Minnesota Fishing Report Friday, October 24
In general, while angler numbers have diminished on Minnesota waters, walleye action remains strong.
Please note that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is in the process of removing some docks at public water accesses. Anyone planning to use a public water access this fall should contact the DNR Trails and Waterways office nearest the access–check out the “Office Locater” on the DNR web site to find the office closest to you.
Anglers may obtain fishing licenses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by dialing 1-888-665-4236, or accessing DNR License Sales
Northeastern Minnesota
International Falls
On the Rainy River, walleye action has picked up from the golf course to the dam. On Rainy Lake, fish are coming from 34-38 feet of water at the American Narrows, from depths of 26-32 feet in Sand Bay, and from the reefs located in 30 feet of water or more. The larger northern pike can now be found on top of the reefs.
Grand Rapids
Crappie action has been consistent over 14-20 feet of water on Pokegama, Big Splithand, and Jay Gould lakes. Walleyes have been active, with fish being pulled from depths of 12-20 feet on Trout, Sugar, Bowstring, Big Cutfoot Sioux, and Pokegama lakes.
Kabetogama
On Lake Kabetogama, a jig and minnow combination is providing steady walleye action in 30-35 feet of water near the Martin Islands and Graves Island. For northern pike, work sucker minnows tight to the bottom in Lost, Nebraska, and Daily bays.
Tower
On Lake Vermilion, walleyes are hitting jigs tipped with minnows on the 26- to 42-foot saddles, points, and break areas close to shore. During evening hours, active walleyes are coming from depths of 12-18 feet. The deep weeds, humps, and points are holding muskies, but few are biting. Muskies should become more active once the whitefish start spawning. Northern pike are attacking glide baits in the weeds.
Ely
Jigs tipped with rainbows or shiners are producing a few walleyes in Shagawa, Little Long, and White Iron lakes. Most walleyes have been good-sized, but numbers have been the exception.
Grand Marais
Walleyes are hitting jig and minnow combinations worked in 45-55 feet of water on Saganaga and Seagull lakes, and in depths of 20 feet on Devil Fish Lake. Lake trout can be found suspended at 40-50 feet of water on West Bearskin Lake, at depths of 35 feet on Clearwater Lake, and at 35-40 feet of water on Duncan Lake.
Northcentral/West Minnesota
Baudette
On Lake of the Woods, the best walleye action is in the Four Mile Bay and Lighthouse Gap areas. Anchoring and jigging with shiner minnows has been best in 15-20 feet of water. Anglers venturing up river have found greater numbers of sauger, sturgeon, and northern pike.
Blackduck
Blackduck Lake is giving up limits of eating-sized walleyes in 10-14 feet of water. Blackduck is also producing perch and crappies in slightly deeper waters. Check out depths of 12-18 feet on lakes Rabideau and Gilstead for panfish.
Bemidji
The muskie bite has been inconsistent. Lakes Bemidji, Cass, and Plantagenet are the best options at this time. Walleye reports are limited, with a few fish being taken on minnows worked in 17-20 feet of water on Lake Andrusia.
Bena
On Lake Winnibigoshish, while few anglers are venturing out, those that do are taking fish by pitching jigs and minnows on the points in 8-10 feet of water, and by working the deep breaks on the north end and in the Big Cutfoot Sioux areas.
Walker
On Leech Lake, trolling crankbaits after dark has produced a lot of large walleyes. Most fish are coming from less than 12 feet of water off Sand Point, Otter Tail Point, Goose Island, and Bear Island. Walleyes are also coming from these locations during the day, and from depths of 30 feet at the Walker Bay humps on jig and minnow combinations.
Hackensack
A gold jig and minnow combination is producing walleyes on Woman Lake in 8-14 feet of water. On Ten Mile Lake, walleyes are being taken during evening hours on crankbaits worked in depths of 12 feet or less.
Park Rapids
Minnows continue to provide steady walleye action in 14 feet of water on Upper and Lower Bottle lakes. Fish are also coming from 18-20 feet of water on Potato Lake, and from depths of 25-27 feet on Fish Hook Lake. For muskies, try trolling minnows through 10 feet of water or less on Big Mantrap Lake.
Detroit Lakes
Walleyes are scattered between 10- and 50-feet of water, with fish hitting minnows on Sallie, Big Detroit, Pelican, Melissa, Pine, and Island lakes. Minnows and cowgirls are triggering muskies on Big Detroit Lake. Look for crappies in 20 feet of water on Big Detroit, Melissa, Pelican, and Island lakes, with sunfish coming from slightly shallower waters.
Battle Lake
Walleyes are hitting minnows worked in 25-30 feet of water during the day on Otter Tail Lake, and in depths of 20-25 feet on Walker Lake. At night, troll crankbaits through 10-15 feet of water. Sucker minnows dragged along the weedtops on West Battle Lake are triggering muskies. For northern pike, use large minnows on West Battle and Clitherall lakes.
Alexandria
A jig and minnow combination is producing walleyes in 15-22 feet of water on LeHomme Dieu, Carlos, and Darling lakes. Jig and minnow combinations, presented vertically, are turning walleyes in depths of 30-60 feet on lakes Ida and Miltona. At night, use crankbaits closer to shore. Crappies can be found suspended in 14-20 feet of water on lakes Victoria and Geneva.
Osakis
On Lake Osakis, anglers using redtails and fatheads are taking limits of walleyes on the Four Mile Bar, the north-end sunken island, and the west shore of the north-end bay in 18 feet of water. Northern pike anglers are taking lots of fish on minnows worked on the main-lake bars.
