Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update, Dec. 31, 2014 Despite recent cold temperatures, anglers have enjoying less fishing pressure at the prime fishing holes and great fishing! More stable weather conditions are in store for later this week which should cause fish to turn even more active. Please remember that ice thickness can vary greatly from lake to lake, and from one area of a lake to the next. Refresh your knowledge of ice safety by consulting the Minnesota DNR's Ice Safety Guidelines website. Before heading out, please contact a local bait shop or lakeside resort for the most current ice conditions.
Northeast Minnesota
International Falls - Rainy Lake & the Rainy River
Voyageurs National Park has opened the Rainy Lake Ice Road providing easier access to the Rainy Lake City area where northern pike fishing has been good. For the most fish, use a decent-sized minnow in 12-15 feet of water. Walleye fishing has been best in Sand Bay when using jigs and minnows in 25-30 feet of water, especially early and late in the day. Anglers are occasionally pulling crappies from Sand Bay as well. Snowmobile trails from Rainy Lake to Crane Lake are open and staked, and recent snowfall has improved the overland trails. 800-325-5766;
www.rainylake.orgKabetogama
Anglers are taking a variety of species from Lake Kabetogama, including nice perch, pike, saugers, and some keeper walleye. While the bite isn’t fast and furious, it’s enough to keep things exciting. Small, light jigs, eye drops and peepers tipped with small fatheads, rainbows or just the head of a minnow will work well. Depths from 28’-32’ seem to be best. Spearing remains strong with good ice conditions allowing anglers to move spear houses easily. This has been a great fishing season, with good ice and no slush providing access to areas earlier than usual by four wheelers and sleds. The snowmobile trails are staked and open. 800-524-9085;
www.kabetogama.comEly
Many anglers are taking walleye on dead sticks with a minnow, but more and more are turning to a “run and gun” fishing approach with small spoons and rattle baits -- this is probably the most productive way to catch walleye if you're not opposed to drilling a bunch of holes. This season’s ice is conducive to staying on the move. Crappie fishing is heating up, with nice numbers coming from lakes both inside and outside the Boundary Waters at the scattered weed beds. Northern pike fishing remains productive. Anglers are having success using a live sucker half way to the bottom in 12 feet of water, or a ciscoe dropped on the lake bed. While measurements indicate at least 12 inches of ice in most areas, continue to drill several test holes as you go to confirm ice thickness. 800-777-7281;
www.ely.orgCook County: Lutsen-Tofte, Grand Marais, Gunflint Trail, and Grand Portage
The frozen waters of the BWCAW are frozen and ready for the start of trout fishing on January 1. Now that’s a Happy New Year! Access is fairly simple, and the snowshoe trails are well established. Those who want to wait until January 17 will be able to fish for trout on any trout lake they like, and that’s a great time to plant an ice house for a week of excellent fishing. In the mid Gunflint Trail area, anglers are taking walleye when using small baits tipped with wax worms or minnow heads. The best walleye action has been during the last 2 to 3 hours of daylight, with Poplar and Greenwood lakes giving up some nice numbers. On Caribou Lake, just north of Lutsen, northern pike are hitting brightly colored jigs on tip ups. Perch action has been good as well, with anglers having success in roughly 20 feet of water when using small baits.
