Explore Minnesota Fishing Report for January 18Please remember that ice is never considered totally safe. The Department of Natural Resources reports that 4 inches of ice is the minimum thickness recommended for travel by foot. Ice safety guidelines also recommend a minimum of 5 inches of new, clear ice for snowmobiles and ATV's, and 8-12 inches of new, clear ice for cars and small trucks. Please note that melting and refreezing makes ice less stable, especially in areas with springs or current. Anglers are asked to please call ahead for the most current conditions before venturing out. Anyone choosing to venture out must use extreme caution and check ice thickness often.
Before heading out, consider learning how to make and use ice picks and claws by checking out the 1-minute video on the DNR website at
www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/index.htmlAnglers may obtain fishing licenses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by dialing 1-888-665-4236, or accessing
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/agents.html==========================
NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA
International Falls
On Rainy Lake, Sand Bay is producing walleyes in 32-36 feet of water. The American Narrows area continues to provide steady walleye action in 36-40 feet of water. Anglers are now reaching the east end of the lake, where they report consistent walleye action. The best northern pike activity is taking place off Cranberry Island in 10-12 feet of water.
Grand Rapids
The humps of Bowstring Lake are producing walleyes and crappies during low-light hours. Work the 10- to 12-foot weedlines of Lake Wabana for northern pike. Big Splithand and Little Ball Club lakes are providing sporadic crappie action during evening hours. Caribou Lake is kicking out rainbow trout in 25 feet of water, as is Taylor Lake in 10-30 feet of water. The majority of trout are hitting waxworms or power bait on small jigs.
Ely
The trout season opened with good numbers of lake trout being pulled from Burntside Lake. A good rainbow bite is being reported on Miners Lake, with brook trout coming from Mound Lake, and plenty of splake taken from Tofte Lake. Numbers of large northern pike are being pulled from most area lakes, while Shagawa Lake continues to produce walleyes and jumbo perch.
Grand Marais
Lake trout can be found suspended at 55 feet of water on Lake Saganaga, with limits being taken. The laker action has been just as good about 45 feet down on Bearskin, Trout and Clearwater lakes. Jigging spoons and airplane jigs have been the best bet. Spoons have also produced quite a few splake on Musquash Lake. Look to Kimball and Boys lakes for steady rainbow trout action. Walleye reports remain minimal.
Duluth
Boulder and Fish lakes are producing walleyes and crappies in 12-14 feet of water during evening hours. Shiner minnows worked in 6 feet of water on Rice Lake during the day has been best for northern pike. Anglers fishing from shore on Lake Superior are catching cohos by using waxworms under floats, or working crawlers on the bottom. No kamloops are being reported.
McGregor
A consistent sunfish and crappie bite is being reported from Davis Bay on Big Sandy Lake. The sharp breaks in the narrows of Big Sandy Lake are giving up a few walleyes at night. Look to the weedlines of Lake Minnewawa for northern pike, although most fish have been small.
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NORTHCENTRAL/WEST MINNESOTA
Baudette
On Lake of the Woods, there has been a major transition to deeper depths on the main lake this week. The majority of consistent walleye and sauger action is now coming from 30-40 feet of water. The Rainy River is providing steady walleye action in depths 18-20 feet, with the ice now averaging 12-14 inches deep. Depths of 22-26 feet at the reefs south of Oak Island have produced the best walleye activity in the Northwest Angle and Islands area.
Waskish
On Upper Red Lake, walleyes and an occasional crappie are being pulled from 12-14 feet of water during low-light hours along the south shore. On the north end, the Hillman’s Access area has been best for walleyes, as well as more consistent crappie action, in 12 feet of water. Northern pike continue to be taken from the shoreline breaks and other walleye locations.
Bemidji
On Lake Bemidji, set lines and sucker minnows are turning walleyes in 20-30 feet of water. An occasional walleye and some good-sized perch are being pulled from 20 feet of water on Lake Plantagenet. Look to the shallow, shoreline structure of Grace Lake for bluegills. Northern pike are hitting in depths of 15-25 feet on Lake Irvine.
Bena
On Lake Winnibigoshish, the perch bite has improved, however the bite remains inconsistent. The better locations this week have been in 30-32 feet of water at Horseshoe and Moses bars. A shallow bite is also being reported along the west side points in 16-18 feet of water. An occasional walleye is being taken during evening hours from the bars. Northern pike remain active in areas holding perch.
