Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update, Jan. 23, 2015
The forecast calls for moderate temperatures through the weekend and into next week, and the fishing remains very good. This is an excellent time to get out and enjoy a day on the ice! It always helps to drill a number of holes and move around until a school of fish is located. Please note that some of the northern lakes have so much ice that an auger extension has been essential.
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
This is an excellent time for ice fishing! The forecast calls for light snow and moderate temperatures, and the walleye fishing has been fast and furious! The best bite on Rainy Lake is in the Birch Point area, especially during morning hours and again late in the afternoon. Jigging with shiner minnows in 25-30 feet of water is turning the most fish. The same is true in the American Narrows area just to the east. Around Dryweed Island and then southeast to Cranberry Bay, the walleye bite has been best around the middle of the day. Again, jigging with a shiner is all you need to do, just do it in 15-20 feet of water. The best northern pike fishing has been in 12 feet of water in the Rainy Lake City area which is easily accessible from the Voyageurs National Park ice road. 800-325-5766;
www.rainylake.orgEly
The trout season started off with a bang this week. Anglers had success when using ciscoes on white tube jigs or darters fished on the bottom, with the best numbers taken when actively jigging. Trout weighing up to twelve pounds were reported, along with many in the 3- to 7-pound range. Rainbow, brook and brown trout, along with splake, responded well to small spoons and ice flies tipped with either a salted minnow or wax worms. Northern pike were also being taken. Anglers did well when using sucker minnows both as decoys for spearing, and on live bait rigs suspended under a dead stick or tip up. Crappies too were being targeted, and these fish responded to live minnows, as well as tiny jigs tipped with minnows, wax worms, and artificial soft bait tails. The current mild weather leaves little reason to not get out, smell the wonderful fresh air, and put some fish on the table! 800-777-7281;
www.ely.orgDuluth
On the St Louis River, dead sticks tipped with a live minnow sinker and smaller hook placed 6 inches off the bottom has been best. The usual jigging methods are also producing fish, but the best time to use this technique has been at sun up and sun down. Ice conditions continue to be good, although they are still moving some boats around on the river, so please use caution. Keep in mind that is can be nerve-wrecking when waves from the boats travel under the ice to your holes! Lake Superior has offered a better bite for anglers fishing just off shore, however, ice conditions on Lake Superior are not as good as they were last year so anglers must use extreme caution. 800-438-5884;
www.visitduluth.comGrand Rapids
Ice fishing remains good on Grand Rapids area lakes. Crappies and bluegills continue to provide consistent action and there are countless lakes that have been keeping anglers smiling. Perch fishing on Big Winnibigoshish has been good, especially since the lack of snow has provided unlimited access to great fishing spots. The northern pike fishing remains good, and the opening of the inland trout fishing season provides yet another species for anglers to catch. The Grand Rapids area has several good trout lakes filled with the lake trout, rainbows and splake that most anglers tend to pursue. Check the DNR website for special regulations concerning fishing for trout on area lakes. 800-335-9740;
www.visitgrandrapids.comNorthwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
On Lake of the Woods’ south shore, in front of Pine Island, the best reports are coming from anglers fishing 15 miles out where the water is clearer. Most catches consists of a combination of walleye and saugers. Anglers working the structure in such areas as Knight, Bridges and Garden islands are catching nice numbers as well. From Morris Point to Zippel Bay, anglers report a decent bite in slightly shallower waters during the day, ranging from 17-28 feet deep. During morning and evening hours, work depths of 15-18 feet. Long Point and Arnesen's are still producing good numbers, with anglers finding the most consistent action at the reefs. On the Rainy River, orange or chartreuse with frozen shiners has been best in roughly 16 feet of water. Please work through outfitters and bait shops and know where you are going on ice. And up at the Northwest Angle, fishing continues to be good on the edge of the structure in 25-28 feet of water. Anglers having the most success are using gold and glow red colors, with lots of walleye and some saugers being taken; expect some jumbo perch, pike and eelpout as well. 800-382-FISH;
www.lakeofthewoodsmn.comBemidji Area Lakes
Ice conditions in the Bemidji area are excellent, with most lakes having at least 20 inches of good ice, and the light snow pack on the lakes is allowing anglers access to most areas. The biggest obstacle for anglers has been the pressure ridges. Most of the larger lakes have multiple ice ridges, while most of the smaller lakes don’t have any. Anglers fishing the larger lakes should try to access the lakes close to the area they want to fish to avoid crossing any pressure ridges. There are a few lakes that have more than 25 inches of ice so anglers may want to bring along an auger extension, especially if using a wheeled fish house. Walleye fishing has been spotty, which is typical for mid-January. Most anglers are catching a few walleye during low light hours, but limits have been rare, except on Upper Red Lake. Anglers have pulled so many walleye out of Upper Red Lake this year that the DNR is reducing the daily limit to two walleye, with a protected slot limit of 17- to 26-inches. The new regulation takes effect on January 23, 2015. The lower walleye limit on Upper Red Lake may be enough to keep more anglers closer to Bemidji, where most lakes have a six walleye limit. There is also a point during the winter months when many anglers make the switch from walleye to panfish since they are usually easier to catch. Perch anglers are finding perch on the edge of large flats in 10-16 feet of water, and also on the edge of the basin in 25-40 feet of water, depending on the lake. Crappies have been suspended 5-10 feet off the bottom in 25-40 feet of water. Sunfish have been using the steep breaks along the weedlines in 10-18 feet of water. 800-458-2223;
www.visitbemidji.comBena -Lake Winnibigoshish
Ice conditions are very good on Lake Winnibigoshish, with 25-28 inches of ice on average, and very little snow. Travel is good throughout the lake, and fish are cooperating as well! Northern pike are on a rampage with numbers of 22- to 30-inch fish coming in on tip ups and sucker minnows, or large jigging spoons and a minnow head. Walleye action has been sporadic, turning good once a front passes. Look to the top sections of the main lake bars and humps for the most action, including Long and Center bars, and the Snag Hole shore drop. Anglers having the most success are using plain hook minnows next to an attractor such as a spoon and minnow head or a jigging rap in 15-22 feet of water. Perch are coming from two areas. The shallow fish are hitting minnows at the first shore drops in 4-11 feet of water; drill plenty of holes and sight fish for them. The deeper fish are responding bets to bugs; hit the main lake bar drops in 25-35 feet of water using smaller minnows on glow jigs for these fish. When the sun is shining, switch to gold. Please note that there are a couple of areas to avoid: the heaves on the west side, and to the north of Tamarac Point on toward the Gap. Please check with the resort you plan to access the lake from for the most current information and conditions.
