Explore Minnesota Fishing Report November 10, 2011 Few reports are available as anglers put away their boats and turn their attention to hunting or hard water angling. Still, fish remain very active and eager to bite for those willing to venture out. Please be sure to wear your lifejacket since extra layers of heavy clothing make it difficult to stay afloat. In roughly one month, anglers will be heading out on some lakes by foot. Until then, the Explore Minnesota Fishing Report will be temporarily discontinued--please check back in early December!
International Falls - Rainy Lake & the Rainy River
Weather conditions have remained mild enough for anglers to continue venturing out. The best fishing has been in the Rainy River, where walleye are hitting shiner minnows. Rainy Lake is giving up some walleye just above the Ranier Rapids, as well as crappies in the west end of Black Bay. 1-800-325-5766;
www.rainylake.orgKabetogama
1-800-524-9085;
www.kabetogama.comEly
1-800-777-7281;
www.ely.orgCook/Tower - Lake Vermilion
1-800-648-5897;
www.lakevermilionresorts.comCook County: Lutsen-Tofte, Grand Marais, Gunflint Trail, and Grand Portage
Lots of warm, sunny days have kept the lakes open, allowing anglers to continue to head out on the water. Fish continue to be taken by anglers that zig-zag over the shallow shorelines. On Leo and Ram lakes, located near the Gunflint Trail, walleye and northern pike are coming in on worms, waxworms and small leeches under bobbers. Surface water temperatures are hovering above the freezing mark, and there are reports of good perch and bass action along the shorelines of Sawbill Lake, north of Tofte. Trout fishing will resume once there is walkable ice. For now, dress warm, wear your life jacket, and enjoy the open lakes. Things will change quickly!
www.visitcookcounty.comGrand Rapids
www.visitgrandrapids.comNorthwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
Fishing remains good in both the Rainy River and in Lake of the Woods. The nights are getting cold, with lows in the 20s, and days reaching the 40s and 50s. Anglers are having success fishing 20-24 feet of water in a few areas, including the Lighthouse Gap and Zippel Bay. At Morris Point Gap, look for schools of walleye and sauger in 26 feet of water--early in the afternoon, check the area at the edges of the rocks in 32-33 feet of water. For the most fish, anchor and vertically jig a live or frozen emerald shiner. On the river, the areas near the Baudette Airport and the Clementson Rapids have been best. The most productive technique has been a shiner minnow on a pink, orange or gold jig. And as of Wednesday, November 9, snow was falling on Lake of the Woods anglers! Although water temperatures were hovering around 40-degrees, it will only be about a month until a foot of ice is covering area lakes! 1-800-382-FISH;
www.lakeofthewoodsmn.comBemidji
1-800-458-2223;
www.visitbemidji.comCass Lake
Only a few anglers continue to head out onto the water. One group reported that the walleye were coming from depths of roughly 40 feet on Cass Lake this week. There have also been recent reports of good perch action on Leech Lake. 1-800-356-8615;
www.casslake.comWalker - Leech Lake
1-800-833-1118;
www.leech-lake.comPark Rapids
1-800-247-0054;
www.parkrapids.comDetroit Lakes
Very few anglers are venturing out, and those that do are generally die-hard muskie and walleye anglers. Big Detroit, Pelican and Beers lakes have been best for muskie fishing. For walleye, check Cormorant, Pelican, Island, White Earth, Pine and Otter Tail lakes. The best bite is taking place in 22-35 feet of water on many area lakes, with Otter Tail Lake giving up fish in depths up to 60 feet. Public docks have been removed, and the water is low making some of the accesses difficult to use. Bring some waders for easier launching. There will be a full moon on November 10th, probably the last during this year's open water season, so anglers will want to take advantage of this week and weekend's continued fall fishing action--look for fish in the shallows using crankbaits after dark. 1-800-542-3992;
