Explore Minnesota Fishing Report September 14, 2012
Fishing has improved with the drop in water temperatures, and anglers are having more success during daytime hours. Meteorologists are forecasting a near perfect weekend, with warm temperatures and very little chance of precipitation--head out and enjoy amazing fishing, weather and beautiful fall color!
Anglers may obtain fishing licenses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by dialing 1-888-665-4236, or accessing DNR License Sales.
Please help prevent the transport of harmful invasive species; do your part to protect Minnesota?s waters by following the state Aquatic Invasive Species laws.
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Northeast Minnesota
International Falls - Rainy Lake & the Rainy River
Walleye fishing has been good on Rainy Lake. Minnows have started running from the smaller streams and the walleye are congregating on the windward shorelines to take advantage of the run. Trolling with a minnow on a spinner rig has been working well. Crappies continue to be taken from Black Bay, from the Rat Root River on east to around the Koochiching County campsite on the south end of the Bay. Northern pike are also being pulled from Black Bay. Fairly decent weather is expected according to the long range forecast and the fall colors are rapidly developing--a great time to head out for some amazing fishing! 800-325-5766
Kabetogama
As of late last week, many large fish were being pulled from Lake Kabetogama, including a 31-inch walleye and several 40+-inch northern pike. Deep-running artificial lures were the most productive technique. Lead line bottom bouncers with lures or deep-running crankbaits were also producing some fish. Crankbaits worked for most species, but walleye, sauger and perch were also responding to live bait. Productive areas were the deep reefs in waters down to 30+-feet deep when using a jig and minnow approach--Chase Island, Headlight and the Martin Islands all offer good deep water structure. Fall colors were developing on the maples, enhancing the beauty of the area even more! 800-524-9085
Crane Lake
800-362-7405
Cook/Tower - Lake Vermilion
800-648-5897
Ely
Anglers have been taking walleye when trolling rapalas and crawler harnesses in 5-15 feet of water on the flats and weed edges. Night fishing minnows under a lighted bobber has worked well for some anglers, with most fish measuring 15- to 18-inches. Crappie anglers are pulling in fish when using a small tube jig or live minnow worked in depths of 10-20 feet. Most fish have been found suspended. Bass anglers continue to catch good numbers of fish using crankbaits and crayfish imitation soft baits. Northern pike are being taken by anglers casting spinnerbaits and spoons. Action should improve dramatically as water temperatures cool further. 800-777-7281
Cook County: Lutsen-Tofte, Grand Marais, Gunflint Trail, and Grand Portage
Recent sunny and breezy days have caused the walleye to school up in lakes throughout the area. Anglers that locate a hot spot should stay put as the fish are really biting! On our border lakes, including Saganaga and Seagull, walleye are holding at the current breaks and steep drop-offs. Jigs tipped with a minnow imitator have been best. Depth does not seem to be a factor. Crankbaits have been very productive during morning and evening hours when waters are coolest. Try pulling spinners and jigging as well. On Cascade Lake, try nightcrawlers in 12-20 feet of water. The northern pike are moving into more shallow waters near the shorelines. A fourteen-pound pike was recently pulled from just 12 feet of water on Devils Track Lake, just outside of Grand Marais, on a red and white spoon. September is salmon weather! On Lake Superior, a beautiful 11-pound, 2-ounce Atlantic salmon was pulled from about 90 feet of water near Grand Marais. These fish are also moving toward the mouths of the rivers, and a few river casters have had luck below the bridge at Devils Track River, just east 0of Grand Marais. For brook trout, try casting at the mouth of the Brule River, near Naniboujou Lodge, roughly 14 miles east of Grand Marais. Also try the Cascade River between Grand Marais and Lutsen.
