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The Fishing Hot Spot this week is the Mississippi River near Red Wing, where good numbers of walleyes, sauger, northern pike and panfish are being taken.
Anglers may obtain fishing licenses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by dialing 1-888-665-4236, or accessing
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/agents.html==========================
NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA
Duluth
Boulder Lake remains best for walleye action, with anglers taking limits of 2- and 2 1/2-pound fish on minnows. Fish Lake is giving up lots of crappies in 12-14 feet of water. On Lake Superior, fishing remains good out from Two Harbors, with anglers taking lake trout and a few salmon using spoons roughly 80 feet down. Cohos and chinooks, averaging 7- to 8-pounds, are being pulled from 140-plus foot depths, roughly 8 miles out, with fish found suspended roughly 80 feet down. For the most fish, use a green, orange, white or purple glow spoons. Some anglers are doing well running flashers and dodgers with flies tipped with smelt. Walleyes continue to be pulled from the harbor on jig and minnow combinations. In the lower bay, anglers are taking even larger fish by dragging stickbaits behind bottom bouncers. On the upper St. Louis River, fishing has also been good due to low water levels, with anglers finding lots of smallmouth bass and walleyes in the deeper holes.
Kabetogama
On Lakes Kabetogama and Namakan, warm weather has caused water temperatures to rise to 70-degrees during the day. Anglers report a consistent walleye bite when using minnows in 28-35 feet of water on Lake Kabetogama, and in depths of 30-40 feet on Lake Namakan. Try a jig head or slip sinker rig for the most fish. Some walleyes, however, can still be found in 6-15 foot depths, especially at the windswept points and bays. Casting and trolling large artificials at the weed edges is resulting in lots of northern pike. Sucker minnows are also producing limits. Various species of fish are being taken on crankbaits trolled through deeper waters.
International Falls
On Rainy Lake, walleyes are coming in on spinner rigs and crawlers worked slowly through 25-30 feet of water. Community Reef and the shoals near Saginaw Bay are both producing lots of fish. Crappies are hitting light jigs tipped with a small minnow at Black Bay and around Sand Bay. Northern pike remain aggressive, and are hitting fast-moving lures along the edges of weed beds. On the Rainy River, walleyes are active in areas with a little more current, such as below the dam, and above and below the Manitou and Long Sault Rapids.
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NORTHCENTRAL/WEST MINNESOTA
Baudette
On Lake of the Woods, walleyes are moving closer to shore, and relocating to the Lighthouse Gap and Morris Point Gap. Many anglers are still down-rigging in 32-34 feet of water. Some anglers prefer jigging around the mud flats. Areas north of Long Point and north of Graceton Beach are producing some nice-size walleyes. Keeper-size walleyes are being caught around Clementson Rapids on the Rainy River. Vita’s Landing is also giving up lots of walleyes. At the Northwest Angle and Islands area, muskie anglers are taking fish by casting--trolling should also produce fish in the near future. The walleye bite remains steady at Oak Island, Flag Island, and Crowduck, with several 19- to 28-inch walleyes recently taken.
Bemidji
Walleyes are biting on Lake Bemidji. Some anglers are taking fish on crankbaits after dark. A few are doing well using a jig and minnow in 20-25 feet of water, with walleyes also being pulled from Lake Plantagenet. A few fish are coming out of Cass Lake on redtails. Muskie anglers are finding an occasional fish.
Hackensack
Walleyes are becoming more active, with fish hitting nightcrawlers. Minnows, especially fatheads, are beginning to produce more fish. Birch and Woman lakes have both given up a few walleyes recently. Sunfish are hitting waxworms and small nightcrawlers on most area lakes. On Leech Lake, main lake walleyes are being taken on redtails and nightcrawlers. Perch fishing has heated up, with fish coming in on fatheads and waxworms worked in 10-14 feet of water at the weedy flats. Muskie are also becoming more aggressive, with anglers reporting greater numbers and more aggressive fish than in previous years. Bucktails and large spinnerbaits have been the most productive, and more than one fish a day is not uncommon.
Park Rapids
The walleye bite is improving, especially on Fishhook Lake in roughly 18-21 feet of water. Fatheads have been the bait of choice. Northern pike are active on the Crow Wing Chain in depths of 12-14 feet, with sucker minnows working best. Bluegills are biting on Lake Itasca in roughly 15 foot depths.
Pelican Rapids
Some good walleye reports are coming from Star and Pelican lakes, with shiners and fatheads working best. Lizzie and Lida lakes have been good for smallmouth bass. Sunnies and crappies are coming out of 15-18 foot depths on Lizzie and Crystal lakes.