Walker
On Leech Lake, steady walleye action is being reported on the 25- to 32-foot humps of Walker Bay. Sand Point is producing walleyes during low-light hours in 18-20 feet of water. Perch action has slowed, although some fish continue to be pulled off Pine Point, towards the Grandview Flats, in depths of 6-10 feet. The north side of the Shingobee Bay harbor is worth checking out for lots of bluegills.
Hackensack
Crappies have been sluggish, but can be found suspended over 20-25 feet of water during evening hours on several area lakes. The north side of Birch Lake is producing a few panfish during evening hours. Look to Woman Lake for a few walleyes and good-sized perch in depths of 20 feet of water or more.
Cass Lake
Walleyes are coming from 15-17 feet of water during low-light hours, as well as from depths of 35 feet during the day on Cass, Pike Bay and Kitchi lakes. Perch have begun to bite in 25 feet of water on Pike Bay Lake, and in Allen’s Bay on Cass Lake. Look for bluegills and crappies in 18-20 feet of water on Grace Lake, and in depths of 25-35 feet on Kitchi and Wolf lakes. Northern pike are being pulled from 10-12 feet of water on Cass and Andrusia lakes.
Park Rapids
Bluegills remain active on Straight Lake and on the Crow Wing Chain in 12-14 feet of water. Shiner minnows are turning a few walleyes in depths of 26-28 feet on Fish Hook Lake. The 10- to 15-foot weedlines of Big Mantrap Lake are holding northern pike. Waxworms are triggering rainbow trout on Long Lake in 30 feet of water.
Detroit Lakes
Persistent anglers are taking a few walleyes from 20-30 feet of water during evening hours on lakes Melissa, Height of Land, Big Detroit and Little Detroit. Look for crappies in depths of 12-14 feet on Little Detroit Lake, and in depths of 20-22 feet on Melissa Lake. The 10- to 12-foot weedlines of Little Detroit and Height of Land lakes are holding sunfish. Set lines and shiner minnows on Big and Little Detroit lakes have been best for northern pike.
Battle Lake
Walleyes, northern pike and perch are being pulled from 8-13 feet of water on Otter Tail Lake, with some fish also coming from depths of 30-35 feet. Look for crappies to be suspended over 15-20 feet of water on West Battle, West Leaf and Stalker lakes. South Turtle, Deer, Blanche, Stalker and East Leaf lakes are producing sunfish in depths of 15-20 feet. The weedlines of Clitherall, North Turtle and Battle lakes have been best for northern pike.
Alexandria
A consistent evening crappie bite is being reported over 20-24 feet of water on Maple, Carlos and Le Homme Dieu lakes. Anglers remaining mobile are picking up walleyes in depths of 18-40 feet during low-light hours on Lakes Ida and Miltona. Northern pike and sunfish have been tough to locate.
Starbuck
The east end of Lake Emily continues to produce a few walleyes in 5 feet of water. On Lake Minnewaska, sunfish and northern pike remain active on the Glenwood end of the lake in depths of 12-14 feet. As the sun sets, look for crappies in deeper waters on Lake Minnewaska. Glow jigs are turning the majority of fish in the Fish Hatchery area.
Osakis
On Lake Osakis, crappies can be found suspended on the north end of the lake over 28 feet of water. Walleye action has slowed, with 1 or 2 fish being taken each night from the Four Mile and One Mile bars. The best sunfish action is taking place on Little Osakis and Smith lakes in 12-16 feet of water. Northern pike are active along the shallow weeds of most lakes.
Brainerd/Nisswa
Quick-strike rigs tipped with shiner minnows or sucker minnows are producing northern pike in 14-26 feet of water on Gull and North Long lakes. Walleyes remain active during evening hours on Gull, North Long and Pelican lakes in 18-28 feet of water. Crappie action remains strong, with fish being taken from depths of 18-26 feet on glow jigs tipped with rosy red minnows on most lakes.
Crosby
An occasional walleye is being pulled from Pelican and Serpent lakes on set lines tipped with a small shiner minnow. The best action is taking place during low-light hours. Sunfish and northern pike are cruising the 8-12 foot weed edges on most lakes. Tube jigs are producing a few lake trout over 60-80 feet of water on Big Trout Lake.
Isle/Onamia
On the east edge of Lake Mille Lacs, anglers are reporting a lot of baitfish, which seems to be limiting walleye action. The best reports are coming off the 14- to 16-foot rocks during low-light hours. Scattered perch reports are coming from the mid-depth rocks during the day. On the west end of the lake, anglers staying mobile and drilling lots of holes are catching walleyes at the Seven Mile and Seguchie flats. For the most fish, work the edges during the day, and slide on top of the flats during low-light hours. Jigging spoons and minnow heads remain the best presentation. A few jumbo perch are being taken along with the walleyes.