www.lakewinnie.netCass Lake
As of last weekend, anglers were taking nice numbers of walleye and perch from Cass, Pike Bay and Leech lakes. Anglers were also reporting some nice-size northern pike, with fathead and golden shiner minnows turning the majority of fish. 800-356-8615;
www.casslake.comDetroit Lakes
Ice conditions for Detroit Lakes area lakes continue to be great despite the recent mild temperatures. A bit of slush has developed due to minimal snow cover but travel off the most used roads and trails remains easy. Please note, however, that you should not cross pressure ridges or travel near the river inlets and outlets due to thinning ice in these areas. Temperatures will remain mild over the next week or so, making hole hopping and fishing outside of shelters easy and comfortable. The panfish bite continues to be the best and most consistent action on area lakes, with lots of active fish taken throughout the day. The walleye bite, however, has been inconsistent. For the most walleye, fish during low light periods off the deeper weed edges. Jigging has been best for both panfish and walleye. Tip-up fishing for northern pike has been best on the weed flats, especially when using large suckers suspended above the weeds. 800-542-3992;
www.visitdetroitlakes.comCentral Region
The 2015 Brainerd Jaycee’s Ice fishing Extravaganza on Gull Lake takes place this Saturday, January 24! The ice is in great condition, and it seems the entire community is busy preparing for the big event! The walleye bite has tapered off a bit this last week or so, but this time of year when walleye tend to shorten their feeding times and turn finicky. However, they still can be caught! Try a set line with a small- to medium-size minnow, and set them close to the bottom. On another line, jig a spoon to attract the walleye, then keep an eye on the set line. While anglers should check a variety of depths, they should first check 20-30 feet of water for active fish. The crappies and sunnies remain active, and entertaining anglers on the slower days. Jig a smaller glow spoon tipped with a plastic or small minnow for both the sunnies and the crappies. To locate roaming schools of panfish, try to locate areas that form a bowl-like structure. And it always helps to get drill a bunch of holes, moving around until you locate a school. 800-450-2838;
www.explorebrainerdlakes.comIsle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs
Anglers are having the best luck with the perch and walleye in 20-28 feet of water on Lake Mille Lacs. Check the mud closer to the deeper reefs for the most perch. The weather forecasted over the weekend and into next week should be spectacular, making it an excellent time to get out and enjoy a day on the ice. 888 -350-2692;
www.millelacs.comWillmar Lakes Area
Willmar area lakes have been very busy, with anglers enjoying mild temperatures and an excellent panfish bite. Willmar and Foot lakes have been the busiest and have had the best bite. Diamond, Green and Norway lakes have also been popular choices for active sunfish and crappies. The walleye action is bit slow on most lakes, but expected to pick up soon. Anglers are having the most success using wax worms and crappie minnows. Most lakes are averaging 18 inches of ice. Anglers are looking forward to another great weekend of ice fishing! 800-845-8747;
www.willmarlakesarea.comSouthern Minnesota
Lanesboro -Southeast Bluff Country Trout Streams
Anglers should find excellent trout fishing opportunities this weekend. The temperatures are looking very favorable for some insect hatches. Streams with shelf ice are colder than those streams with no shelf ice so concentrate your efforts on those streams with no to little shelf ice off of the stream banks. As of Thursday, January 22, all area streams and rivers monitored by fisheries staff had clear water conditions with normal water flows. Check out the news release regarding the expanded winter trout season which began 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.comFairmount Area Lakes
Anglers will want to check out the 1st Annual Fairmont Lakes Foundation Ice Fishing Contest on Saturday, January 24 with more than $3,000 in cash and prizes to be given away! 507-238-9461;
www.fairmont.org
