Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update, Sept. 19, 2014

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Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update, Sept. 19, 2014
 
    
Fishing continues to improve throughout the state. Anglers are now catching good numbers of fish during the middle of the day, especially when it’s warm and sunny, and most species of fish are active for longer periods of time as they try to put on weight before winter.

Consult the Minnesota DNR Fishing Basics web page for the most current information on seasons and regulations. Anglers may obtain fishing licenses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by dialing 1-888-665-4236, or accessing DNR License Sales.


Northeast Minnesota
International Falls - Rainy Lake & the Rainy River

Fish have become more aggressive with the cooler temperatures. Walleye anglers are having success in 25-30 feet of water on the submerged structure and along the windswept shorelines. Jigging with a minnow, leech or worm when it's calm, and trolling a spinner rig and minnow when it's windy have been best. Smallmouth bass have been hitting at the shorelines from roughly Dove Bay to Cranberry Bay. Black Bay and Cranberry Bay are the hot spots for northern pike as well. Rainy River anglers have been seeing more walleye action when using emerald shiner minnows in 15-20 feet of water. The stretch of river from the dam at International Falls downstream to about Browns Corner has been best. Downstream, areas between the Little Fork and Big Fork Rivers have turned more fish. 800-325-5766; www.rainylake.org

Lake Vermilion -Cook/Tower
The fall walleye bite has been unpredictable so far this fall. Many of the good fall locations still do not have many fish on them. For the most action, use minnows and crawlers on lindys or jigs once you locate fish. The smallmouth bass bite has been very good at the deeper rock reefs and steep, deep rocky shorelines. A few northern pike are starting to show up in areas normally populated by walleyes, so they are also starting to move deeper. 800-648-5897; www.lakevermilionresorts.com

Ely Area Lakes

The fall-like weather is causing water temperatures to cool rapidly. Crappies and walleyes are beginning to head deeper. The walleyes have moved from the shallow flats to slightly deeper waters down to 20 feet. Spinner rigs tipped with a minnow or crawler and slowly trolled can be a deadly combination. Some anglers are also doing well when using crankbaits. The crappies have also moved to slightly deeper waters where they can be found using small minnows under a slip bobber. For the most action, work the weedlines down to 15 feet of water early and late in the day. Northern pike are attacking large swimbaits and crankbaits near the weed beds and rocky points. A more laid back approach is to drift with large suckers rigged on a quick strike rig or June bug spinner. 800-777-7281; www.ely.org

Duluth/Grand Marais - Lake Superior

The Sept. 11 Summer Creel Survey at sites along Lake Superior’s lower shore from Duluth to Two Harbors revealed light to moderate pressure, in part due to windy weather. Anglers continued to work the middle to the bottom of the water column using a mix of spoons and flies with smelt, generally close to shore. Anglers reported that walleyes were stacking up along the south shore. Anglers’ success at catching salmon continues to fluctuate, as it has for the past 3 decades. Anglers caught fewer salmon this year than in the previous 2 years when catch rates were high. Walleye fishing may begin to pick up in the Saint Louis River estuary. Along the upper shore from Twin Points to Hovland, angling pressure was fairly light due to poor conditions. Strong offshore winds greatly lowered surface water temperatures along the upper shore, where surface temperatures that have consistently averaged 60- to 62-degrees, dropped to the low 40s near shore over a few days. Warmer surface temperatures can be found further away from shore, and anglers may need to travel out a ways for better fishing. Anglers caught fewer lake trout than in previous weeks, and the lake trout are not yet gathering in near shore locations prior to their spawn. Only an occasional chinook salmon weighing 2- to 5-pound range is being reported. Recent rains have kept water levels in the tributaries just high and turbid enough to make it difficult to see pink salmon, and no tributary angler reports have been received. www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/lakesuperior

Grand Rapids

Fishing patterns are changing rapidly as water temperatures drop quickly. Most bait fish are moving to the shallows, and the walleyes are right behind. Some of the lakes to check out include Big Split Hand, Bowstring, and Winnibigoshish. The crappie fishing has also been very good on these and other area lakes. Crappies can be found in large schools in depths of 19-26 feet of water; use electronics to locate schools, then drop a #5 jigging rapala or 1/8-ounce jig with a small minnow. Muskie anglers are reporting lots of action now that the water temperatures have dropped. Lakes to consider include Deer, Moose and Northstar. Brilliant fall color is beginning to develop, with more and more vivid yellow, fiery orange and bright red leaves appearing each day. www.visitgrandrapids.com

Northwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River

Walleye action has been great on Lake of the Woods. A good bite is being report at West Bar on the west side of Garden Island in 14-18 feet of water. Pulling crawlers on crankbaits or spinners has been the most effective approach. Fish are starting to stage in front of Pine Island in 24-27 foot depths. Jigging frozen shiners has been the most effective. Walleyes are also coming from depths of 25-30 feet in front of the fields by Zippel Bay. On the Rainy River, scattered walleyes are being pulled from Frontier on to Wheeler's Point. For the most fish, pull crankbaits through 15-19 depths, or crawler harnesses through 7-15 foot depths. One sturgeon may be kept through September 30. Up at the Northwest Angle, Little Oak and Crow Duck continue to hold fish. Muskie anglers report lots of action when tossing out large baits. 800-382-FISH; www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com

