservation Officer Reports may also be useful.
The fishing season for walleye, sauger, northern pike, largemouth and smallmouth bass remains open through February 26, 2012. Smallmouth bass, however, are catch-and-release only from September 12 through February 26. The winter season for lake trout within the BWCA runs December 31, 2011 through March 31, 2012--outside of the BWCA, January 14-March 31. The winter season for stream trout in southern Minnesota is catch-and-release only, and runs from January 1 through March 31, 2012. The season for stream trout in lakes is January 14-March 31, 2012.
International Falls - Rainy Lake & the Rainy River
Walleye anglers are pulling fish from 25 feet of water in Sand Bay and around Rainy Lake City. Sand Bay is also producing some nice perch. Large northern pike are coming from Rainy Lake City near Black Bay. The Voyageurs National Park ice road is now open to Cranberry Bay offering additional opportunities to locate a hot spot. Voyageurs National Park snowmobile trails on the lakes are all open and staked--the Chain Of Lakes Trail, however, remains closed. All ski and snowshoe trails within the park are also open. 1-800-325-5766;
www.rainylake.orgKabetogama
Anglers report good fishing action, along with solid ice, a great ice road and beautiful winter scenes on Lake Kabetogama. Spearers are enjoying success with the northern pike from the west end of Kabetogama all the way down to the Ash River entrance. Pike anglers and spearers are doing well in depths of 8-15 feet. The lack of heavy snow cover allows anglers access to most areas of Lake Kabetogama, with nice jumbo perch and walleye being taken by anglers fishing throughout the lake in depths of roughly 28 feet. Anyone on the ice must use caution around the ice ridges due to cracks and open water areas-- please be extremely alert and careful. Lake Kabetogama's first ice road to be plowed and maintained by the National Park Service was officially open for use last weekend. This public ice road begins and ends at either the Kabetogama or Ash River visitor center. The ice measures between 16-24 inches, with no slush on top. Snow cover varies between 2-6 inches. The land-based snowmobile trails are packed and usable, but in need of more snow. 1-800-524-9085;
www.kabetogama.comEly
The trout opener was a success for many anglers this past weekend. Several parties reported good numbers of lake trout coming from 45-55 feet of water. Fishing ciscoes on the bottom was the preferred method, but a good number of lakers were also taken by anglers aggressively jigging spoons and jigs along the edges of deeper waters. Many of the fish were on the smaller side, with 2- to 6-pound lakers being reported. Rainbow trout were coming in on dark colored jigs tipped with waxworms or small salted minnows, fish up to 18-inches coming out of the holes. Walleye fishing has slowed somewhat, but anglers putting in the time are collecting some decent-sized fish up to 23-inches in length. Minnows worked in 12-14 feet of water have worked well on area lakes. Nice-sized northern pike weighing up to 18-pounds were taken on suckers fished in 6-16 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
Fishing has been excellent throughout the area. Gunflint Trail lakes are once again earning their reputation as an anglers' paradise. Ice on most lakes is measuring 12-16 inches, with very little slush bogging down augers. On Birch, Moose, and Mayhew lakes, anglers are taking rainbow trout by jigging in 20-35 foot depths. Most of these fish weighed 2-3 pounds. On Clearwater Lake, roughly half-way up the trail, splake action was great in depths of 8-15 feet. Mavis Lake, with solid ice measuring roughly a foot, gave up some nice-sized brook trout. On Sawbill Lake, north of Tofte, anglers reported nice rainbow trout and splake action, with fish coming in on jigs and waxworms worked in 8-10 feet of water. On Caribou Lake, just outside of Lutsen, fishing was somewhat slower, however anglers did take a few walleye on minnows worked in depths of 6-18 feet.
