Minnesota Fishing Report for February 1
Please 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, the best walleyes reports are coming from Sand Bay and the American Narrows in 36-38 feet of water. The east-end reefs have also produced walleyes in depths of 36-40 feet, with the majority of larger fish found suspended.
Grand Rapids
The north end of Bowstring Lake is giving up crappies in 24-27 feet of water. A bluegill/crappie mix is being caught on Big Splithand Lake in depths of 20 feet and on Big Cutfoot Sioux in depths of 24-26 feet. Look for an evening walleye bite in 18-30 feet of water at lakes Pokegama, Sugar and Trout. There has been consistent northern pike action reported off Pokegama and Wabana lakes in depths of 12-30 feet. Pit Lake and Caribou Lake are giving up lake trout over 50-70 feet of water, while Taylor Lake and Kramer Lake are worth noting for browns, brookies, and rainbows.
Kabetogama
On Lake Kabetogama, a jig and minnow combination, or a small sucker minnow and tip-up, is producing walleyes in 30 feet of water and deeper. Some of the best reports are from the mouth of Lost Lake Bay, and from the Ash River area. The larger northern pike seem to have moved from the shallows, and are now being caught in depths of 20 feet or more during the day.
Tower
On Lake Vermilion, stay mobile and work the sharp breaks, humps and rock piles in 17-28 feet of water on the east end of the lake for walleyes. The best northern pike reports are coming from depths of 12-16 feet. Good-sized perch are being taken from 22-30 feet of water.
Ely
Consistent lake trout reports continue to come from Burntside and Snowbank lakes. Look to Shagawa Lake for walleyes. Crappies are being pulled from lakes such as Low, One Pine, Little Long and Bass.
Grand Marais
Lake trout continue to be found suspended over the deep waters on Lake Saganaga. Gunflint, Birch and Bearskin lakes are also kicking out lake trout near 30 feet of water. On Birch Lake, splake have been scattered between depths of 12- and 30-feet. Look for rainbow trout to be hitting small flies tipped with waxworms in 14-16 feet of water on Kimball and
Duncan lakes.
Duluth
Look to Boulder Lake for walleyes in 12 feet of water during evening hours. The afternoon hours are producing northern pike in 8 feet of water on Rice Lake. There’s a decent crappie bite on Caribou Lake in depths of 15 feet after dark. Along the north shore of Lake Superior, ice has formed. While there isn’t enough ice to walk on, there isn't enough to allow for shore fishing.
===========================
Northcentral/West Minnesota
Baudette
On Lake of the Woods, deep water offers the most consistent walleye and sauger action. Best reports are from 28-34 feet of water roughly six miles off the south shore heading north around Garden Island. Look for walleyes to be suspended,
and the saugers to be tight to the bottom. There’s an evening walleye bite on the Rainy River in 22 feet of water. At the Northwest Angle, a nice mix of walleyes, sauger and perch is being taken in 20-24 feet of water around the reefs south of Oak Island.
Waskish
On Upper Red Lake, walleyes are more “finicky,” but good reports continue to come from anglers using set lines and minnows in 12-14 feet of water, as well as depths of 8-10 feet. The south shore out of Mort’s Landing and Center Bar have been the most productive. Crappie action is sporadic with the best action taking place about nine miles out of the Hillman area. Northern pike continue to be caught in the same areas as the walleyes.
Blackduck
The walleye bite has slowed on Blackduck Lake, but perch continue to be pulled from the 20- to 24-foot mud areas. Steady bluegill action is reported in 10-14 feet of water on Gilstead, Pimushe and Rabideau lakes. Look for suspended crappies over depths of 30-40 feet on Larson Lake.
Bemidji
The north end of Lake Bemidji is producing perch in 20-30 feet of water. You’ll hit some walleyes here during the evening hours in depths of 20-24 feet. Look to Lake Plantagenet for a few walleyes and perch over 22 feet of water. Panfish and northern pike action remains slow.
Cass Lake
There’s a perch bite on Cass Lake in 8-10 feet of water, and on the main lake flats over depths of 25-30 feet. Pike Bay Lake is also producing perch in 5-10 feet of water. Look to Wolf and Andrusia lakes for northern pike and an occasional walleyes in 10-16 feet of water. Grace Lake is worth checking out for bluegills in the weeks ahead.
Bena
On Lake Winnibigoshish, better numbers of perch are being caught in 16-20 feet of water off Moses Bar, Horseshoe Bar, the Snaghole, Moxies Hole, and Center Bar. Some limits have also been taken in depths of 28-32 feet, especially during mid-day hours. Look for northern pike in these same areas, with a few walleyes coming from the bars during low-light hours.
