Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update - May 1, 2015 Jordan’s big pike pulled from Fish Lake – image courtesy of Houston's Guide Service.
Anglers are heading early to take advantage of the great panfish bite that happens each spring. The weather this weekend will be warm and sunny throughout the state, and the bite should be spectacular as water temperatures continue to warm!
Minnesota fishing opener dates for the 2015/2016 fishing season for most inland waters are as follows: walleye, sauger, northern pike and lake trout, May 9; muskie, June 6. Please note that a new, early catch-and-release season for largemouth and smallmouth bass opens May 9, 2015! The fishing season for crappies, sunnies, perch and catfish is continuous. Seasons and regulations vary for certain boundary waters and some individual lakes and rivers--consult the Minnesota DNR Fishing Basics web page for the most current information.
[Northeast] [Northwest] [Central] [Twin Cities] [Southern]
Northeast Minnesota
International Falls - Rainy Lake & the Rainy River
The ice is out on Rainy Lake and you can boat from International Falls to Kettle Falls unimpeded. Even before the official ice out there was plenty of open water on the lake. Anglers have been out fishing for crappie and northern pike. The crappie bite has been slow but will pick up as the water warms. Northern pike have been more active with good-sized fish coming from the lake. Rainy River anglers have been focusing on sturgeon now that the tag season is open. Anglers may only tag one sturgeon in a calendar year and it must be within 45- to 50-inches, or over 75-inches. The best method to catch a sturgeon is to string a bunch of worms on your hook and use a sinker heavy enough to get your bait just off the bottom. River anglers say they are also catching smallmouth bass in the shallower waters at the edge of the current. 800-325-5766;
www.rainylake.orgKabetogama
The ice went out early, the waters are warming quickly, and the walleye are in the midst of their spawn—everything is falling into place perfectly for a great fishing opener! For now, anglers are concentrating on the crappies. Please note that the water is low water this year so don’t be surprised to see more rock outcroppings than usual. 800-524-9085;
www.kabetogama.comCook County: Lutsen-Tofte, Grand Marais, Gunflint Trail, and Grand Portage
The steelhead trout are running in various rivers along the North Shore of Lake Superior. Steelhead trout, aka rainbow trout, are active and hungry this time of year. There are over 60 streams and rivers along the shoreline where the steelhead spawn and feed, and recent sunny days have been perfect for some great action. Anglers are reporting good results just using a standard rod and reel, and casting from the river shorelines!
www.VisitCookCounty.comDuluth - Lake Superior and inland waters
Anglers were doing well with the panfish when working the warm bays last weekend. The best time of day seemed to be later in the afternoon, although, fish were biting throughout the day. The best presentation continues to be small bits of worm or crappie minnows on a small jig or hook under a float. As the days grow longer, the panfish will begin to spawn and it’s best to leave them alone to assist in quality populations in the future. 800-438-5884;
www.visitduluth.comGrand Rapids
Local anglers expect this to be one of the best Minnesota Fishing Openers ever, and bait shops are seeing more excitement than in the past few years! For now, many anglers are out bow fishing along the Mississippi River and in the many Grand Rapids area lakes. Access to the rivers has been much easier due to low water levels. Bow anglers are taking lots of white sucker and red horse which are great smoked. Many of the resorts are offering discounts and partial week lodging rates for the fishing opener and early summer season fishing. 800-335-9740;
www.visitgrandrapids.comNorthwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
The "keep one" sturgeon season opened last weekend and anglers did very well. Many "dinosaurs" were taken by anglers anchoring up in the mid-channel areas and over deep holes using a 2-ounce no roll sinker with an 18-inch lead and a 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook with a bunch of crawlers. Areas from Timbermill Park in Baudette towards the Lighthouse Gap at the mouth of the river are producing the most fish. Northern pike are finishing up their spawn and they are hungry! Many methods are producing well, including hard and fast trolling, casting spoons, and working shallow diving crankbaits. Some anglers are doing well when using a northern pike harness tipped with smelt, a dead cisco, or herring under a bobber in 1-8 feet of water. 800-382-FISH;
www.lakeofthewoodsmn.comDetroit Lakes