www.VisitCookCounty.comGrand Rapids
www.visitgrandrapids.comNorthwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
On Lake of the Woods, fishing remains great. On the southwest edge, anglers are taking a good mixture of walleye, sauger and perch from depths of 27-28 feet of water. On the southeast side of the lake, at Zippel Bay & Morris Point, fishing has been best in depths of 30-31 feet. Anglers are taking lots of sauger and quite a few trophy-sized and eating-sized walleye. The best time of day has been from 10:00 a.m. to roughly 2:30-3:00 p.m. There has also been a good early morning bite in 18-20 feet of water, especially when using gold or glow-in-the-dark colors. In the Lighthouse Gap area, anglers report a great mix of walleye, sauger and perch coming from 30-32 feet of water. During morning and evening hours, hit depths of 18-20 feet. And at the Northwest Angle, fishing remains excellent for walleye, sauger and perch. Some fish houses have been moved out deeper over 26-29 feet of water. It seems that the deeper the water the more sauger that are taken. Lots of jumbo perch are coming from the mud. Smaller presentations are best, and anything in gold or glow-in-the-dark has worked well. There have also been some good reports of crappies, whitefish and northern pike, as well as smallmouth bass coming from the rocky areas. 1-800-382-FISH;
www.lakeofthewoodsmn.comBemidji
This week's cold temperatures have quickly added several more inches of ice, with most lakes now averaging 15-20 inches of good ice. Anglers still need to monitor conditions due to ice heaves, as well as potential problem areas such as those with current, and those near the narrows and islands. The lack of snow on the lakes is allowing anglers to travel just about anywhere they want on most area lakes. Keep in mind that the preferred lakes and hot spots can change each year due to larger age classes of fish moving through the system, and due to what depths and types of structure the fish are gravitating toward. The walleye bite on Upper Red Lake is starting to slow, with anglers checking out new lakes and locations throughout the area. 1-800-458-2223;
www.visitbemidji.comCass Lake
1-800-356-8615;
www.casslake.comBena -Lake Winnibigoshish
On Lake Winnibigoshish, ice is averaging 17-19 inches thick, and most areas are allowing truck travel. The first ice road has been marked out to the humps, east of High Banks. The second road runs up to Bena Bar. The south ice heave is holding tight to the east and anglers report that there is a good crossing. The west side ice heave has moved a bit, but there are several good spots to fish around it. Crossing in some areas is reportedly okay. At the north end and in Tamarac Bay, the ice is reported to be in decent shape. Snow cover is only 1-3 inches. As always, check with a resort where you access the lake for the most current report. Fishing has been fairly good, with lots of walleye being taken on cloudy days and lots of perch coming in on sunny days. Walleye are active at the drops off shore and at the main lake bars in depths of 17-24 feet. Buckshot rattle spoons are working well, especially in glow or gold colors. Dead-stick a tail-hooked minnow next to a spoon for extra walleye attention. Most bars are producing fish, including Sugar, Horseshoe and Bena, and from Big Musky to Three Bend. The humps to the north are starting to give up lots of walleye. While they are on the move, drill a few holes and once you find them they are fairly easy to put on the ice. The northern pike bite remains strong, with tip-up anglers reporting great action 3-6 feet off the bottom near the top portions of the structure. Large shiners or 5- to 10-inch suckers have been best. Quick-strike rigs are now allowed for pike, making it quite a bit easier to release these fish since less deep-hooking will occur. On sunny days, the perch bite is fast and furious, with pink or pink & white colors working well in 20-30 foot depths--keep gold jigs handy as a good back-up.
www.lakewinnie.netWalker - Leech Lake
Leech Lake ice averaged 14-16 inches in areas checked earlier this week. Please note that ice thickness will vary in areas where fish houses had previously been placed, and the light snowcover can hide these locations, as well as some of the ice cracks and heaves. Ice is constantly moving and shifting, and ice heaves and cracks continue to develop--please use extreme caution when traveling on the ice! Leech Lake fishing action remains great, with anglers reporting lots of good-sized walleye and panfish. Many of these walleye have measured more than 20 inches. Northern pike spearers continue to do well due to clear water in the spear house locations. An 11-pound pike was reported this week. The best crappie bite has been at twilight, just after dark and just before the sun rises. Crappies and sunnies can be found suspended on area lakes--use your electronics to learn where these fish are holding in the water column. 1-800-833-1118;