www.VisitCookCounty.comDuluth
Despite cold temperatures, anglers are enjoying less fishing pressure at the prime fishing holes and rapidly growing ice! During the cold fronts, down-sized baits and dead stick combo have been best. The key is to relax, turn up the heater, set out dead sticks tipped with fat heads and wait for the fish to hit. Lure them in with a jigging rap or anything with a buckshot noise then watch the line with your minnow. Fish Lake has been best for action, but other area lakes are likely producing nice fish as well. A great spot for perch fishing, and keeping the kids busy, is just off the public ramp on Pike Lake. And as the weather stabilizes, the bite will only improve. 800-438-5884;
www.visitduluth.comGrand Rapids
Fishing has been good to excellent for several species on Grand Raids area lakes. Big and Little Splithand, Big Turtle, Pokegama, Bass and Trout lakes have been excellent choices for crappies and large bluegills. Walleye fishing has been good the last 2 hours of the day on Lake Winnibigoshish, Cutfoot Sioux, Pokegama and Moose lakes for anglers using small spoons with a minnow head or a plain hook with a shiner minnow. Northern pike continue to cooperate and provide great action on area lakes. 800-335-9740;
www.visitgrandrapids.comNorthwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
Resorts are moving their fish houses farther north to deeper waters on the south shore of Lake of the Woods, with lots of walleye, sauger and perch being reported. Mornings and evenings have been best. Successful areas include 34 foot depths over the mud and 21-28 foot depths from The Gap towards Morris Point. Areas further west, towards Zippel Bay, Long Point and Arnesen's, are giving up the majority of fish in 26-28 feet of water. Gold with glow red, green, and glow colors are turning the most fish, especially when tipped with minnow and actively jigged. The marked trails currently have 16-19 inches of ice. On the Rainy River, anglers are finding fish in 18 feet of water. Gold and plain hooks are working best with light presentations. Afternoon hours have been the most productive. Up at the Northwest Angle, lots of mixed bag limits are being taken by anglers fishing 18-28 feet of water. Gold and pink colors have been best when tipped with minnows. As always, please use the trails marked by resorts. 800-382-FISH;
www.lakeofthewoodsmn.comPark Rapids
Ice conditions are improving rapidly. Currently, most of Fish Hook Lake is covered in 11-15 inches of ice. Areas of Island and Potato lakes have 12-14 inches of ice, and areas of Long Lake have 11-16 inches of ice. Peak fishing times have varied widely. Fish Hook Lake is producing the most walleye between 1 & 3 p.m. in 10-15 feet of water. Upper Bottle Lake is giving up the most fish from 3-6 p.m. on the north end flats in 5-10 feet of water. Northern pike are very active, with good numbers found at the cabbage weed beds in 12-16 feet of water. 800-247-0054;
www.parkrapids.comCentral Region
Brainerd Lakes Area
Recent measurements show 13-16 inches of ice on Gull Lake. Walleye fishing has been erratic, with fish coming from depths ranging from 12-40 feet. Crappies and sunnies remain in their typical deep winter locations, and sonar is nearly essential! Set a tip-up about 5-10 feet down over these suspended fish, and there’s a good chance you’ll pull a giant pike through the ice! 800-450-2838;
www.explorebrainerdlakes.comAlexandria Area Lakes
Ice measurements are 12-18 inches on most bodies of water in the Alexandria area, however, it is very important that you check ice thickness before heading out. Just a week ago, only 3 inches of ice was found in the middle of one area lake with a group of trucks on the ice about a half mile away. Walleye action remains fairly steady, with decent reports coming from 15-20 foot depths on a number of lakes, especially at structure near deep water. Sunfish and crappie action remains very strong, and depths of 15-20 feet in the shallow, flat bay-like areas have been producing best. Use 2-pound monofilament line and one or two euro larva for the most fish. For crappies, use 4-pound monofilament line and a small crappie minnow. This is an ideal setup for suspended crappies after dark. 800-235-9441;
www.vacationalexandriamn.comTwin Cities Greater Metropolitan vicinity
Waconia
As of December 24, Lake Waconia ice measurements remained pretty much the same as those taken a week earlier. Waconia Bay ice measured roughly 8-10 inches, with 6-7 inches at the Old Goose Hole. Center Reef measurements showed mostly 7-8 inch depths, with some areas as thin as 6 inches, and others as thick as 11 inches. Pillsbury Reef measurements were 8-11 inches. Please note that there are a couple of springs in the lake that impact ice thickness; check with a local bait shop to learn their locations before venturing out. Please be sure to check ice thickness often, especially when traveling away from a group. 952/442-5812;
www.destinationwaconia.orgSouthern Minnesota
Lanesboro -Southeast Bluff Country Trout Streams
Anglers are providing great feedback regarding the expanded trout season in southeastern Minnesota state parks. Some anglers report that the trout are becoming "difficult" to catch, likely due to increased angling pressure and colder conditions. We ask that everyone is careful around trout redds (spawning areas) since some trout continue to spawn. Any riffle areas with clean, bright gravel would most likely be a redd. Check out the news release regarding the expanded winter trout season which begins January 1, 2015. As 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