Grand Rapids
It is a beautiful time of year to be out on the 1000-plus lakes in Itasca County; the fall foliage is nearing 25% peak fall color. Water temperatures continue to drop into the mid-60s. Smaller lakes continue to give up lots of panfish and bass. During the day, crappies are coming from the deeper water off the weedlines in the 8 foot range by anglers moving at speeds of 1.1- to 1.5-mph. Towards evening, crappies are moving up into the weeds to feed. Bass are working the weedlines, and crankbaits are producing the most fish. For walleye, the fall fishing is starting to be more consistent depending on wind conditions. Anglers putting in the time and sticking to a small area once fish are located have done very well. 800-355-9740
Northwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
While it sounds like a broken record, Lake of the Woods anglers had another incredible week of fishing. Walleye are being taken from Stony Point down to Long Point and all the way over to the Lighthouse Gap, basically the entire lake. The deep mud and rock reefs are holding fish. Anglers are having success using crankbaits, spinners and jigs. As the water cools into the mid-60s, the live bait bite should become stronger than crankbait bite. At present, gold, pink, white, and chartreuse colors are producing best. For crankbaits, don't overlook the chrome finishes. Depths of 25-35 feet of water have been the most productive, however, fish are starting to move shallower. Up at the Northwest Angle, walleye fishing has been excellent, with fish stacked in predictable locations. Walleye were schooled up in specific locations such as the current breaks, sharp turns, and steep drop-offs and breaks adjacent to deeper water. The best approach has been a 1/8-ounce jig with Berkley Gulp minnow imitator, with 28-inch fish reported. The muskie are moving shallow and can be found adjacent to their usual late-fall locations, such as the steep shorelines. These areas are giving up fish to anglers using large bucktails, with a 53-inch muskie, as well as several fish in the mid- to upper-40s being taken. 800-382-FISH
Bemidji
Surface water temperatures in most Bemidji area lakes dropped into the mid-60s this past week. While most species of fish have been active, they have also changed locations. Walleye can be found off the sides of structure into deeper water in most of the deep water lakes, with some fish also holding in the shallows during the cool down phase. Walleye in shallow lakes such as Winnibigoshish and Upper Red have been moving shallow, coming from the shoreline weeds and rocks in 6-12 feet of water. Perch anglers are finding schools of perch having moved to the large shallow flats covered with a mixture of sand grass and/or rocks. Perch are active feeders that like a variety of food choices, with crayfish, minnows and smaller perch all on the menu. Crappies are moving towards structure and becoming more active during the day. Most crappies spent the summer suspended over the top of the thermocline, but as the thermocline breaks down, crappies will almost immediately move towards structure in deeper water. Bluegills will transition to the edges of the greenest, healthiest and tallest weeds which provide cover and hold insects. Bass are beginning to move out of the extreme shallows towards the outer edges of the weeds. Northern pike and muskie are both very active in the fall, with the larger fish following the schools of tulibees, especially when they move into shallow waters. 800-458-2223
Cass Lake
800-356-8615
Bena - Lake Winnibigoshish
218/665-2268
Walker - Leech Lake
Leech Lake walleye and perch anglers are having lots of success since the temperatures have turned cool. Minnows and crawlers on a lindy rig or jig have worked best for good walleye action. Most walleye have moving up into the shallows, and the main lake has been producing walleye around Submarine Island, The Annex, Goose Island and the Grand Vu Flats. Jumbo perch are hitting on jigs tipped with a fathead minnow at the traditional fall spots found throughout Leech Lake. The muskie bite remains good, with Pipe Island, Pelican Island and West Bar giving up quite a few fish. 800-833-1118
Hackensack
Walleye action has picked up and the minnow bite has taken over, with redtails and creek chubs producing good numbers. Nightcrawlers are also turning their share of fish as well. Anglers pulling rigs in less than 14 feet of water are having the most success, with fish having moved into shallower waters. Northern pike and muskie anglers report greater numbers of fish as well--a couple 20-pound pike were recently taken. Crappies continue to be pulled from the cabbage beds on light jig and small crappie minnow combinations, especially during evening hours. 800 -279-6932
Park Rapids
Water temperatures are cooling down and the fishing is heating up in the Park Rapids area! Natural instinct has caused fish to go on the attack while food supplies are readily available. Walleye anglers should try drifting along the break line on the inside weed edge in 8-12 feet of water for some good action--use your trolling motor as necessary to keep the boat over the right depth. The bite should be frequent, but soft. Use a rod with a fast action tip, allowing you to feel the slight differences that indicate that a fish is on the other end of the line. Pair a walleye snell with a locally trapped redtail minnow for the best odds of getting your limit. 800-247-0054
Detroit Lakes
As of late last week, the best walleye action was in depths of 6-15 feet of water. During the day, walleye were pulled from 14-22 feet water. Minnows had started to become the preferred bait. Crawlers and leeches continued to produce fish, however, leeches were becoming harder to find. Pelican, Beers, Big Detroit, Sallie and Battle lakes all gave up plenty of muskie, with most fish taken by anglers "chunking" baits over the weed beds during the day. Bass were coming from the shallows, lurking on the flats and in the weeds where the young perch and sunfish are located. Smallmouth bass have been active at the rocks of Cormorant, Lida and Island lakes. Sunfish remained active in the weeds, hitting small jigs tipped with small leeches or pieces of crawler. Water temperatures were dropping. Please note that there are low water levels at the public accesses. 800-542-3992
Central Region
Otter Tail Lakes Area
Walleye anglers have been doing great on Otter Tail Lake. The daytime bite has been best in 20-25 feet of water, with crawlers and spinners, as well as redtails on jigs or rigs producing the most fish. Crankbaits have turned lots of fish at night when worked in depths of 3-8 feet of water. Muskie fishing enthusiasts are having a blast on West Battle Lake when using blades and bucktails in 10-20 feet of water. The crappie bite has been good on most lakes. 800-423-4571
Glenwood
Walleye anglers are excited to take advantage of the fall fishing patterns now that jigs and minnows are beginning to turn walleye on Lake Minnewaska. Shallow-running crankbaits should also produce plenty of fish. And local anglers continue to take lots of northern pike, bass, and sunfish. 320/634-3636
Whitefish
The recommended approach for walleye anglers is a lindy rig tipped with live bait, preferably minnows. Start at 20 feet and work your way either out or in from there. Northern pike are hitting minnows on jigs or lindy rigs outside the weedlines or around the weedy mid-lake humps. The larger fish seem to be moving shallower. Sunfish are still within the weedy, midlake humps, with lots of action on worms, leeches and minnows--some fish are even coming from waters as deep as 24 feet. Bass anglers report lots of action. Plastics and spinnerbaits are also working well at the weedlines and when fishing off the docks. Lots of smaller bass are hitting live bait, with most caught by anglers seeking walleye.