Bemidji

Surface water temperatures have dropped into the upper 50s. The most productive days are warm and sunny with light winds, different from fishing during the summer. Anglers can also fish during the warmest part of the day and have good success; no need to get up at the break of dawn to catch fish. Most species of fish are active for longer periods of time during the day as they try to put on weight before winter. Most species are more active in the middle of the day when the shallows are warmest and the deeper waters offer greater visibility. Walleyes in lakes such as Upper Red and Winnibigoshish have been moving into shallower waters to feed during the day. Jig and minnow combinations have worked well at the shoreline breaks in 5-7 feet of water in Upper Red Lake, and in slightly deeper waters on Lake Winnibigoshish. Walleye can be found in the 20 foot range in lakes such as Bemidji, Cass, Pike Bay, and most other lakes with a strong walleye population. Perch are feeding crayfish and minnows on the shallow, chara-covered sand flats. Areas with thicker chara or rocks in 6-8 feet of water have been the most productive. Crappies are coming from deeper, hard bottomed areas with some rocks and brush piles. Use your electronics to locate schools of fish, and then vertically jig smaller baits over the fish. Bass, northern pike and muskies have been active at the outside edge of the weedlines. Bass will move out of the shallows and gather into schools on the outside edge on points and inside turns with direct access to deep water. 877-250-5959; www.visitbemidji.com

Bena -Lake Winnibigoshish

Fall color is appearing, water temperatures are cooling, and the fishing is improving! Walleyes are starting to hit on the outside weedlines. Look to 8-12 feet of water using jigs and minnows for the most fish. Smaller crankbaits have also worked well. The bait fish is starting to move towards shore which is drawing in the game fish. The perch bite is going well in the weeds; look in 4-8 feet of water where the weeds are the greenest. Again, jig and minnow combinations are best. Northern pike are especially active at the weed edges in depths of 8-12 feet. Larger spoons and plugs pitched to the weeds with work best. Crappies are hitting on most of the smaller lakes around Winnibigoshish. When the wind is blowing hard, hit depths of 18-25 feet on Cutfoot Sioux, Ball Club, Portage or Six Mile lakes for some good crappie action. Water temperatures are in the upper 50s this week. www.lakewinnie.net

Detroit Lakes Area Lakes

Water temperatures are hovering in the low 60s. Walleyes are scattered, and can be found at the shallow weed edges, as well as in deeper waters down to 40 feet. Minnows on jigs or rigs have been best, with larger minnows producing the larger fish. Muskie anglers are starting to see more action during the middle of the day as baitfish turn more active. While smallmouth bass are now catch and release only, anglers are enjoying lots of action when using jigs with minnows or plastics in the shallow, hard bottom areas. White Earth, Lida, Island and Cormorant lakes are all producing quality fish. Cormorant Lake has a walleye tournament this weekend so anglers should expect the lake to be busy. Floyd, Cotton, Long and McDonald lakes have been good for largemouth bass over the past several weeks. And northern pike are attacking bait pitched or trolled over the weeds or along weed edges on the sharp breaks. Rigs and large sucker minnows are also producing well. 800-542-3992; www.visitdetroitlakes.com

Central Region
Otter Tail Lakes Country

Walleyes are being pulled from depths of 10-20 feet; jigs work best during the day, and rapalas work best during evening hours. Sunnies and crappies are coming from the 8-10 foot weedlines on down to roughly 15 feet on jigs tipped with wax worms, night crawlers or crappie minnows. Anglers are still finding bass in 5-8 feet of water at the weed beds when using spinnerbaits, senkos or leeches. For great northern pike action, drop a sucker minnow at the 12-20 foot weedlines. Muskies are coming from 10-20 feet of water during the day, and from 10-15 feet of water during evening hours. Spinner baits, bulldogs, and jigs have been best to catch these monsters. 800-423-4571; www.ottertailcountry.com

Brainerd Lakes Area

Walleyes have been easy to locate on many area lakes. To get them to bite, hit 22 feet of water during morning hours. Bass have started to move into the shallows on many lakes. The larger northern pike have dropped deep. Crappies are starting to relate to steeper breaks in the deeper waters. 800-450-2838; www.explorebrainerdlakes.com 

Sauk Centre - Sauk Lake

Crappie action has been good in 6-12 feet of water on Sauk Lake. Anglers using a tube jig tipped with a crappie minnow are having the most success. Walleye anglers are doing well in 8-20 feet of water depending on the water temperature, with jigs and lindy rigs tipped with a shiner minnow or red tail chub working best. As water temperatures cool further, expect the walleye and crappie bite on Sauk Lake to be great. The DNR has an aggressive walleye stocking program on Big Sauk Lake, and there is an abundance of crappies. Reports indicate an excellent bite last spring which is expected to be repeated this fall! 855-444-SAUK;  www.visitsaukcentre.com

Southern Minnesota
Lanesboro -Southeast Bluff Country Trout Streams

As of Friday, Sept. 12, some streams were clear with a normal to low water flow. There were two reports of great blue-winged olive hatches in the afternoon. Fisheries staff were gearing up for the upcoming fall electrofishing assessments. As further updates on stream conditions become available, they are posted on the Southeast Minnesota Stream Conditions web page. You are also welcome to call the office for updates at 507-467-2442. Before traveling, please check out the new detailed fishing easement maps. 800-944-2670; www.lanesboro.com

Ortonville -Big Stone Lake

Last week’s unstable weather made fishing conditions tough for Big Stone Lake anglers. Anglers that got out and hung in there were rewarded with some nice perch, a few walleyes, and plenty of white bass. The perch have moved to deeper waters and can be found in the 13-14 foot holes located around deeper rock piles. Areas where anglers concentrated were the BayView area (mainly to get out of the wind), the GrapeVine, Goose Isle and Manhattan Reef. Dock anglers have taken bullhead, smaller catfish and bluegill. 800-568-5722; www.bigstonelake.com