Walker
On Leech Lake, the walleye bite is holding up well, with the humps in Walker Bay producing fish in 25-30 feet of water, as is Sand Point in depths of 18-22 feet. Perch action has picked up again in 6-8 feet of water off Pine Point, towards Goose Island, and at the Walker Narrows.
Hackensack
An occasional walleye is being pulled from depths of 20-22 feet on Woman Lake. For a few sunfish, check the Lindsey Lake shallows, with numbers of small panfish coming from Ten Mile Lake at the 16- to 18-foot weeds. Large minnows are triggering northern pike at the weed edges of Birch Lake.
Park Rapids
Shiner minnows are triggering walleyes on Long Lake in 18-26 feet of water. Large minnows are producing northern pike on Big Mantrap Lake in 14 feet of water. Look for sunfish on the Crow Wing Chain in depths of 10-12 feet, with crappies found suspended over depths of 40 feet.
Detroit Lakes
Deadshot Bay on Big Detroit Lake is a safe bet for sunfish in 12-14 feet of water. Sunfish are also coming off lakes Melissa, Floyd and Island in 12 feet of water. Active crappies can be found tight to the bottom in depths of 20 feet on Big Detroit, Sour, Franklin and Cotton lakes. Set lines and minnows are turning a few walleyes in 18-22 feet of water on Island, Big Detroit, Melissa and Sallie lakes.
Battle Lake
Otter Tail Lake is giving up walleyes and perch in 15-20 feet of water. Scattered walleyes and crappies are coming off West Battle Lake in depths of 20-35 feet. Look for suspended crappies over 20 feet of water on Stalker, West Leaf, Pelican and Rush lakes. Sunfish are active in depths of 15-20 feet of water on Blanche, Deer, South Turtle, Stalker and Rush lakes. Sucker minnows continue to produce northern pike on the weedlines of North Turtle Lake.
Alexandria
Look for sunfish in 10-15 feet of water on lakes Victoria, Darling and Geneva. Crappies are also coming from these lakes during low-light hours in deeper waters. For walleyes, look to Lakes Ida and Le Homme Dieu at sunset and beyond in 25-32 feet of water.
Starbuck/Glenwood
On Lake Minnewaska, sunfish action has picked up on the Glenwood end of the lake in 12 feet of water during the day. Crappies are coming from the Glenwood end during evening hours. Tip-ups with sucker minnows are triggering northern pike in depths of 12 feet.
Osakis
On Lake Osakis, large sucker minnows are turning large walleyes at the 28- to 38-foot break of Four Mile Bar. A few smaller walleyes continue to be taken during low-light hours off Buck Point. The north end of the lake is producing sunnies and crappies in 20-24 feet of water. Northern pike remain active throughout the lake.
Brainerd/Nisswa
Gull Lake has been best for walleyes, with fish coming from 35-40 feet of water during the day, and from depths of 14-20 feet during low-light hours. Set lines and minnows are working better than jigging spoons. Most crappies are suspended over 20-30 feet of water. The sunfish are cruising the 12- to 16-foot weed edges. Northern pike are being taken on tip-ups and sucker minnows in depths of 14-24 feet on Gull, North Long and Round lakes.
Cross Lake
Crappies are hitting small jigs and minnows in 30-35 feet of water on many area lakes. For walleyes, hit Whitefish Lake in 22 feet of water. A small spoon and a fathead minnow is working best. Northern pike action remains strong when using shiner minnows on the shallow weed flats of most lakes.
Crosby
Walleyes measuring 16- to 20-inches are being taken on rainbow minnows on Serpent Lake during evening hours. Small jigs and Euro larvae are triggering crappies. The best sunfish action has been in 5-9 feet of water on most area lakes.
Isle/Onamia
On the east end of Lake Mille Lacs, some decent perch action is being reported off the deep gravel and mud. Work the Tundra, Four Mile Gravel, and Five Mile Gravel in 30-32 feet of water with jigging spoons for the most fish. Walleye action remains slow, with just a few fish coming off the mud flats and mid-depth rocks during evening hours. On the west side of the lake, the Seven Mile Flat is giving up some good-sized perch in 32-36 feet of water. The best walleyes reports are coming off the Eight and Seven Mile flats. For the most fish, work the tops during low-light hours and slide off the edge during the day into deeper waters. Look to the deep rocks in depths of 25-27 feet for both perch and walleyes.