www.leech-lake.comPark Rapids
1-800-247-0054;
www.parkrapids.comDetroit Lakes
Ice conditions have improved on lakes throughout the area. The front should move out on Friday, January 20, and the bite is expected to pick up just in time for the weekend. Recent snowfall has improved the day bite, and this should also increase action this weekend. Crappies should still be suspended over deeper waters on Lida, Star, Melissa, Little Detroit, Toad and Cotton. The sunfish are expected to be at the outside edges of the green weed flats on Rock, Tamarac, Height of Land and Little Detroit lakes. For walleye, look to the weeds during low light hours, and at the deeper edges during the day on Lida, Otter Tail, Pelican and Sallie lakes. 1-800-542-3992;
www.visitdetroitlakes.comCentral Region
Otter Tail Lakes Area
1-800-423-4571;
www.ottertailcountry.comPine River
1-800-728-6926;
http://www.pinerivermn.comWhitefish Chain of Lakes Area
www.whitefish.orgBrainerd Lakes Area
Jigs tipped with rainbows or shiner minnows have been turning walleye in 15-32 feet of water on Gull, North Long, and Round lakes. Northern pike action has been excellent when using sucker minnows in 8-18 feet of water on Gull Lake. Glow jigs and minnows have been best for crappies on Round and Cullen lakes, as well as at the south end of Gull in depths of 12-19 feet. Sunfish have been active in 8-12 feet on most of the smaller area lakes. 1-800-450-2838;
www.explorebrainerdlakes.comAitkin Area Lakes/Northern Lake Mille Lacs
1-800-526-8342;
www.aitkin.comIsle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs
Walleye fishing has been steady on Lake Mille Lacs, with lots of large fish being taken. Anglers are finding fish during low light hours and after dark in 15-20 feet of water--try a set line with a large shiner or rainbow dace. During the day, look to 25-28 feet of water using a jigging spoon. Jigging rapalas tipped with a minnow head have also been producing some nice numbers of walleye during the day. The best perch action is during the day in depths of 26-30 feet of water when using smaller jigs tipped with euro larvae or waxworms. There are many good-sized basins near shore that are both productive and safe to access. For the most active fish, locate the sandy bottom areas or rock and sand transitions. There are scattered reports of anglers finding decent-sized perch as well as good numbers in 10-11 feet of water during low light periods. The majority of fish are coming in on set lines and jigging spoons tipped with a minnow head. 1-888-350-2692;
www.millelacs.comWillmar
Eagle, Diamond, Green and Florida lakes are giving up lots walleye, and few crappies and perch. These lakes have approximately 9-12 inches of ice. Ice conditions are uncertain on Lillian, Wakanda, and Big Kandiyohi lakes due to unusually warm weather conditions the last couple of weeks. The current frigid temperatures should improve ice conditions--until then, all angers must use extreme caution and check ice thickness often. 1-800-845-8747;
www.willmarlakesarea.comTwin Cities Greater Metropolitan vicinity
Northeast Metro/Chisago Lakes Area
Crappies are biting in depths of 24-26 feet of water on Chisago Lake from 4:30 p.m. towards dusk. South Lindstrom Lake is giving up crappies and walleye in front of the hospital. Crappies are biting in 22-24 feet of water, with the walleye coming from 16-18 foot depths along the weedline. North Center Lake is giving up crappies on crappie minnows, waxworms and euro larva near Nelson Island. 651/257-1177;
www.chisagolakeschamber.comWhite Bear Area Lakes
There is 11-13 inches of ice on White Bear Lake from Belair to the VFW. Areas measured on Bald Eagle Lake also have 11-13 inches of ice. Anglers report that the walleye and northern pike are biting on the north side of Bald Eagle--recent reports indicate the walleye really started biting roughly 4 days ago. Crappies have been active during evening hours. 651/653-5122;
www.ExploreWhiteBear.orgWaconia
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
1-800-944-2670;
www.lanesboro.comRochester -Southeast Minnesota Lakes and Rivers
The stream trout season opened January 1, and while the season is catch-and-release for brown trout and rainbow trout, the bite has been good on area streams and anglers report lots of action! For a list and maps showing designated winter trout fishing streams, visit the Minnesota DNR Winter Trout Streams page. 1-800-634-8277;
www.rochestercvb.orgFaribault Area Lakes
1-800-658-2354;
www.visitfaribault.comAlbert Lea
On Fountain Lake, perch are active at the Edgewater Pier. Crappie anglers are taking good numbers from the Shoreland Beach area. For walleye and sunnies, hit the channel area. All anglers venturing out must use extreme caution and check with a local bait shop for the most current conditions. 1-800-345-8414;
www.albertleatourism.orgFairmont Area Lakes
1-800-657-3280;
www.fairmontcvb.comOrtonville - Big Stone Lake
1-800-568-5722;
www.bigstonelake.com