Starbuck
On Lake Minnewaska, walleyes are hitting jig and minnow combinations in 20-25 feet of water during the day. Recommended areas include Priest Point, Starbuck Beach, and in front of the high school. The crankbait bite at night has been slow. Crankbaits are producing walleyes on Long Lake in depths of 8-10 feet. Fish are also coming in on shallow-running shad raps worked in less than 6 feet of water on Lake Emily.
Sauk Centre
Walleye anglers are taking fish from 32-40 feet of water on Big Birch Lake, and from depths of 18-22 feet on Big Swan Lake. Fairy Lake is giving up lots of northern pike along the 15-foot weed edges, with minnows working best.
Brainerd/Nisswa
Walleyes continue to hit jigs and minnows in 15-32 feet of water on Gull, North Long, and Pelican lakes. Look for crappies and sunnies in depths of 12-14 feet on most of the smaller area lakes. Bass and northern pike have been an easy catch when using minnows and crankbaits at the weedlines of most lakes.
Cross Lake
During the day, work redtails at the 24- to 34-foot points and breaks of Whitefish and Pelican lakes for quite a few walleyes. At night, try trolling crankbaits along the remaining weedlines. Northern pike and bass are hitting spinner rigs tipped with small sucker minnows on most area lakes. Crappies and sunnies can be found suspended along the 14-foot weedlines.
Crosby
A jig and minnow combination is turning walleyes during evening hours in 22-24 feet of water on Rabbit and Serpent lakes. On Pelican Lake, walleyes are hitting at two depths: 20-24 feet during low-light periods, and depths of 35-45 feet during midday hours.
Emily
Ruth Lake is producing lots of northern pike on minnows worked along the 12- to 14-foot weedlines. Fox Lake is giving up walleyes in 20-22 feet of water, mainly on jig and minnow combinations. On Lake Esquagamah, anglers are finding crappies suspended over depths of 25 feet.
Isle/Onamia
On Lake Mille Lacs, the east-side bays are producing perch, with quite a few smaller fish mixed in. For walleyes, use crankbaits along the shallow rock reefs on the east side of the lake. On the west side, crankbaits are triggering a few walleyes at night on the 10- to 12-foot shoreline breaks. And, work the weedline in St. Alban’s Bay for northern pike.
St. Cloud/Eden Valley
Sunfish remain active in 6-8 feet of water on lakes Koronis, Horseshoe, Long, and Cedar Island. Crappies can be found suspended over depths of 12-17 feet on these lakes. Hit 10-15 feet of water on Koronis and Rice lakes for a few walleyes and northern pike.
Twin Cities vicinity
Elk River
The deep pockets on the Rum and Mississippi rivers are holding smallmouth bass and walleyes. Look for crappies and sunnies in 10-12 feet of water on Blue and Green lakes.
Annandale
Walleye anglers are taking fish using minnows in 12-18 feet of water on Clearwater Lake, in depths of 14-22 feet on Cedar Lake, and in 14-17 feet of water on Granite Lake. Northern pike are hitting minnows and crankbaits on the weedlines of most area lakes. A few panfish are coming off the weed edges, with some found suspended.
Prior Lake
Crankbaits and jig and minnow combinations are producing walleyes at the swimming beach area of Lake Waconia. This area is also giving up muskies in less than 12 feet of water. For northern pike, try trolling spoons on Pierson and Auburn lakes.
Wayzata
On Lake Minnetonka, walleye action has improved in 16-20 feet of water, with anglers taking fish from Wayzata, Excelsior, and Brown’s bays on jigs and fatheads. Muskies are hitting sub-surface baits and big blades on top of the shallow weed flats. Bass and northern pike are coming in on sucker minnows worked in depths of 12 feet. The deep weed edges are holding suspended crappies.
Chisago City
Look for walleyes in the Big Green Lake channel, and on the 8-to 10-foot bars of South Lindstrom Lake. Good numbers of bass are coming from most area lakes on crankbaits. Sunfish are hitting waxworms in 8-10 feet of water on Chisago, North Center, and South Center lakes. For northern pike and panfish, hit depths of 12 feet on Sunrise Lake.
White Bear Lake/Northeast Metro vicinity
The St. Croix River is producing walleyes in 5-15 feet of water, and the Mississippi River is giving up lots of walleyes in depths of 5-10 feet. For the most fish, use a jig and minnow combination. Muskies are hitting cowgirls on White Bear Lake. Northern pike remain active along the weedlines of lakes Elmo, Jane, Rush, and Demontreville. Minnows are producing bass on Carver, Tanner, Jane, and Demontreville lakes.
Southern Minnesota
Red Wing
Saugers are hitting sonars, as well as hair jigs and minnows, below the dam on the Mississippi River in 8-25 feet of water. The docks at Baypoint Park continue to hold sunnies and crappies. Walleyes are coming from depths of 18-25 feet at the Head of the Lakes in Lake Pepin on trolled crankbaits.
Mankato
Look for crappies and sunnies over 11 feet of water in the narrows of Madison Lake. Lake Washington is producing good-sized sunfish in depths of 8-10 feet. Little Jefferson Lake is giving up lots of northern pike. Walleye action has been slow.
Willmar
Walleye action has improved, with fish being taken from 25-35 feet of water on Green Lake, depths of 10-15 feet on Eagle Lake, and from 10 feet of water or less on Diamond and Big Kandiyohi lakes. On Willmar and Foot lakes, work the shorelines during the day for panfish, with walleyes being taken at night. For the most walleyes, use minnows.
Ortonville
Walleye anglers are taking fish by working the south end of Big Stone Lake using a jig and minnow during evening hours. The dam area and “low flow” area on the Minnesota River are kicking out walleyes on plastics. The north end of Lake Traverse has started giving up walleyes in depths of 10-12 feet.
“The information in this report is provided courtesy of Outdoor News, and Explore Minnesota Tourism.”
