Explore Minnesota Fishing Report: February 29

[mudbrook]

Explore Minnesota Fishing Report: February 29

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds anglers that the walleye, northern pike, largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing seasons closed at midnight on February 24. And, all dark houses, fish houses and shelters must be off the ice on inland waters no later than midnight on Friday, February 29, in the southern two-thirds of the state. Dark houses, fish houses and shelters on inland waters located in the northern one-third of the state must be removed by midnight on Saturday, March 15. For more information, please contact the DNR at 651/296-6157, or visit www.dnr.state.mn.us

Please remember that ice is never considered totally safe. The DNR 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.html

Anglers 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, a steady walleye bite is being reported during evening hours over 32-38 feet of water at Sand Bay. During the day, the Franzen Island area is giving up a few walleyes in depths of 40-42 feet. The area above the Brule River has been good for some large walleyes. Work Cranberry Bay for lots of northern pike. The Northwest Bay on the Canadian side continues to give up good-sized crappies.

Grand Rapids

Bluegill action remains strong on Bass Lake in 15-17 feet of water. Crappies are being taken from depths of 20-30 feet during low-light hours on Bowstring Lake. Trout action has been good on Caribou Lake, with lots of rainbows and lakers being taken. Lake trout are also being pulled from the deep water on Pit and Bluewater lakes.

Ely
 
Good numbers of two- to eight-pound lake trout continue to be pulled from Burntside Lake. Knife Lake is a good second choice for lake trout anglers. For some variety, check out Miners Lake for lots of rainbow trout, or Tofte Lake for rainbows and splake.

Grand Marais
 
Lake trout can be found suspended roughly 15-18 feet down on Trout Lake. Greenwood and East Bearskin lakes are producing lake trout over depths of 20-30 feet. On Seagull and Saganaga lakes, lake trout are suspended over 40-50 feet of water. Waxworms and salted minnows continue to work well for rainbow trout on Kimball Lake.

Duluth
 
The Highbanks area of Fish Lake continues to produce crappies in 12-14 feet of water. Caribou Lake is giving up a few crappies during low-light hours. Few reports are available for Lake Superior since poor ice conditions have prevented anglers from accessing the big lake.

McGregor
 
Sunnies and good-sized perch are being pulled from 20 feet of water and deeper on Aitkin Lake. Hit Bellhorn Bay on Big Sandy Lake for crappies, with the deep holes on the north end giving up tullibees. Gun Lake and Lake Minnewawa should be best for panfish in the next few weeks.
Northcentral/West Minnesota

BaudetteOn Lake of the Woods, limits of walleyes and sauger continue to be pulled from 30-34 feet of water along the south shore. At the Northwest Angle and Islands area, the reefs around Oak and Flag islands are holding walleyes, sauger and jumbo perch in depths of 25-30 feet. The best walleye action on the Rainy River is taking place in 20-24 feet of water during morning and evening hours.

Waskish

On Upper Red Lake, crappie anglers are picking up a few fish, however limits have not been common. Some of better reports this past week have come from Hillman’s on the north end, and from Mort’s Landing on the south end in 12-14 feet of water. The east shore gravel areas have also given up a few good-sized perch. The best approach has been a gold or red-glow jigging spoon.

Blackduck

On Blackduck Lake, the 20- to 23-foot mud areas continue to produce perch, with minnows and waxworms working best. A decent bluegill bite is being reported on Rabideau Lake in 10-14 feet of water. Gull Lake is giving up fish in depths of 15 feet. Crappies can be found suspended over 30-40 feet on Gilstead and Sandy lakes during evening hours.

Bemidji
 
The north end of Lake Bemidji is producing perch in 40 feet of water. Bluegill action is heating up in depths of 12-14 feet on Grace and Pimushe lakes. Look for crappies in the deeper waters during low-light hours on Pimushe Lake.

Cass Lake

On Cass Lake, the Stoney Point area and south side of Star Island are providing steady perch action in 12 feet of water. The area’s best bluegill and crappie action is taking place on the north end of Kitchi Lake in depths of 27-30 feet.

Bena

On Lake Winnibigoshish, perch action has been much more consistent, with limits of nice-size fish coming off Zoomer’s Bar and Sugar Bar in depths of 28-30 feet. The area from Moses Bar to Raven’s Point has also provided steady perch action in 25-30 feet of water. Gold jigging spoons and minnow heads have been the most productive.

