January 6, 2012 Explore Minnesota Fishing ReportThis week's Minnesota DNR Conservation Officer reports indicate that ice conditions continue to change--extremely warm temperatures and recent high winds have led to cracking and shifting ice. Also, thawing and refreezing can lead to unstable ice conditions. Anyone considering a trip out onto the ice must first check with local bait shops and resorts for the most current ice conditions. Anglers heading out are asked to carry ice claws and a long rope, wear a floatation device, and check ice depth often. Anglers are also encouraged to wear ice cleats for increased stability due very slick ice. Please be informed, and consult the Minnesota DNR Ice Safety Tips page before heading out on your next ice fishing adventure.
The fishing season for walleye, sauger, northern pike, largemouth and smallmouth bass remains open through February 26, 2012. Smallmouth bass, however, are catch-and-release only from September 12 through February 26. The winter season for lake trout within the BWCA runs December 31, 2011 through March 31, 2012--outside of the BWCA, January 14-March 31. The winter season for stream trout in southern Minnesota is catch-and-release only, and runs from January 1 through March 31, 2012. The season for stream trout in lakes runs from January 14 through March 31, 2012.
International Falls - Rainy Lake & the Rainy River
On Rainy Lake, most anglers are fishing Sand Bay, but ice has improved at the American Narrows and other points to the east. Walleye are hitting jig and minnow combinations. Some good-sized northern pike are being pulled from Black Bay on bare hooks tipped with large minnows. Voyageurs National Park has staked and opened the Purple Trail from Rainy Lake to Kettle Falls due to improved ice and snow conditions. The Green Trail to Lake Kabetogama has been open for a couple weeks--there are some pressure ridges, and snow cover may be somewhat thin on the windblown ice. The Rainy Lake Ice Road is open to the Black Bay Ski Trail, and the Echo Bay and Kab/Ash cross-country ski trails are open with minimal snow. All the snowshoe trails in Voyageurs National park are open. 1-800-325-5766;
www.rainylake.orgKabetogama
Lake Kabetogama ice is in great shape, with lots of quality, clear ice measuring 13-18 inches or more. Snow cover as of December 30 ranged from 3-5 inches, and the lakes continued to have a slush-free, smooth surface. Still, anglers need to be aware of dangerous ice ridges, crossing only where marked. Remember to always use caution, watch your speed, and check ice thickness often if you choose to venture off the marked trails. Northern pike spearers and anglers report very active fish, with numerous small pike mixed in with some large pike weighing over 8 pounds. Several pike in the 20 pound range have also been taken on a weekly basis. These fish are coming from all depths. Walleye anglers have also been happy, with small jigs tipped with a minnow or just a minnow head working throughout the lake. 1-800-524-9085;
www.kabetogama.comEly
Anglers report that exceptional ice conditions are allowing them to travel all over area lakes to seek out fish in areas that have been inaccessible in previous ice fishing seasons--these travels have produced good numbers of walleye and northern pike. Walleye are responding well to buckshot spoons and lindy slick jigs tipped with minnow heads and fished along 20 foot breaks. Northern pike are attacking live suckers and ciscoes hung under tip-ups. Decent numbers of crappies are being taken, however most of the fish have been running small. Jigs tipped with small minnows or waxworms are working well. The lake trout season is now open in the BWCA--the season will open in the Ely area in another two weeks. 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
On New Year's Day, both Gunflint and Poplar lakes were reported to be entirely covered in ice. Walleye and perch continued to hit spoons and minnows tipped with chubs. The smaller area lakes are also giving up good numbers of walleye and northern pike--a few anglers have had success using prey jigs tipped with waxworms. North of Tofte, the ice on Sawbill Lake was 16-inches thick, and the trout season had officially opened. Those venturing out were catching nice-sized fish when using buckshots, pink-orange jigs, and red-gold jigs, especially during morning and evening hours. Anglers were also having some success during mid-day hours.