Water temperatures are warming nicely and the warm weather should linger through the end of the weekend! Most lakes are in the low to mid 50 degree range. The smaller, darker lakes are warming up the quickest, and offer the most active shallow panfish. Most crappies are suspended in roughly 8 feet of water near the submerged green weed pockets. Anglers are having the best results when using a small jig tipped with a crappie or fathead minnow either under a bobber or jigged just above the fish. Plastic action tails are also triggering bites. There have been reports of some large bluegills coming from some of the larger, shallow lakes. Panfish are also being taken by anglers fishing from docks and shoreline areas. Water levels remain low even after the welcome rainfall last week. Many of the public access docks were set out last week and all are being worked on this week. 800-542-3992;
www.visitdetroitlakes.comCentral Region
Otter Tail Lakes Area
The ice has been off the lakes for a few weeks already, and panfish action has been great! Sunnies and crappies are seeking out the shallows since they are the quickest to warm. The best lakes to check out are those that have back bays, especially if they have dark bottoms and rotting vegetation which cause the waters to warm more quickly. A great thing about early season panfish is that they can be accessible from shore and everybody can participate. Young kids will have a blast, and there’s no chance of them falling out of a boat. They can also practice casting, and shoreline casting helps develop precision, distance, and control. The best set-up is a spring-bobber, small weight and a hook with a worm or minnow. A spring bobber is a good choice since the fish are usually close to the surface where the water is the warmest. Also, the water is usually very shallow, only about 1-3 feet deep so you don’t need much line under your bobber. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that shallow fish are easily spooked. If you know where the fish are sitting (you can often see them), try to cast well beyond their position, and then slowly reel your lure to where they are holding. It won’t take long until your bobber goes under! 800-423-4571;
www.ottertailcountry.comWillmar Lakes Area
Spring panfishing has been great in the Willmar Lakes Area! Anglers are having success on Elkhorn, George, Henderson, Games, Willmar and Foot lakes, at the northwest corner of Lake Andrew, the northern end of Eagle Lake, and in the bays of Nest, Diamond and Norway lakes. With the forecasted warm temperatures for the weekend there should be many more anglers getting their boats out for the first time. Stock up on bait, dust off the boat, and take advantage of the great fishing taking place on area lakes! 800-845-8747;
www.willmarlakesarea.comTwin Cities Greater Metropolitan vicinity
Waconia
The spring bite on Lake Waconia is picking up nicely. As of Wednesday morning, April 29, the water temperature was 54.5 degrees in 8 feet of water. Crappies generally turn more active in the shallows once water temperatures reach the high-50s, which should be this weekend! Currently, the best crappie bite is in 8-12 feet of water in Waconia Bay. Anglers have been taking nice numbers of 9- to 11-inch fish after sorting out the little ones. Action has been very good, and Lake Waconia clearly remains a great crappie fishery. 952/442-5812;
www.destinationwaconia.orgSouthern Minnesota
Lanesboro -Southeast Bluff Country Trout Streams
As of Monday, April 27, area streams and rivers monitored by fisheries staff were slightly off in color with normal to slightly high water levels. An excellent caddis hatch was noted, along with egg-laying on the South Branch Whitewater. By 11a.m. the caddis were everywhere! Lots of brown trout measuring in the 11- to 13-inch range were reported, some in poor condition and others in great condition. Anglers are encouraged to stop by a DNR Fisheries office in southeast Minnesota to pick up a copy of the new 2015 Trout Angling Opportunities in Southern and Central Minnesota booklet. Check the DNR Fisheries web page for locations. 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. 800-944-2670;
www.lanesboro.comAlbert Lea
Anglers report that the crappie bite has heated up again on Fountain Lake! 800-345-8414;
www.albertleatourism.orgOrtonville - Big Stone Lake
Recent high winds kept anglers off Big Stone Lake much of last week. Those that did venture out found some walleye on the far north and the far south ends of the lake. These areas are typically best since they warm the quickest this time of year. A few larger walleye in the 25-plus inch category were reported, with many then released. Most walleye weighed about 2.5-pounds -- great for the frying pan! As of the beginning of the week, the best bite remained along the shorelines during low light hours. Anglers did well using either a jig and minnow combination, or casting a crankbait to the shallows. 800-568-5722;
www.bigstonelake.com