St. Cloud/Eden Valley
There’s a steady sunfish and crappie bite on Long Lake in 14-20 feet of water. Pleasant Lake is producing crappies in depths of 30 feet, as is Pearl Lake in depths of 12-14 feet. Look for sunfish in 6-12 feet of water on Cedar Island Lake. Lake Koronis is providing the area’s only walleye action in depths of 20-35 feet. Trout anglers are having success on Mud Lake in 5-10 feet of water.
====================
Twin Cities Vicinity
Annandale
An evening crappie bite is being reported on the east end of Clearwater Lake in 30 feet of water or more. Crappies are being pulled from Pleasant, John, Granite, Cokato and Francis lakes, as well as the south end of Buffalo Lake, in depths of 26-34 feet during evening hours. The best sunfish reports are coming from Lakes Marie, John and Clearwater in depths of 12-15 feet. Lakes such as Maple, Cedar, John and Francis are producing northern pike on the 10- to 12-foot weedlines.
Waconia
On Lake Waconia, an evening walleye and crappie bite is taking place on the south end of Anderson’s Reef in 15-20 feet of water. Look for even larger crappies in the deep waters off Pillsbury Reef during evening hours. Most main-lake reefs are producing northern pike and panfish in depths of 12-16 feet.
Wayzata
On Lake Minnetonka, walleyes continue to be pulled from Brown’s, Wayzata and Excelsior bays over 17-20 feet of water, as well as from depths of 30-35 feet. A jig and minnow has been the best bet, especially during evening hours on Lake Minnetonka. The shallow bays are producing northern pike in depths of 14-16 feet. Lake Sarah is kicking out sunfish and crappies, most of which are suspended over the deeper waters.
Prior Lake/West Metro vicinity
Crappies continue to be pulled from Riley and Hydes lakes in 12-18 feet of water during low-light hours. Hydes Lake and the east end of Eagle Lake are producing sunfish in depths of 13-15 feet. Walleyes remain difficult to locate. Lake Minnewashta is giving up northern pike on sucker minnows worked in 12-14 feet of water.
Chisago City
Work the south end of Chisago Lake in 8-12 feet of water for lots of panfish. An afternoon crappie bite is being reported on Kroon Lake in 26-28 feet of water, and the north end of North Center Lake is giving up panfish and an occasional walleye. Walleyes are hitting on South Lindstrom Lake in 22-26 feet of water, and off Needle Point on South Center Lake in depths of 30-32 feet. The 4- to 6-foot weed patches on the south end of Chisago Lake are producing northern pike.
White Bear/Northeast Metro vicinity
Northern pike are hitting tip-ups and sucker minnows along the weedlines of Bald Eagle, Demonterville and White Bear lakes. The Bayport area of the St. Croix River is a safe bet for crappies in 30-40 feet of water. An occasional walleye is coming off White Bear and Bald Eagle lakes in depths of 20-25 feet. Look to 12-foot weedlines of Lake Jane for panfish and pike.
================
Southern Minnesota
Red Wing
Anglers fishing from boats on the Mississippi River are catching saugers and a few walleyes, especially on jig and minnow combinations worked below the dam in 27-30 feet of water. The docks in the Baypoint Park area are producing panfish for ice anglers. This area also has been good for a few walleyes in slightly deeper waters. Look to the Frontenac Pond area for northern pike.
Faribault
An evening panfish bite is being reported on Roberds Lake in 15 feet of water. French Lake is a safe bet for walleyes in depths of 18-28 feet. Shiner minnows are turning northern pike on Shields Lake in 16-20 feet of water. Sunfish action has improved in 15 feet of water on Shields and Hunt lakes.
Mankato
East Jefferson Lake is producing sunfish in 10-12 feet of water. Jigging rapalas are turning walleyes between Second and Third points on Lake Washington in depths of 17-22 feet. An evening walleye bite is being reported on top of the dredge lines of Lake Hanska in 6 feet of water. Little Jefferson Lake is producing northern pike. Duck Lake has started giving up crappies in 8 feet of water.
Fairmont
Crappies and walleyes are hitting in 10-15 feet of water during low-light hours on Cedar Lake. Round Lake continues to produce crappies, with fish also being pulled from depths of 20-25 feet on Hall Lake. On Big Twin Lake, walleyes, northern pike and a few crappies are being taken on minnows during lowlight hours.
Ortonville
The south end of Big Stone Lake is producing perch near the islands in 10-12 feet of water. The best walleye reports are coming from the Meadowbrook area in depths of 14 feet on Big Stone Lake. Some good-sized northern pike are coming off the Minnesota River near the Highway 75 Dam.
"The information in this report is provided courtesy Outdoor News, and Explore Minnesota Tourism."
