Explore Minnesota Fishing Report: February 13, 2009

[mudbrook]

Explore Minnesota Fishing Report: February 13, 2009

Anglers report good fishing action throughout the state, and fishing is expected to continue to improve as the season progresses. Please note that the gamefish season on Minnesota’s inland waters ends February 22. And, don’t forget Minnesota’s Take-A-Kid-Ice-Fishing event which takes place February 14-16, when a Minnesota adult can fish with a child under the age of 16 without a current Minnesota fishing license.

Anglers choosing to venture out are encouraged to call ahead for the most current ice conditions. Please note that the Department of Natural Resources reports that 4 inches of new, clear 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 ice is never considered totally safe. For more on ice thickness guidelines and ice safety tips, check out Ice Thickness Guidelines by the Department of Natural Resources website.

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

Walleyes are hitting jigs tipped with minnows in depths of 15-35 feet depending on where you are fishing. Birch Point in Sand Bay, the American Narrows, and the reefs east of Dryweed Island have been recent hot spots. Crappies are also starting to hit east of Dryweed, and some large northern pike are being taken near Rainy Lake City. For the larger pike, try a large ciscoe on a bare hook with a strong leader. Please note that there are pockets of slush off the packed and staked lake trails so use caution and plan on traveling in pairs. The land trails remain in great shape. For more information, dial 1-800-325-5766, or check out www.rainylake.org
Northcentral/West Minnesota

Baudette/Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River

Fishing has been good from the south shore to the Northwest Angle on Lake of the Woods. The shallows around Pine Island are producing nice-sized walleyes and sauger. Anglers willing to venture out further over deeper waters have had success in depths of 26-32 feet. Garden Island and further north to the Northwest Angle continue to be the hot spots, with nice limits being taken from around Oak Island on pink, gold, or white jigs. For more information, dial 1-800-382-FISH, or visit www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com

Bemidji

Fishing in the Bemidji area continues to improve as the end of the gamefish season approaches. The lakes receiving the most fishing pressure are still those with the best access, and generally those with the most resorts plowing roads to their fish house rentals. Recent rain and above-freezing temperatures helped melt some of the snow on area lakes, and the water on the ice should freeze quickly once more seasonable temperatures return. To the north, on Upper Red Lake, large numbers of anglers continue to venture out on the weekends. While the walleye bite has slowed near the groups of houses, anglers willing to stay on the move and fish further from the crowds are catching more fish. Walleyes on Upper Red Lake tend to follow the food more than the structure because the lake is both shallow and featureless. Anglers can find walleyes anywhere from the shoreline breaks in 5-9 feet of water all the way out to the deepest portion of the basin, which averages roughly 14 feet. Most of the crappies can be found in the basin further from shore during the winter months, but they should begin to migrate closer to shore in the near future. To learn more, dial 1-800-458-2223, or check out www.visitbemidji.com

Walker/Leech Lake

The walleye action at Walker Bay on Leech Lake remains excellent, with nearly all anglers catching fish last weekend. Several anglers reported catching walleyes numbers in the double digits on Friday and Saturday nights. The best walleye bite has been in 15-20 foot depths. Anglers are also having fun with the perch, with most being pulled from depths of 13-17 feet. While ice conditions on Leech Lake remain very good, slush pockets do remain in the northern half of Walker Bay. Less than two weeks remain until the end of the gamefish season so consider an ice fishing outing for some excellent fishing action! For more information, dial 218/547-1313, or visit www.leech-lake.com
Central Minnesota

Miltona

On Lake Miltona, the water is extremely clear, with visibility reaching down 20 feet. Last weekend’s warm temperatures led to an increase in fishing action, with anglers reporting lots of success. Crappies and sunnies are being pulled from the weed beds located in depths of 11-12 feet. Some of the more productive baits have been small hooks or jigs, such as moon glows, tipped with a crappie minnow or waxworm. Walleye action has slowed somewhat, however anglers continue to take fish from depths of 15-21 feet at the edge of the weedlines. For nice-sized perch, hit 7-9 feet of water near the large flats. For more information, dial 1-877-833-2350, or visit www.VisitLakeMiltona.com

Isle/Onamia/Lake Mille Lacs

Late-season fishing over the past week has been typical, with anglers seeing a dip in walleye numbers and an increase in the number of perch being pulled through the ice. Nearly one-hundred percent of the perch reports are coming from depths of more than 25 feet and from the mud flat areas. The key has been to stay on the move, and fish the deeper waters away from the structure. Fathead minnows and light-colored jigs have been best. And, don’t miss the 26th Annual Perch Extravaganza and the 4th Annual Ducks Unlimited fishing contests, both held Saturday, February 21. To find out more, dial 1-888-350-2692, or check out www.millelacs.com

Willmar

Anglers are catching panfish, crappies, and walleyes on many area lakes. The bait of choice for panfish and crappies are currently crappie minnows and waxworms. For walleyes, local anglers report having the most success using rainbows and fatheads. For the most fish, hit Florida, Nest, Eagle, Diamond, Willmar and Foot lakes. For more information, dial 1-800-845-8747, or visit www.seeyouinwillmar.com
Twin Cities vicinity

White Bear Lake

Fishing has been very good throughout the area, with crappies, sunnies, northern pike and a few walleyes being pulled from White Bear and Bald Eagle lakes this past week. Crappie anglers took the most fish on glow jigs tipped with a minnow. The majority of sunfish were pulled through the ice on waxworms. Walleye anglers did well using fathead minnows. Northern pike have reacted best to sucker minnows worked in 8-12 feet of water. To learn more, contact Explore White Bear at 651/429-5393, or visit www.explorewhitebear.org
Southern Minnesota

Lake City/Mississippi River

This area currently offers the best of both worlds; enjoy excellent ice fishing on Lake Pepin one day, and spend the next day open water fishing just upriver. The ice bite has been fairly consistent for walleyes and saugers during early morning and late afternoon hours in the upper regions of the lake. Most of the fish are coming from 20-25 feet of water on jigging rapalas tipped with a minnow head. The open water river areas of Pool #4 have also been producing fish. The Red Wing dam remains a great place to start your search, with saugers being taken using a variety of methods in the deeper areas. For the larger walleyes, hit the shallower sand flats using plastics early and late in the day. For more information, dial 1-877-525-3248, or check out www.lakecitymn.org


 “The information in this report is provided courtesy of community organizations throughout Minnesota. This report is brought to you by Explore Minnesota Tourism.”