Pine River
800-728-6926
Brainerd Lakes Area
Lindy rigs tipped with redtails or crawlers are producing walleye in 14-18 feet of wateron Gull and North Long lakes. On Pelican Lake, check depths of 14-28 feet. Look for sunfish on the shallow weedbeds. Crappies can be found suspended over 12-20 feet of water on Gull and North Long lakes. Sucker minnows are turning northern pike on the shallow weedlines of Gull, Pelican, North Long, and Lake Edwards. Towards the city of Crosby, snap-jigging plastics in the deep holes or trolling crankbaits near the Highway 6 Bridge on the Mississippi River have produced walleye and smallmouth bass. Crappies are being caught over deep water during the day, and in depths of 12-15 feet during low-light hours on most lakes. The deep brush on East Rabbit Lake is a safe bet for sunfish. Northern pike are hitting suckers and spinnerbaits on the weedlines of Serpent and Bay lakes. Bass can be found continue to be plucked from bulrushes at Crooked Lake, Lower Mission Lake, and Bay. Trout action has picked up again for anglers using crawlers in Pennington and Manuel pits. 800-450-2838
Aitkin Area Lakes/Northern Lake Mille Lacs
800-526-8342
Isle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs
Lake Mille Lacs is giving up walleye during the day, with spinners and rainbow minnows turning fish on the tops and edges of most mud flats. Leadcore and crankbaits have also worked well during the day in 30-plus feet of water. At night, try slip bobbers and leeches off the flats in depths of 30-34 feet of water. When the wind blows, hit the mid-depth rock piles and reefs. Smallmouth bass are active during low-light hours. Muskie action has slowed in recent days. 888-350-2692
Willmar
800-845-8747
Twin Cities Greater Metropolitan vicinity
Taylors Falls/St. Croix Falls
715/483-3580
Northeast Metro/Chisago Lakes Area
Bass and northern pike have been hitting spinners and plastics on South Center and Chisago lakes. Panfish action has been very good on all area lakes. Walleye have been more difficult to locate, however anglers continue to take some fish during early morning and late evening hours, especially on Green Lake. 651/257-1177
White Bear Area Lakes
Fishing has picked up with the cooler nights and subsequent drop in water temperatures. Sunnies and crappies have been very active, hitting worms and crappie minnows in and near the weeds. The bass have been active on the weedlines as well, hitting bass jigs and plastic worms. Walleye anglers are pulling fish from 12-16 feet of water on Bald Eagle Lake when using jigs tipped with fathead minnows. Muskies and northern pike have been active on both White Bear and Bald Eagle Lakes, hitting spinnerbaits and blade baits worked over the weeds. 651/653-5122
Waconia
952/442-5812
Southern Minnesota
Lake City - Lake Pepin/Pool #4 Mississippi River
877-525-3248
Lanesboro - Southeast Bluff Country Trout Streams
As of Friday, September 14, all streams seemed to be in great condition, although very low and gin clear. Blue-winged olives were reported hatching on Trout Run. As of Monday, September 10, anglers reported lots of success over the weekend when using small hopper patterns. Some very small, blue-winged olives (#22) had been seen hatching. Streams were very low and were in "extreme drought" condition. The result is somewhat challenging fishing conditions since trout are more easily spooked and due to the abundance of aquatic vegetation. For detailed fishing maps showing defined property lines and easements, check out Trout Angling: Southern Minnesota. 800-944-2670
Rochester - Southeast Minnesota Lakes and Rivers
800-634-8277
Winona
800-657-4972
Faribault Area Lakes
800-658-2354
Albert Lea
800-345-8414
Fairmont Area Lakes
800-657-3280
Ortonville -Big Stone Lake
Perch and walleye continue to be taken in good numbers. Walleye are still being caught by anglers pulling crankbaits in 9-12 foot depths depending on which area of the lake you are fishing. A number 5 shad rap has been very popular, especially when pulling it 80-100 feet behind the boat--color seems to vary each day. Anglers are also catching white bass, few northern pike, and even some perch using this method, with several limits reported last week. Perch anglers continue to anchor in their favorite spots, including the Rocky Ledge area, Cramer's Resort, Whiskey House, Bayview, Grapevine and Goose Isle. While the bait hasn't seemed to matter, getting the presentation on the bottom does. Expect some bluegill, as well as an occasional crappie. 800-568-5722
