Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update - July 17, 2015 Walleye anglers are finding the majority of fish at the structure in 18-25 feet of water, especially at dawn and dusk. Crawlers and leeches should produce the most fish. Please note that catch-and-release fish should be handled with care now that surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 70-degree range.
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; bass, May 23; muskie, June 6. 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 Minnesota
Kabetogama
The bite is picking up now that the mayfly hatch has subsided. Late last week, anglers had no problem seeing fish on their locators, but getting them to bite was a problem. Most fish were seen in 25-35 feet of water, and some anglers did have success using slip sinker rigs with leeches or crawlers. Some northern pike and bass were easily picked up on the weedlines and rocky shorelines. The best bet for catching walleye is currently at the reef edges, windblown rip rap shorelines near deep water, and the creeks or other inlets or outlets found in many bays. Sugarbush Channel, Nashota Point, Cuculus, Blind Ash, Mud, Lost and Daily bay tributaries are good starting points. Jig and minnow combinations may produce fish near navigation marker 38, off Headlight Island, and off the Martin Islands. 800-524-9085;
www.kabetogama.comEly
Anglers report good numbers of walleye coming from Ely area lakes. Successful anglers are using live bait such as leeches and crawlers, with some doing well using crank baits and soft plastic bait presentations. Lake trout have been active in the deep water lakes, with fish hitting large crank baits that get down into the target zone. Some anglers continue to do well drifting ciscoes at the bottom. Stream trout action has also heated up. Most anglers are targeting area rainbow trout lakes and continue to land limits by either casting or trolling spinners. Anglers fishing from the banks are having success when suspending a crawler or red worm under a bobber. For the most fish, adjust your depth until you locate fish since they stratify at certain levels and you don't want to be fishing just above or below the feeding fish. 800-777-7281;
www.ely.orgCook County: Lutsen-Tofte, Grand Marais, Gunflint Trail, and Grand Portage
The weeds are providing good cover for a variety of fish in area lakes. Anglers recently fishing Gunflint Lake took some nice trout by slowly-trolling a bobber and minnow just above a weed line in roughly 14 feet of water. Walleye are active during morning hours, especially at the wind-driven areas of the reefs with rocky bottoms around the islands and at the shorelines. Check depths of 12-15 feet of water using spinners and minnows. Leeches should also turn walleye and northern pike. On Caribou Lake, an eight-pound pike was taken by an angler casting a red and white “lucky lure” spoon from a dock. Charter captains are trolling their rigs near 5-mile Rock, just north of Grand Marais, with excellent catches of salmon and lake trout being reported.
www.VisitCookCounty.comDuluth - Lake Superior and inland waters
The best bite has been on inland lakes and Lake Superior. Trolled crank baits have been best. On the clearer lakes, use bright colors, and on the darker, stained waters, use gold or orange. While live bait continues to produce fish, crank baits have been even more productive. Lake Superior is giving up some high quality fish, however, anglers will need to spend a bit more time out on the water. Bluegills have been an easy catch. On the St. Louis River, check the channel edges right onto the flats, with fish caught in all areas of the river. 800-438-5884;
www.visitduluth.comGrand Rapids
Walleye fishing has been excellent on many area lakes. Rigs with leeches or crawlers have been best at the offshore structure. Spinners with a crawler or chub trolled along the weedlines have also produced fish. Big Splithand, Trout, Pokegama, Bowstring, and Big Winnibigoshish lakes have all been good choices. Northern pike continue to excite anglers, with rapalas, spoons and spinnerbaits either cast or trolled turning fish. Bass fishing remains very good, but fish the deeper weed areas during the day for consistent catches of both largemouth and smallmouth bass.