Walker

On Leech Lake, the sand-bottomed areas at Trader’s Bay and around Pine Point are giving up perch in 12-16 feet of water. Perch are also being pulled from 12-18 feet of water at the narrows and Otter Tail Point. For the largest perch, stay mobile, and use rattling jigs with minnow heads.

Hackensack
 
Sunfish action is picking up in 18-22 feet of water on Lindsey, Five Point and Pine Mountain lakes. Glow jigs worked in depths of 18-24 feet during evening hours are producing crappies on a few area lakes. For perch, hit 16-22 feet of water on Woman Lake.

Park Rapids
 
The 16-foot weed edges on Two Inlets and Island lakes are producing crappies. Bluegills can be found on Big Mantrap and Fish Hook lakes in 8-12 feet of water. Rainbow trout can be found suspended over depths of 50 feet when using waxworms on Long Lake.

Detroit Lakes

Some good evening crappie action is being reported on Big Detroit, Melissa, Floyd and Island lakes, with most fish found suspended over 22-30 feet of water. These lakes also are producing bluegills in the shallow, weedy areas. Tullibees are becoming more active, with fish found suspended in the deep holes on Long, Rose and Loon lakes.

Battle Lake

On West Battle Lake, crappies and sunnies are being pulled from 18-24 feet of water, with most fish found suspended. Crappie action is picking up on Ten Mile Lake in depths of 20 feet, as well as in Pelican Bay on Otter Tail Lake. Otter Tail Lake continues to produce perch in depths of 15-20 feet, with some fish also coming from 30-35 feet. Good numbers of sunfish are being taken from 15-20 feet of water on West Lost, South Turtle, Rush, Big Pine, Star and West Battle lakes. The deep holes on Mollie Stark and Pickerel lakes are beginning to produce tullibees.

Alexandria
 
The north end of Lake Ida has been good for sunnies and crappies in 20 feet of water. Lake Miltona is kicking out bluegills in depths of 11-15 feet. Sunfish action also remains consistent in 10-12 feet of water on Maple and Mary lakes. Reno Lake is also worth noting for numbers of panfish.

Osakis

On Lake Osakis, the Banana Bar is producing a few good-sized perch in 12-18 feet of water. The best sunfish and crappie action is coming from the north end in depths of 18-22 feet, however anglers are having to stay on the move and sort through lots of smaller fish.

Starbuck

The Glenwood end of Lake Minnewaska is giving up lots of sunfish in 12 feet of water. The panfish bite remains inconsistent on most other area lakes.

Brainerd/Nisswa
 
Sunfish are coming from 10-16 feet of water during the day on Nisswa, Round and North Long lakes. Crappies have been most active during evening hours in depths of 18-24 feet. For the most fish, use glow jigs and minnows on Upper Gull and North Long lakes.

Crosby
 
Crappies are hitting during evening hours on Bay, Clearwater, and several other smaller area lakes. Demon jigs tipped with minnows have been the best approach for the larger fish. Sunfish are hitting small, horizontal jigs tipped with Eurolarvae in the shallow, weedy areas of most lakes. The last hour of daylight has been the most productive. There have a been a few reports of good tullibee action on area lakes as well.

Isle/Onamia

On Lake Mille Lacs, on the east end, work 10-15 feet of water at Cove, Wahkon and Isle bays for the most perch. Perch are also being pulled from the deep water off the mud in depths of 28 feet or more. For the most fish, stay mobile, fish above the clouds of baitfish, and plan on doing some sorting. Dropper rigs seem to be working best for the larger fish. On the west end of the lake, the deep rocks, located in 20-25 feet of water, continue to produce the most perch. One of the better locations remains Seguchie Point to Brown’s Point. The mud flats are also giving up perch in 28-34 feet of water, but the bite has not been as consistent as on the mud. Anglers that remain mobile are taking the most fish.

St. Cloud/Eden Valley

Horseshoe Lake is producing crappies in 20 feet of water. Cedar Island Lake is giving up sunnies and crappies in depths of 18-20 feet. For crappies, hit 16-20 feet of water on Rice Lake, and the northwest corner of Lake Koronis. Pearl Lake continues to give up sunfish in depths of 10-13 feet. Mud Lake is producing trout in 5-8 feet of water. The deep holes found throughout the Sauk River Chain are giving up lots of catfish.
Twin Cities vicinity

Elk River/Zimmerman

Crappies can be found suspended over 25 feet of water on Green Lake. On Elk Lake, crappies continue to be pulled from depths of 9-11 feet. Blue Lake has been good for crappies in 22 feet of water. Sunfish have been tough to find on most area lakes.