St. Cloud/Eden Valley
Lake Koronis is producing walleyes in 12-40 feet of water. On Long Lake, crappies, catfish, and a few walleyes are being pulled from depths of 15-20 feet. Cedar Island Lake is producing sunfish in 10-12 feet of water, and Becker Lake is giving up fish in 12-14 foot depths. Panfish are coming from 10-15 foot depths on Pearl Lake. Horseshoe Lake continues to give up crappies during evening hours in 15-20 feet of water. Northern pike remain active in 6-12 feet of water on most area lakes.
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TWIN CITIES VICINITY
Elk River
A steady crappie bite is being reported on Elk Lake in 10 feet of water during evening hours. The north end of Blue Lake is kicking out sunfish and crappies in 12-20 feet of water. Hit 12 foot depths on Baxter Lake for lots of sunfish and crappies. Green Lake has started giving up crappies in 17-22 feet of water. The north end of Fremont Lake and the shallow weeds of Blue Lake are good choices for northern pike.
Annandale
Northern pike continue to attack sucker minnows at the weedlines of Clearwater and Cedar lakes. The best crappie action is taking place at sunset and at night over 20-30 feet on John and Pleasant lakes. Lake Marie continues to produce sunfish and northern pike in 14-16 feet of water, while Clearwater and Sugar lakes remain the area’s best walleye options during low-light hours.
Waconia
On Lake Waconia, hit 13-20 feet of water after dark at Anderson’s Reef for walleyes. Pillsbury Reef is kicking out sunfish and crappies in 9-13 feet of water. The weed edges off Center Reef are producing northern pike on sucker minnows. The weedlines on Waconia Bay continue to give up sunfish and northern pike.
Wayzata
On Lake Minnetonka, northern pike remain active in Carson and Grays bays in 7-10 feet of water. Phelps Bay, Black Lake, and the North Arm are producing sunfish in depths of 10-12 feet. Lake Independence is kicking out small walleyes in 19 feet of water during evening hours. Medicine Lake is worth checking out for panfish and northern pike in depths of 20 feet. Look to Lake Sarah for suspended panfish over 20 feet of water.
Prior Lake/West Metro vicinity
Lake Riley is producing crappies and sunnies in 12 feet of water. On Prior and Susan lakes, sunfish are an easy catch throughout the day in depths of 10-12 feet. Northern pike and walleye reports have been limited.
White Bear Lake/Northeast Metro vicinity
The Bayport area of the St. Croix River is producing walleyes, sauger and crappies in 35-40 feet of water. Crappies and small walleyes continue to be pulled from depths of 20 feet on Bald Eagle Lake. A decent daytime sunfish bite is being reported on Lake Peltier in 10-12 feet of water. An evening crappie bite is taking place in the deeper waters. The weedlines of Mud, Beaver and Silver lakes continue to produce northern pike.
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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
Faribault
Northern pike have been very active in 10-12 feet of water. Some pike can be found suspended over depths of 20 feet on French and Roberds lakes. Crappies can also be found suspended over 20 feet of water on French Lake. Hunt Lake is providing steady panfish action in 15 feet of water. Jigging spoons are triggering walleyes during the day in depths of 16-20 feet, and during low-light hours in 8-12 feet of water on Shields Lake.
Mankato
An evening walleye bite is taking place on Lake Hanska in 6-10 feet of water. Baker’s Bay on Lake Washington is giving up panfish in 10-12 feet of water. Work the weedlines of Lake Francis using set lines and sucker minnows for northern pike. A few walleyes are being taken on jigging rapalas worked in depths of 20-22 feet between Second and Third points on Washington Lake.
Fairmont
Hall Lake continues to produce good numbers of crappies in 20-25 feet of water. Eating-sized walleyes remain active in depths of 20 feet on Hall Lake, and in 10-12 feet of water on Cedar and Round lakes. Northern pike and bluegills have been difficult to find.
Willmar
Games and Norway lakes continue to produce sunfish and crappies in 8-12 feet of water. The northeast end of Green Lake is producing panfish, with a few walleyes coming from depths of 30 feet or more. Eagle, Diamond and Long lakes are giving up a few walleyes each evening in 10-45 feet of water. On the prairie lakes, perch remain a viable option in less than 10 feet of water, with Wagonda and Big Kandiyohi producing the most fish.
"The information in this report is provided courtesy Outdoor News, and Explore Minnesota Tourism."
