Explore Minnesota Fishing Report for July
The Fishing Hot Spot this week is the city of Baudette, where Lake of the Woods is giving up good numbers of nice-size walleyes at the mud flats and reefs in the deeper waters. The Rainy River is also producing some nice walleyes, as well as some enormous sturgeon.
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NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA
Duluth
The walleye bite has been excellent on Island Lake, with anglers taking fish on minnows under slip bobbers at the humps. Fish Lake is giving up good numbers of walleyes along the weed edges in 8-10 foot depths on crawlers, plain hooks and beads. Bass are hitting plastic worms worked in roughly 8 feet of water at the outside weedlines on Caribou, Laura, Murphy and Nichols lakes. Smallmouth bass, measuring up to 21-inches, are coming from the St. Louis River stumps. Walleyes continue to bite in the Barker’s area. Muskie anglers are doing well using brightly-colored, flashy topwater baits and bucktails in the St. Louis River. Lake Superior walleye action is also good, with anglers taking the most fish on spoons slowly trolled through 80-115 foot depths. Salmon are moving up the North Shore, and anglers are having success using stickbaits at the temperature breaks. Lake trout are moving into their summer patterns, and hitting orange spoons worked 40-80 feet down.
Kabetogama
On Lakes Kabetogama and Namakan, walleyes have moved onto the reefs and reef edges with rack, rubble and gravel bottoms. Anglers are taking the most fish using crawlers or leeches on slip sinker rigs in 25-30 feet of water during early morning and late afternoon hours. The most productive depths and bottoms for walleyes can be found in mid-Kabetogama and Lake Namakan. The strong breaklines on Namakan are perfect for artificial lures. Smallmouth bass are chasing crayfish lures and spinnerbaits at the rocky shores and rock piles. Northern pike are lurking in the deeper waters near the weedlines, with stickbaits and jerkbaits taking the most fish.
International Falls
On Rainy Lake, walleyes have moved into 20-30 feet of water, and can be found near the island edges and submerged reefs from Sand Bay to Kettle Falls. The best approach is to use electronics to graph at least a few fish before dropping a line. Most anglers are doing well using a jig tipped with a leech or crawler. Smallmouth bass are starting to respond to crankbaits, however fish can be found in waters ranging from 4-24 feet deep. Black Bay crappies are hitting jigs tipped with small minnows. Large northern pike continue to be pulled from Black and Cranberry bays. On the Rainy River, walleyes can be found in the swifter, deeper channels above and below the International Falls dam, as well as near the Manitou and Long Sault Rapids. Smallmouth bass are active just below the dam at International Falls. Recent rains have led to an increase in water flow in the river.
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NORTHCENTRAL/WEST MINNESOTA
Baudette
On Lake of the Woods, fish have moved into deeper waters. Depths of 28-32 feet have been best for numbers of walleyes, and anglers are starting to have success using downriggers. The mud flats and reefs are giving up nice-size walleyes, along with some sauger. Most anglers are having success either anchored and jigging, or drifting spinners with a minnow or crawler. Some very large sturgeon are coming from the Rainy River. One angler recently spent 1 1/2-hours reeling in a 60-inch fish. The sturgeon have been very active, and it's quite an experience to see these pre-historic giants breach the water. The Rainy River is also giving up some nice walleyes on sucker minnows worked in depths of 14-17 feet. The muskie season is in full swing at the Northwest Angle and Islands area! The walleye bite has also been great around Little Oak, Big Oak, and the Four Blocks, with excellent numbers of fish being reported.
Blackduck
On Blackduck Lake, limits of walleyes are being taken from 8-12 feet of water on lindy rigs tipped with crawlers or leeches. Panfish are active on Pimusche and Rabideau lakes. A few crappies are coming out of Gilstad Lake.
Bemidji
On Lake Bemidji, walleye anglers traveling large areas of water are taking some fish on crawler rigs. The best reports have been after dark on crankbaits. Muskies are becoming more active, with a 53-inch fish recently pulled from Lake Bemidji. Bluegills action has been good on Midge and Grant lakes. Pinebush Lake may also be worth checking out.
Bena
Fishing has been difficult on Lake Winnibigoshish due to recent winds. Anglers are having the most success using leeches and crawlers on slip sinker rigs, with a 6- foot leader. Colored hooks seem to be an added incentive. Many of the off-shore structures are holding both keeper-size and large walleyes. Some anglers are doing well trolling #5,#7 and #8 silver shiner or crawdad shad raps. Walleye anglers are accidentally catching quite a few large northern pike just off-shore when using leeches or crawlers. A good pike bite is being reported in the shallows near The Dishes and Bowen's Flats by anglers quickly trolling spoons through 9-12 feet of water.
Walker
On Leech Lake, limits of 14- to 15-inch perch are being caught off Bear Island. Walleyes remain active at Camballes, Fletchers and Monkey reefs, as well as at Sand Point, and on the east side of Steamboat Bay in the river channel. Quite a few muskies are coming from the Walker Narrows and Agency Bay, with a couple measuring over 50-inches. Panfish are very active in the bays. Bass action is good in Boy and Steamboat bays.
Hackensack
Lots of large crappies are being pulled from 22-30 feet of water, roughly 4-10 feet off the bottom. Birch and Webb lakes have been best. Pleasant Lake can be counted on for a few smaller crappies and lots of nice sunfish. The sunnies are hitting small leeches on a plain hook fished under a bobber in 12 feet of water. Baby Lake is giving up muskies in the reeds, however anglers report more follows than strikes. Most muskies are coming in on bass and walleye tackle. A few walleyes continue to be pulled from Ten Mile and Birch lakes on nightcrawlers and leeches. The best approach is to use a spinner rig in 24-28 feet of water. Anglers are also taking a few fish from depths of 12-18 feet on a jig and leech worked at the cabbage weeds. Another good mid-summer approach is to fish after sundown using a lighted slip bobber, small jig and a leech over a rock pile or bed of cabbage weeds, especially on Ten Mile, Woman and Pleasant lakes.
Park Rapids
Walleyes are hitting leeches and crawlers on a harness worked in 18-21 feet of water on Long Lake, with a 32 1/2-inch walleye taken just last weekend. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows in 16-20 feet of water on Potato Lake. Bluegills are active throughout the area, and especially on Fishhook Lake when using waxworms in depths of 10-14 feet. Crappies can be found suspended in roughly 20 feet of water on the Crow Wing Chain, with pink and white tube jigs tipped with crappie minnows working best. Bass are active throughout the area, and hitting spinners in the pencil reeds. One lucky angler recently took a huge 8-pound, 4-ounce largemouth from Mantrap Lake.
Pelican Rapids
Lots of nice-size crappies and sunnies are being pulled from area lakes. Lake Lida is producing walleyes in 10-13 feet of water. Muskies are becoming more active, with a 52-inch fish recently caught and released on Pelican Lake. For good-size bluegill and bass, hit the Pelican River.
Battle Lake
Bass are active on most area waters. Lots of northerns are coming out of Clitheral, Ottertail and West Battle lakes. For bass, hit Eagle and Dead lakes. Walleye anglers are doing well on Clitheral Lake during early morning and late evening hours using leeches in 20-25 feet of water. Ottertail is giving up fish early in the morning in 8-14 foot depths, and in 25-30 feet of water in the evenings on crawlers and redtails. West Battle is producing walleyes during evening hours on leeches and crawlers worked in depths of 18-25 feet of water. Anglers are also taking walleyes from Rush and Big Pine lakes on leeches and crawlers worked in 18-24 feet of water. Muskies are becoming more active on West Battle Lake, and anglers are seeing lots of fish when casting large sucker minnows into the first breaks in 16-20 feet of water. Sunnies are active on Deer, Dead, Anna, Norway and Battle lakes, and hitting leeches and crawlers worked in 13-17 foot depths.
Crosslake
Walleyes continue to bite on Cross Lake and the Whitefish Chain in 24-28 feet of water. Low light hours have been best. Anglers are taking fish by trolling through deeper waters using rapalas and deepwater crankbaits. Bass are active in the shallow, weedy areas. Panfish can be found suspended in 12-18 feet of water off the points.
Nisswa
Bass action has been excellent on most area lakes, with fish hitting mushroom-head jigs and plastic worms pitched up along the deep weedlines and retrieved slowly. Casting rapala DTs is also producing some nice-size largemouth bass. Northern pike anglers are taking lots of fish by slowly trolling a spinner rig tipped with a sucker minnow, with some trophy-sized fish coming in. A few walleyes are coming from the weedlines in 15-20 feet of water. The best bait seems to alternate between redtails, nightcrawlers and leeches. Crappies and sunfish action has been great, with small jigs tipped with plastics, leeches and worms producing fish.
Crosby
Walleye anglers are taking fish from Rabbit and Pelican lakes, as well as the Mississippi River, especially during early morning hours before boats hit the water. Crappie anglers are doing well on Perry, Blackhoof, Mary and Clearwater lakes, with the largest fish coming from 14-20 feet of water during evening hours. Bluegills are very active on Perry, Nokay and Blackhoof lakes throughout the day in depths of 7-10 feet. Bass are coming from the docks and weedlines on plastics, crankbaits, and pig-n-jig combinations. Trout fishing remains good, with limits being pulled from Pennington, Huntington and Manuel lakes early in the morning. During the day, anglers are taking some fish by jigging puddle jumpers tipped with a waxworm, and on jigging spoons tipped with powerbait.
Isle
On Lake Mille Lacs, the day bite has slowed, but the night bite remains strong, especially when bobber fishing on the mud. Please remember that the slot limit has changed to 14- to 16-inches, and one over 28-inches. The smallmouth bass are biting in the channels and along the shorelines on the rocks.
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TWIN CITIES VICINITY
Grey Eagle
Nice-size sunfish, weighing 1/2 pound and more, are being taken from Long Lake near the Hub Supper Club. Sunnies and crappies are biting on Big Swan and Moose lakes, with most area lakes giving up some fish. Little Birch continues to produce smaller, eating-size walleyes on minnows and leeches worked in 9-10 feet of water. On Big Birch Lake, the walleyes have moved deeper, and can be found in depths of 20-30 feet. Lots of bass and northern pike are also being pulled from Big Birch. Bass anglers are doing well on most area lakes.
St. Cloud
Mississippi River anglers are catching smallmouth bass, catfish, walleyes and a few crappies during the day and at night. Water levels are down at this time. Sunfish action has been good on the river and most area lakes. Bass and northern pike are being pulled from Pearl Lake. Rainbow trout are coming from the deeper water on Big Watab Lake, as well as from Quarry Park.
Annandale
On Clearwater Lake, northern pike are active in 10-15 feet of water, and hitting sucker minnows under bobbers. Anglers report a slightly slower walleye bite, however some fish continue to be taken on lindy rigs and crawlers worked in 15-20 feet of water off the weedlines. Sunnies are coming from 5-10 foot depths off the weedlines throughout the day. Crappies can be found up in the 5-10 foot weedlines at sunset. Bass continue to hit spinnerbaits and plastic worms, however most presentations will produce fish.
Waconia
On Lake Waconia, sunnies and crappies are coming from the northwest side of the island near the 12-13 foot vegetation. Fish can also be found suspended in 10-20 feet of water off the north side of the island. Bass and walleyes are coming from the drop-offs near Cemetery Reef in depths of 13-22 feet of water, and near North Reef on the northeast side of the drop-off in 16-20 feet of water. Bass are also coming from the shallow pencil reeds along the north side of the lake, including the east and west corners.
Wayzata
On Lake Minnetonka, anglers that venture out are taking fish from the bottom at the sparse weeds, with northern pike, bass and sunnies coming from 10-15 feet of water. For the most fish, hit the small openings in the weeds.
Forest Lake
Sunnies remain fairly shallow, and the crappies have moved out into 15-16 feet of water along the weed edges. Muskies are starting to bite. Northern pike are active on Sunrise Lake. Bass action has been good throughout the area, and especially on Green Lake. Walleyes are coming out of 20-25 feet of water on North Center and Clear lakes.
Chisago City
Crappies can be found suspended in 14-16 feet of water on area lakes. Bass fishing is excellent on Chisago and South Lindstrom lakes--please remember that any bass measuring over 12-inches must be released immediately on Chisago Lake. Catfish are biting on the St. Croix River during evening hours, from roughly 5pm on into the night. A few walleyes are coming from the deeper water at the gravel to mud transition lines.
Oakdale
Bass and northern pike remain active on Forest, Big Marine and Big Carnelian lakes. Lots of smaller sunnies are coming out of Lake Peltier, as well as Little Lake near South Lindstrom. A few nice-size crappies are being pulled from Bald Eagle Lake. For muskies, hit Bald Eagle, White Bear and Forest lakes.
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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
Red Wing
On the Mississippi River, the northern pike bite remains good at the mouths of the Rush and Pine rivers--the best approach has been a large red eye spoon or sucker minnow. Walleyes are hitting bright shad raps worked in 18-25 feet of water on Lake Pepin. Smallmouth bass are coming from 18-20 foot depths at Lake Pepin rock piles. For panfish, hit the backwaters using hair jigs tipped with a minnow or small leech.
St. Peter
Catfish are active in the Minnesota River. Lots of sunnies are coming out of 10-12 feet of water on German Lake. The crappies are biting in Baker’s Bay on Lake Washington. A few walleyes continue to be pulled from the river.
"The information in this report is provided courtesy The Outdoors Weekly, and Explore Minnesota Tourism."