www.visitdetroitlakes.comCentral Region
Otter Tail Lakes Area
1-800-423-4571;
www.ottertailcountry.comWhitefish Chain of Lakes Area
www.whitefish.orgBrainerd Lakes Area
Good walleye action continues to be reported on North Long, Gull, and Pelican lakes. Anglers are having the most success using minnows in 15-40 feet of water. While there haven't been many crappie anglers venturing out, those that do report fish suspended over 20-35 foot depths on Upper Gull, Round, and North Long lakes. 1-800-450-2838;
www.explorebrainerdlakes.comAitkin Area Lakes/Northern Lake Mille Lacs
1-800-526-8342;
www.aitkin.comIsle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs
1-888-350-2692;
www.millelacs.comWillmar
Fish continue to bite despite cooling temperatures. Florida, Andrew, Eagle and Nest lakes have been producing walleye and panfish. And Green Lake continues to give up lots of walleye in 10-25 feet of water. 1-800-845-8747;
www.willmarlakesarea.comTwin Cities Greater Metropolitan vicinity
Northeast Metro/Chisago Lakes Area
Few anglers are heading out now that the hunting season has begun. Those that do head out are finding walleye in the channel between Big and Little Green lakes. 651/257-1177;
www.chisagolakeschamber.comWhite Bear Area Lakes
Fish remain very active! Walleye can be found in 30 feet of water on the Mahtomedi side of White Bear Lake. Muskie, northern pike and bass are coming from the shallow waters near the docks on White Bear. Muskie anglers are taking fish on muskie suckers. And on Bald Eagle Lake, walleye are being pulled from 12-16 foot depths on the north and south side of Cigar Island. 651/653-5122;
www.explorewhitebear.orgWaconia
952/442-5812;
www.destinationwaconia.orgSouthern Minnesota
Lake City - Lake Pepin/Pool #4 Mississippi River
1-877-525-3248;
www.lakecitymn.orgLanesboro - Southeast Bluff Country Trout Streams
The 2011 trout season has come to an end. Overall, the season provided record numbers of brown trout measuring more than 12 inches, most likely due to a very successful 2007 spawn. Trout fishing will not resume until January 1, 2012, when a winter season will open on select streams in southeast Minnesota. 1-800-944-2670;
www.lanesboro.comRochester -Southeast Minnesota Lakes and Rivers
Luckily, the 6-plus inches of white stuff that was forecasted for this week did not materialize. As a result, the fishing season will be prolonged since water temperatures will not drop as rapidly as they would if there was snow on the ground. The Zumbro River continues to give up large muskie and northern pike, with a 47-inch muskie pulled from the area below the Lake Zumbro power dam on Halloween eve. The angler was fishing for walleye using a 4-pound test line and an 1/8-ounce jig tipped with a crappie minnow, and his little Jon boat was pulled all over the place! Once he got the fish to shore, he released him. The lake was drawn down more than 6 feet a couple of weeks ago, and it is now being refilled. If this week's conditions linger there should have good open water fishing at least until Thanksgiving. Overall, sucker minnows are very productive this time of year when fish are inclined to feast before winter sets in. The water levels are low and conditions are clear, with fish staged in the deepest pools making them easy to find--this is a great time of year to be on the water! 1-800-634-8277;
www.rochestercvb.orgFaribault Area Lakes
1-800-658-2354;
www.visitfaribault.comAlbert Lea
1-800-345-8414;
www.albertleatourism.orgFairmont Area Lakes
1-800-657-3280;
www.fairmontcvb.comOrtonville - Big Stone Lake
The fishing activity on Big Stone Lake has slowed to almost a standstill. Many anglers are also hunters, and have put away their rods and pulled out their shotguns. A few die-hard anglers that continue to venture out report taking a few perch and a random walleye. For the other anglers, fishing will wait until hard water or early next spring. Reports will be discontinued until next year's open water season. 1-800-568-5722;
www.bigstonelake.com