www.visitgrandrapids.comNorthwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
Lake of the Woods walleye fishing remains good, with fish active throughout the lake as they transition into a mid-summer mode. Limits are being taken, along with lots of trophy walleye. A variety of methods have been successful including jigging, trolling, drifting, and down-rigging. Check areas around the Lighthouse Gap, Archie's Reef, Garden Island, Little Oak, and the deep water off of Stony Point for the most fish. Crank baits and spinners tipped with crawlers or leeches are working best in depths of 6-15 feet. Gold, orange, and perch colors have been best. Gold and pink jigs are working well over the reef areas in depths of 18-22 feet, and in depths of 25-32 feet. On the Rainy River, sturgeon are being taken from the deep pockets adjacent to current. Use a gob of crawlers on a circle hook, cast towards the pockets, and wait for the bite. The best bite has been from International Bridge headed east towards Clementson. The walleye bite has been best during evening hours in 17-19 feet of water. Up at the Northwest Angle, walleye are moving deeper to the reef areas. Deep water points off of Oak Island and others islands are giving up fish in depths of 26-30 feet. Trolling spinners through 28-32 feet of water around the edge of the reefs in the mud should also produce well. And some anglers report success when down-rigging with plugs in roughly 32 feet of water between the reefs. Launches have been concentrating around Four Blocks, pulling spinners with crawlers. Muskie and northern pike are hitting brightly-colored inline spinners and spoons near the rock piles and shallow bays. 800-382-FISH;
www.lakeofthewoodsmn.comBemidji
Surface water temperatures for Bemidji area lakes are still in the mid-70s, but it’s possible they will go even higher if hot weather persists through the second half of July. Algae blooms are developing, but many lakes are still very clear for this point in the season. Many more fish will move back into the shallows once the lakes “green-up” and reduce visibility. The thermocline has set up on the deep lakes in the area. The water column on these lakes will stratify by temperature, with the coldest water on the bottom and the warmest water at the surface. The thermocline is a thin layer of water in-between. It is visible on sonar, and usually sets up between 25- and 45-feet of water, depending on the lake. The more shallow lakes do not have a thermocline, and some large lakes have a thermocline in one part of the lake and not in the other parts of the lake. The significance of the thermocline is that this is the deepest water that most fish will go during the summer. Very deep lakes can have trout or other cold water species living below the thermocline, but most lakes have the majority of fish living above the thermocline during the summer. Some walleye have been feeding on the sides of the structure, while other walleye are still using the cabbage weeds while feeding, burying themselves in the shade of the weeds during the hottest parts of the day. Currently, anglers can catch walleye using a variety of presentations so an angler’s biggest challenge is to find what triggers fish to bite. The bite will change during the day, so it is also a matter of being in the right place at the right time. 800-458-2223;
www.visitbemidji.comDetroit Lakes Area Lakes
Walleye continue to be pulled from the 18-26 foot breaks on mid-lake structure and long extending bars and flats. Rigging with leeches, minnows and crawlers, or pulling spinners with crawlers is producing lots of fish. Some anglers are also having success with jigging rapalas, and others with slip bobbers and leeches. Muskie anglers are finding fish both shallow and suspended over deep waters. Most are having success while casting, but some are taking fish while trolling. Many fish in the mid 40-inch range, with some over 50-inches are being pulled from Pelican, Big Detroit, Sallie and Battle lakes. Please note that care must be taken with these fish as surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 70-degree range. Some crappies are cooperating for anglers using an aggressive approach at the weedlines. Sunfish anglers have been thrilled with the quick action on most area lakes. Northern pike angles are doing well when trolling or rigging with large sucker minnows. 800-542-3992;
www.visitdetroitlakes.comCentral Region
Otter Tail Lakes Area