www.VisitCookCounty.comGrand Rapids
www.visitgrandrapids.comNorthwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
On Lake of the Woods, walleye and sauger action has been excellent in 25-29 feet of water. Hot spots mentioned include Morris Point and just outside of Pine Island. It has been a light bite, so a fish finder has been very helpful. Stop signs and buckshots, with a dead stick in the second hole, have been best----pink and gold remain the best colors. Quite a few large walleye measuring 28-31.5 inches are being caught--the 31.5 inch beauty weighed more than 11.5 pounds! Sturgeon have also been active, with numerous reports of fish measuring over 60 inches being taken. One angler said his 60 inch fish barely made it through the 8 inch hole! Ice is measuring roughly 14-17 inches in areas being traveled and fished. Conservation Officers report unsafe ice on the western edge of Lake of the Woods where multiple cracks have reopened, limiting access. It is strongly recommended that anglers use a resort as an access point and as a source for the most current conditions. At this time, Adrian's and Morris Point are allowing access to most vehicles and sleeper fish houses. And the action at the Northwest Angle & Islands area has been amazing, with nice numbers, a nice mixture, and nice size! Anglers report all day walleye and sauger action, with an occasional jumbo perch mixed in. Buckshots and a gold jig with a minnow seem to be working best. Ice thickness measures roughly 16-18 inches in areas receiving the most traffic. Again, please be sure to check in with local resorts and bait shops for the most current conditions before heading out. 1-800-382-FISH;
www.lakeofthewoodsmn.comBemidji
Lakes in the Bemidji area added some ice this past week after a couple of nighttime lows approaching zero degrees. The lakes were very busy over New Year's Weekend, with some anglers starting to drive their vehicles onto the lakes--anglers need to be very careful on the ice, especially when heading out from an unmonitored access instead of a resort with maintained ice roads. Upper Red Lake has been very popular this winter due to good ice conditions and a good walleye bite. Most anglers have been fishing the shoreline breaks in 9-11 feet of water, with some anglers beginning to venture out further into the basin. Many anglers are having success the more active walleye when using jigging spoons with half a minnow--a bobber rig and live minnow is best for the less active fish brought to the hole by a jigging spoon. There are many different styles and colors of jigging spoons, so anglers should experiment to find the best presentation--have a couple of rods rigged with different styles of spoons or use a small snap on the line so lures can be changed quickly. Crappies, bluegills and perch usually get less fishing pressure from anglers as long as the walleye are biting. More anglers will switch to panfish as the season progresses and the walleye bite slows down. Please note that many panfish lakes have thinner ice than the larger lakes due to springs underneath the ice so anglers need to monitor ice conditions personally before deciding what mode of travel to use on the ice. 1-800-458-2223;
www.visitbemidji.comCass Lake
1-800-356-8615;
www.casslake.comBena -Lake Winnibigoshish
Lake Winnibigoshish is giving up lots of nice fish. The perch action remains very good, especially at the humps on the northern end in 25 feet of water. Tamarac Bay and Ravens Point have been hot spots. On the east end, perch are active at the shore drop-off and stumps at Moxey. Depths of 22-25 feet have been best. Good numbers of perch are also being pulled from the main lake bars with a drop down to 30 feet--try Bena, Big Musky and The Bend for some great action. Also, check out North Horseshoe. On the western end of the lake, look to Sugar and River bars. Walleye anglers report decent action on the main lake bars and on some of the humps. Northern pike action has been great. Ice thickness varies from 13-15 inches. Please note that the west side heave is still active, and must be inspected before crossing. Once across the heave, the ice is mostly stable. On the southern end, there is a live heave from Townsite to Duck Pass. In the northeast, the heave runs around Tamarac Point toward the bay. Four-wheelers remain the best way to move around the lake at this time. Please request up-to-the-minute conditions from the resort where you access the lake.
www.lakewinnie.netWalker - Leech Lake
1-800-833-1118;
www.leech-lake.comPark Rapids
Overall, the ice conditions are good on area lakes, with 12-14 inches of ice on average. It is important, however, to be aware of varying conditions on the larger bodies of water such as Potato, Long, and Big Sand to name a few. Walleye anglers continue to have success, taking lots of eating-size walleye along with an occasional large fish. Evening hours remain best, especially in depths of 17-24 feet. Live minnows have been the key to success, with jigging spoons tipped with live bait also turning some fish. Panfish activity remains outstanding throughout the area. Large bluegills are active and feeding most of the day, into evening hours. Northland hard rock mooska jigs are working well when tipped with a waxworm or impulse plastic tail. Crappies can be found suspended over deep water, with a great bite at dusk, perfect for anglers who can't get out until after the sun has set. Check depths of 20-30 feet and keep an eye on your fish finder to pinpoint suspended fish. Northern pike action has been good, especially on Mantrap Lake--there is an experimental slot on Mantrap, so all pike between 24-36 inches must be released immediately. This lake, however, offers a chance at a true trophy-sized pike. Try ripping a large jigging spoon to coax one of these monsters out of the weeds. 1-800-247-0054;
www.parkrapids.comDetroit Lakes
As of January 6, ice measurements show roughly 9-12 inches of ice despite the unusually high temperatures yesterday. Still, more ice is needed to reach the 15-20 inch mark when larger vehicles can venture out. There have been some fish houses that have broken through the ice. