Explore Minnesota Fishing Report Thursday, July 31
In general, the most consistent fishing action is now taking place in the weeds.
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Northeastern Minnesota
International Falls
On Rainy Lake, the reefs from Dryweed to Kettle Falls are producing walleyes in 38-46 feet of water. Leeches and crawlers have been best for the most fish. Black Bay is worth noting for crappies. Some larger northern pike are now being taken from the reefs and deep weedlines.
Grand Rapids
Walleyes are hitting jig and minnow combinations at the weedlines of Lake Wabana. Spinners tipped with crawlers or leeches are turning walleyes in 18-25 feet of water on Lake Pokegama, and in depths of 20-30 feet on Trout Lake. Look for crappies on the weedlines of Big Trout, North Star, Little Splithand, and Pokegama lakes. Bluegills are active in 10-14 feet of water on lakes such as Bass, Spider, and Graves. For smallmouth bass, use jigs and plastics on the Mississippi River.
Kabetogama
On Lake Kabetogama, Center Reef and the smaller reefs near Marten Islands have been good for walleyes, with fish being pulled from 26-30 feet of water on the windy sides of the reefs. Live-bait rigs tipped with leeches or crawlers have been best. Northern pike are active at the 18-foot weedlines, and are hitting artificial bait just below the surface. Smallmouth bass action has been great at the gravel shorelines and rock piles.
Tower
On Lake Vermilion, muskie action has improved, with anglers taking fish on bucktails and topwater baits pitched into the weeds and rocks. Walleyes can be found around the deep reefs, saddles, and bars when using leeches, crawlers, or crankbaits. Senkos fished “wacky-style” at the vertical structure have been best for lots of smallmouth bass.
Ely
Walleyes are coming from 6-10 feet of water on Shagawa, White Iron, and Burntside lakes. Sunfish action has picked up in depths of 12-14 feet on Armstrong, Low, and Basswood lakes. For crappies, use small jigs and minnows at the weedlines on Bear Island Lake.
Grand Marais
The trout bite has been excellent. Anglers are taking splake and brook trout from Carrot Lake, rainbows and splake from Esther Lake, and rainbow trout from Mink and Trout lakes. On Lake Superior, salmon are hitting stickbaits worked close to the surface. Chubs and leeches are producing walleyes in 25-30 feet of water on Saganaga, Seagull, Loon, and Gunflint lakes. Devil’s Fish Lake is also giving up walleyes in depths of 15-20 feet. Smallmouth bass are hitting spinners worked along the shorelines and rock areas of most lakes.
Duluth
Northern pike are hitting chubs worked in less than 6 feet of water on Rice Lake. Hit depths of 10-12 feet on Fish Lake for walleyes and bluegills. An evening walleye bite is being reported by anglers using crawlers and minnows in 20-25 feet of water on Island Lake. On Lake Superior, most salmon have been found close to the surface when using stickbaits.
Northcentral/West Minnesota
Baudette
On Lake of the Woods, leeches, crawlers, and frozen shiner minnows are producing walleyes just outside the Lighthouse Gap in 28-30 feet of water. For the most fish, either anchor using jigs, or drift spinners. At the Northwest Angle, the reefs around Little Oak Island and Crow Duck have been best for walleyes. Muskie action has improved around the islands, with bucktails working best.
Waskish
On Upper Red Lake, spinners tipped with minnows are turning walleyes at the 6- to 8-foot shoreline breaks, as well as at the east shore gravel bars. Spoons and crankbaits are triggering northern pike along most shoreline breaks.
Bemidji
Muskies are hitting bucktails and topwater lures worked in the cabbage beds on Lake Bemidji. A few walleyes are coming from the 12- to 16-foot weedlines. Lake Julia is giving up lots of northern pike. Topwater lures and spinnerbaits are producing bass on Grace and Swanson lakes. Look for panfish on Medicine and Little Wolf lakes. Shore anglers are catching rainbow trout on Newman Lake.
Cass Lake
On Cass Lake, walleyes are hitting jig and minnow combinations worked in 8-10 feet of water at North Cedar Bar, Tom’s Bar, and O’Neal’s Point on windy days. Crankbaits are producing walleyes in the same locations after dark. Look for perch on the 8- to 12-foot breaks. Small bucktails are triggering muskies. Panfish action has improved on most area lakes in depths of 15-18 feet.
Bena
On Lake Winnibigoshish, a jig and fathead minnow is producing walleyes and perch in 7-10 feet of water off Raven’s Point. The humps and bars are giving up walleyes in depths of 18-25 feet, with most fish coming in on lindy rigs and leeches. Northern pike action has picked up in the 6- to 8-foot weeds.
Walker
On Leech Lake, crankbaits are producing walleyes at the 8- to 12-foot points and shoreline breaks during low-light hours. Live bait has been best during the day at the bars and at the 18- to 20-foot breaks. Panfish and bass reports have improved in the weedy areas of most bays. Bucktails and topwater lures are triggering muskies when worked on the main-lake rocks and weed flats.
Hackensack
Leeches and crawlers are turning walleyes at the 12- to 17-foot weedlines of Woman Lake. The rock piles on Woman Lake are also producing smallmouth bass. Look to Pleasant Lake for walleyes and crappies in 12 feet of water. Largemouth bass are hitting plastics on Ten Mile and Birch lakes.
Park Rapids
Walleyes are active in 24 feet of water on Fish Hook Lake during low-light hours. Long Lake is producing walleyes during the day in depths of 30 feet. The Fifth Crow Wing Lake is giving up northern pike in 12-14 feet of water. Look for smallmouth and largemouth bass using plastics in depths of 14-16 feet on Potato and Big Sand lakes. Bluegill action is strong on the Crow Wing Chain in 12-14 feet of water.
Detroit Lakes
Muskies are chasing Cowgirls on the humps and at the weedlines of Big Detroit Lake. Walleyes are hitting leeches, crawlers, and sucker minnows worked at the weedlines on Big Detroit, Sallie, Melissa, and Island lakes. Most area lakes are producing bluegills in the weeds, with crappies found suspended over 20-22 feet of water. Sucker minnows are triggering northern pike at the weed edges on Sallie and Melissa lakes.
Battle Lake
Sunfish are active in 4-10 feet of water on West Battle, Clitherall, Norway, and Elbow lakes. Crappies can be found suspended in depths of 15-20 feet on West Battle, Clitherall, Eagle, and Stalker lakes. Look for largemouth bass on Blanche, Long, and Stalker lakes. Smallmouth bass action has heated up on Otter Tail Lake. Sucker minnows are triggering northern pike when worked in 18-20 feet of water on Clitherall, Otter Tail, and West Battle lakes. For walleyes, try leeches, crawlers, and crankbaits in depths of 18-25 feet during low-light hours on West Battle, Otter Tail, Little Pine, Rush, and Pickerel lakes.
Alexandria
A few walleyes are coming from the weeds, as well as from 20-24 feet of water on Lakes Reno, Miltona, and Ida. Look for bass on the flats in depths of 14-17 feet using crankbaits or plastics on the Le Homme Dieu Chain. The weedlines of Lake Ida are holding good-sized crappies. Muskie anglers report lots of follows on Lobster and Miltona lakes, however few fish have been netted.
Starbuck
Sunfish are active in 10-12 feet of water on Lake Minnewaska. Anglers trolling crankbaits at night have taken walleyes from 6 foot depths. Look for northern pike at the creek inlets using sucker minnows. Bass are active throughout the lake.
Osakis
On Lake Osakis, the bars and flats are giving up sunfish in 9-12 feet of water. Walleyes are hitting leeches and crawlers in depths of 12-15 feet on the north end of lake, as well as at the main-lake flats. The 18- to 20-foot sunken island has provided steady walleye action. The weedlines are producing quite a few northern pike and bass.
Sauk Centre
Look for sunfish in 6 feet of water on Sauk Lake. Fish are also coming from depths of 16 feet on Fairy Lake, and from 12 feet of water on Big Birch and Maple lakes. The north end of Sauk Lake is giving up crappies in depths of 6-12 feet during evening hours. Fairy Lake is producing northern pike in 15 feet of water. An occasional walleye is being taken during low-light hours at the weedlines of Big Birch and Maple lakes.
Brainerd/Nisswa
Walleyes are hitting live-bait rigs and redtails worked at the 14- to 18-foot weed edges of Gull Lake. Bass and northern pike action has been excellent on Gull, North Long, and Whitefish lakes. Jigs tipped with large sucker minnows are turning northern pike on the outside weed edges. Bass anglers are taking fish from various locations, including the slop, shallow weedlines, outside weed edges, and around the docks.
Cross Lake
Walleye action remains consistent during low-light hours. Lindy rigs tipped with crawlers or redtails have been working best, however trolled crankbaits have also produced fish. Spinnerbaits thrown at the weedlines should provide plenty of northern pike action. Bass are hitting jigs in the weeds, and around the docks and swimming rafts. For panfish, work the outside weed edges.
Isle/Onamia
On Lake Mille Lacs, on the east side of the lake, walleyes have been most active during evening hours. Slip bobbers and leeches are working best on the 12- to 20-foot gravel and rock areas. During the day, try crankbaits or live-bait rigs at the deep gravel and mud. Smallmouth bass are hitting plastics on the rocks and shoreline breaks. Muskie anglers are reporting lots of follows at the weedlines of most bays. On the west side of the lake, spinner rigs and live-bait rigs have been good for a few walleyes during the day when worked on the mud flats in 28-32 feet of water. At night, use a slip bobber and leech off the flats in depths of 30 feet or deeper. The best muskie action is taking place after dark when using topwater presentations in the bays. The weedlines of St. Alban’s Bay are producing northern pike. Smallmouth bass remain active on the rocks.
St. Cloud/Eden Valley
Sunfish are biting in 4-12 feet of water on Pearl, Cedar Island, Long, Becker, and Horseshoe lakes. A few walleyes are being pulled from the weeds on Rice Lake, and from depths of 25-35 feet on Lake Koronis. For northern pike, hit the 16-foot weedlines of Long and Koronis lakes using sucker minnows or spoons.
Twin Cities vicinity
Zimmerman/Elk River
Catfish action has picked up in the deep holes of the Mississippi River. The Mississippi and Rum rivers have both been good for lots of smallmouth bass. Minnows and crankbaits are producing northern pike on the weedlines of Blue and Elk lakes. Blue and Green lakes are giving up quite a few largemouth bass.
Annandale
Sunfish are biting in 10-14 feet of water on Clearwater, Sylvia, Sugar, and Augusta lakes. A short window of walleye activity is being reported during evening hours when fishing depths of 16-25 feet on Clearwater Lake. Crappies can be found suspended at the weed edges of area lakes.
Prior Lake/West Metro vicinity
Northern pike are hitting spinnerbaits and crankbaits at the fishing pier on Steiger Lake. Work the weedlines of Bavaria and Minnewashta lakes using plastics for lots of bass. Christmas Lake is producing sunfish in 12 feet of water. Catfish remain active in the deep holes on the Minnesota River.
Waconia
On Lake Waconia, work the sides of Anderson and North reefs during early morning hours using a jig and fathead minnow for a few walleyes. The larger sunfish can be found in depths of 15 feet of water on Pillsbury, Center, and Anderson reefs. Muskies are following topwater lures during evening hours.
Wayzata
On Lake Minnetonka, floating jigs tipped with leeches or minnows are producing walleyes, bass, and northern pike, with most fish found tight to the weeds in 17 feet of water. Bass remain active at the weedlines, with the larger fish hitting plastics. Shore anglers using sucker minnows on Lake Calhoun have caught a few muskies. The 17- to 25-foot weedlines of Medicine Lake are providing a mixed bag of fish.
Chisago City
Bass and panfish are very active in the weeded areas of North Center, Chisago, Kroon, and South Lindstrom lakes. Large sucker minnows are triggering northern pike on Chisago and Sunrise lakes.
White Bear Lake/Northeast Metro vicinity
Lots of bass and northern pike action is being reported at the weedlines of White Bear, Big Marine, Demontreville, and Olson lakes. Work Bald Eagle and Forest lakes using crankbaits and bucktails for muskies. Topwater lures have worked well at night on White Bear Lake. Sunfish are active on most area lakes, with White Bear producing most of the larger fish.
Southern Minnesota
Red Wing/Lake City
On the Mississippi River, the Wisconsin back channel has started to produce crappies. Plastics and topwater presentations are providing steady smallmouth bass action at the rock piles of Lake Pepin. Walleyes are hitting leadcore and rapalas worked in 10-15 feet of water at the Head of the Lakes. Northern pike are coming from the inlet areas of the Mississippi River on sucker minnows.
Faribault
Crappies are active in 12-15 feet of water at the points and main-lake bars on Lake Mazaska. Muskie action has picked up on French Lake, with fish hitting surface baits and bucktails. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows worked on the bars and at the weedlines on Shields Lake. Look for sunfish in depths of 10 feet on Lake Mazaska.
Mankato
Some evening walleye action is being reported by anglers using leeches in the narrows of Madison Lake. Walleyes are hitting crankbaits worked in less than 14 feet of water on Lake Washington. The weedlines of Big and Little Jefferson lakes are producing northern pike. Sunfish are being pulled from depths of 8-12 feet on Lake Francis, and from Baker’s Bay on Lake Washington.
Ortonville
The Grapevine and Goose Island areas of Big Stone Lake are giving up perch on waxworms and crawlers worked in 12 feet of water. Walleyes are hitting crankbaits trolled through depths of 10-12 feet on Lake Traverse, with bluegills coming from the 8 foot rock piles. Walleyes are being pulled from 12-14 feet of water on Lake Oliver on spinner rigs tipped with leeches or crawlers.
Fairmont
Channel catfish are hitting crawlers on Hall and Budd lakes. Spoons are working well for northern pike at the inlet area of Tuttle Lake. While crappies have moved deeper, they continue to bite on George, Hall, and Budd lakes.
“The information in this report is provided courtesy of Outdoor News, and Explore Minnesota Tourism.”