Annandale
 
Sunfish are active in 10-12 feet of water on John, Indian, Henry, Maple and Buffalo lakes, as well as the west end of Clearwater Lake. These lakes are also giving up crappies in slightly deeper waters during low-light hours. On Pleasant Lake, look for crappies over depths of 30-35 feet during evening hours.

Prior Lake/West Metro vicinity

Sunnies and crappies are being taken from the area to the right of the access on Whaletail Lake in 10-12 feet of water. Hydes and Riley lakes are giving up small crappies. Eagle Lake is producing lots of sunfish in depths of 10-14 feet. Pelican Lake near Monticello has been good for large sunfish in 5-8 feet of water.

Waconia

On Lake Waconia, sunnies and crappies remain active on Center Reef in 12 feet of water. The area between Pillsbury Reef and Nelson’s Flat is giving up sunfish in depths of 10 feet. The best crappie action is taking place during evening hours in 20-23 feet of water just south of Pillsbury Reef.

Wayzata

On Lake Minnetonka, a good sunfish/crappie mix is coming from Carson’s Bay over 15-17 feet of water. Spring Park Bay is producing sunfish in depths of 12 feet. Crappies and sunnies can be found suspended over 30-40 feet of water on lakes Sarah and Independence.

Chisago City

Sunnies and crappies continue to be taken from the south end of Chisago Lake in 6-12 feet of water. North Center Lake is producing good numbers of panfish in depths of 8-12 feet throughout the day. The Whispering Bay area of South Center Lake has been good for sunfish in 6-12 feet of water. Look to Kroon Lake for crappies during the evening hours in depths of 26-28 feet.

White Bear/Northeast Metro vicinity

Saugers and crappies are hitting jigging rapalas at the 30- to 40-foot points on the St. Croix River. Centerville and Peltier lakes are producing sunfish and a few crappies in 6-12 feet of water. Look to Lake Jane in depths of 12 feet during evening hours for crappies.
Southern Minnesota

Red Wing

On the Mississippi River, jigging rapalas worked in 18-25 feet of water have been best for numbers of sauger on Lake Pepin. The Baypoint Park area continues to produce crappies on glow jigs and minnows worked in depths of 8-10 feet. Sauger action remains strong for boat anglers fishing the Mississippi River. For the most fish, hit the area below the dam in 18-25 feet of water using an Ike’s hair jig tipped with a minnow or ringworm, along with a white tail.

Faribault
 
On Lake Mazaska, crappies can be found suspended over 30 feet of water during evening hours when using small glow jigs and minnows. The south side of Shields Lake is giving up sunfish and some good-sized perch in depths of 8-12 feet.

Waterville
 
A consistent sunfish and crappie bite is being reported in 17-22 feet of water on Lake Tetonka. German and Jefferson lakes are producing sunfish in depths of 11-15 feet.

Mankato
 
The northwest end of St. James Lake is beginning to produce sunfish in 12 feet of water. Small jigging rapalas are producing crappies in depths of 14-16 feet on German Lake. Look to Baker’s Bay on Lake Washington in 16-20 feet of water for sunfish, and check out depths of 26-30 feet at Second Point for crappies. East Jefferson Lake is giving up a few sunfish during morning hours.

Fairmont
 
Hall Lake is giving up a few crappies during evening hours.

Willmar
 
Diamond Lake continues to produce crappies in 20 feet of water. On Eagle Lake, look for perch in depths of 15-20 feet, with crappies found suspended over 40 feet of water. Crappies are also being pulled from the northeast corner of Green Lake. And, anglers report a good crappie and sunnie bite on Willmar Lake in depths of 15-20 feet.

Ortonville

Crappies are hitting in 10 feet of water on Artichoke Lake after dark. The south end of Lake Lac qui Parle is beginning to give up a few crappies. Perch remain active in depths of 12 feet at the Peninsula and Christmas Trees areas of Big Stone Lake.

 “The information in this report is provided courtesy Outdoor News, and Explore Minnesota Tourism.”