Battle Lake
Walleyes are hitting fatheads and shiners worked in 6-10 feet of water on Ottertail Lake. Some fish are also coming in on crankbaits. On Battle Lake, anglers are doing well using crawlers and shiners in 18-25 feet of water, and by jigging in depths of 30-35 feet. On East Battle Lake, try crawlers and shiners in 18-23 foot depths. Rush Lake is giving up fish on shiners and fatheads worked in 16-21 feet of water. Northern pike continue to be taken from Clitheral, Silver, Johnson, South Turtle and West Battle lakes. Anglers are having the most success trolling crankbaits, or using suckers on the deep weedlines. For sunfish, hit 10-15 feet of water on Star, Fiske, Norway, Deer and Clitheral lakes. Crappies can be found on East and West Battle lakes. Johnson, Eagle, Fiske and Clitheral lakes have been best for numbers of bass. A few muskies are being taken by trolling on Battle Lake--some anglers are using large sucker decoys.
Osakis
On Lake Osakis, a few crappies are coming from the rock pile. Walleyes and northern pike are hitting trolled crankbaits in depths of 5-12 feet of water. Sunfish action has been best at Four Mile in roughly 17-19 feet of water.
Crosslake
Walleye action remains good on Cross Lake and the Whitefish Chain, with fish being pulled from 24-30 feet of water. For the most fish, use lindy rigs with redtails during the early morning and evening hours. Northern pike action has been excellent for anglers using spinnerbaits or spinner rigs and large pike minnows along the outside weedlines, as well as in 30 feet of water. Some anglers are also doing well using rapala crankbaits trolled through 20-30 feet of water. Bass are hitting surface baits and plastic worms at the docks, rafts and outer weedlines. Crappies and sunnies are coming from depths of 18-20 feet on small jigs tipped with waxworms or minnows.
Isle/Onamia
On Lake Mille Lacs, walleyes are being taken by anglers bobber-fishing on the rocks at night. Some anglers are also taking fish by trolling rapalas at night. During the day, hit depths of 25 feet or more. Reports of nice-size jumbo perch and muskies are also coming in. Muskie anglers will want to check out the North Break sand and the weed beds in the south east bays.
Grey Eagle
Muskies are biting on Shamineau Lake, just off Hwy 10 near Motley, with lots of nice 45- to 48-inch fish being taken. Sunnies and crappies are active on Big Swan and Long lakes. On Big Birch Lake, crawlers seem to be out-producing minnows for the best numbers of walleyes. Bass continue to bite on most area lakes.
St. Cloud
Lots of sunfish are being pulled from Horseshoe and Briggs lakes, as well as from the Mississippi River. Panfish leeches and waxworms are producing the most fish. Crappies are also coming out of the Mississippi River, especially above the 10th Street Dam, above the Sartell Dam, and below the Blanchard Dam. Briggs Lake has been good for lots of largemouth bass. Smallmouth bass are coming out of the Mississippi River, as well as Lake Alexander. Catfish and walleye anglers are doing well on the Mississippi River. Anglers report that leeches are now producing various species of fish.
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TWIN CITIES VICINITY
Annandale
On Clearwater Lake, sunnies are coming in on worms worked in 10-12 feet of water, with good-sized fish being taken. The crappie bite has picked up on the weedlines in 10-12 feet of water--use minnows for the most fish. Walleyes are hitting deep-running shad raps and crankbaits in depths of 20-25 feet of water. Northern pike are coming from the shallow weeds and the deeper waters on crankbaits and spinners.
Anoka
All species of fish are being taken from area waters. The rivers are giving up excellent numbers of fish, especially lots of smallmouth bass. Sunfish are coming in on topwater poppers during evening hours.
Waconia
On Lake Waconia, bass are hitting stickbaits around the docks. Sunnies are biting on the north side of the island, and on the south end near the beach. Some muskies are coming from the weedlines.
Wayzata
On Lake Minnetonka, a few walleyes are being pulled from the channels. The northerns are hitting spinners and suckers. Bass are on the deeper weedlines, hitting plastics. Muskie action has picked up on both Lake Independence and Minnetonka.
Chisago City
The panfish bite has been excellent on Chisago Lake between the A-Frame and the big island in 18-20 feet of water. Sunnies and crappies, as well as an occasional walleye, are also being taken. Some anglers are doing off the big island on North Center Lake in 12-20 feet of water.
Oakdale/East Metro area waters
The St. Croix River is giving up walleyes on spinners and crawlers trolled just south of Afton. Crappies are active on White Bear and Peltier lakes in the deeper waters. Northern pike are active on most area waters. Lake Jane is giving up large bass on plastics, however this lake is catch-and-release only. Muskie anglers are taking some fish from White Bear and Bald Eagle lakes on topwater baits and bucktails trolled quickly. For some nice catfish, hit the Mississippi River using fatheads and suckers.
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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
Red Wing
On the Mississippi River, northern pike continue to bite around the Rush and Pine rivers. Panfish are active at Baypoint Park. The walleyes and sauger are running deep in Lake Pepin, and some anglers are also doing well up by the dam using a hair jig and minnow.
St. Peter
Some nice-size sunnies are coming out of Lake Tetonka. Anglers are also doing well at Bakers Bay on Lake Washington. A few crappies are being pulled from the narrows on Lake Madison. The Minnesota River is starting to return to normal as the water levels drop back down, and the catfish action is improving.
"The information in this report is provided courtesy The Outdoors Weekly, and Explore Minnesota Tourism."