Walleye continue to be pulled from the 18-26 foot breaks on mid-lake structure and long extending bars and flats. Rigging with leeches, minnows and crawlers, or pulling spinners with crawlers is producing lots of fish. Some anglers are also having success with jigging rapalas, and others with slip bobbers and leeches. Muskie anglers are finding fish both shallow and suspended over deep waters. Most are having success while casting, but some are taking fish while trolling. Many fish in the mid 40-inch range, with some over 50-inches are being pulled from Pelican, Big Detroit, Sallie and Battle lakes. Please note that care must be taken with these fish as surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 70-degree range. Some crappies are cooperating for anglers using an aggressive approach at the weedlines. Sunfish anglers have been thrilled with the quick action on most area lakes. Northern pike angles are doing well when trolling or rigging with large sucker minnows. 800-423-4571;
www.ottertailcountry.comAlexandria Area Lakes
Fishing has been excellent, with numerous species being taken. Most walleye have moved to the outside weed edges in 18-22 feet of water. Electronics have been helpful in locating fish. Either travel around at 3- to 5-mph, or pull a #5- or #7-crankbait until you spot fish. Then work the area using lindy rigs tipped with leeches or nightcrawlers. If you don’t have electronics, concentrate your efforts on the outside weed edge off the points and sand bar breaks. Sunset and sunrise are the prime fishing times. 800-235-9441;
www.vacationalexandriamn.comIsle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs
As of late last week, Lake Mille Lacs anglers reported fishing to be the best it’s been all season! Walleye action was good on the mud flats, with increasing numbers on the deep gravel. Many of these fish measured under 14-inches long, making the next several years look promising. Leeches, either on a live bait rig or under a slip bobber were best, while crawlers on a spinner rig were a decent back-up plan. Top colors were green, blue, and gold. The smallmouth bass action remained good in 8-14 feet of water, especially at Three Mile, Brown's Point, and Sherman's Point. Brown or green tubes, wackys and x-raps were the most productive. Northern pike action remained solid in Garrison and Wahkon bays for anglers using large suckers under a bobber. 888-350-2692;
www.millelacs.comTwin Cities Greater Metropolitan vicinity
White Bear Area Lakes
White Bear Lake is giving up crappies to anglers using crappie minnows early in the morning and late in the evening. Sunfish are hitting panfish leeches and waxworms on the edge of the weeds all day long. There have been some muskie sightings but not many hits. On Bald Eagle Lake, sunnies and crappies have been active throughout the day at the weed edges. Anglers casting little twister tail jigs are taking the most crappies. A few walleye are coming in on leeches and night crawlers, mainly during early morning and late evening hours. For the most fish, hit the first break in 25-30 feet of water. Some muskie follows are being reported, and one couple recently caught a fish measuring 50-inches! 651/653-5122;
www.ExploreWhiteBear.orgSouthern Minnesota
Winona – Mississippi River/Lake Pepin
Because of recent heavy rainfall, the main channel of the Mississippi River is running high so fishing has been best in the secondary and side channels. Just some of the species being caught include nice-sized crappies, sunfish, perch and catfish. 507-452-0735;
www.visitwinona.comLanesboro -Southeast Bluff Country Trout Streams
As of Monday, July 13, area streams and rivers were in good shape with mostly clear water and a normal flow. 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. 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. 800-944-2670;
www.lanesboro.comRochester -Southeast Minnesota Lakes and Rivers
Anglers fishing the Zumbro River between Lake Zumbro and Zumbro Falls have found good water levels. The further down river they travel the clearer the water becomes. Smallmouth bass action is great, and one angler recently thought he had seen the biggest muskie of his life! Adding to the enjoyment is the lack of mosquitos – area rivers generally offer mosquito-free outings! Please note that as of Thursday, July 16, Zumbro River water levels were excellent, ranging from low to medium – great for fishing and canoeing! 800-634-8277;
www.rochestercvb.orgOrtonville - Big Stone Lake
Anglers continue to take a variety of fish from Big Stone Lake. Perch are being pulled from the traditional perch hot spots such as Windmill Reef, the Grape Vine, Bay View, The Penn, and Lou's Point. While not many limits, traditional panfish methods have produced nice fish measuring 8- to 10-inches. This action should only improve. White bass and sheephead are adding to the fun. Some walleye are being taken by anglers trolling with a bottom bouncer/spinner combination, or a shad rap down the center of the lake just above the weed growth. 800-568-5722;
www.bigstonelake.com
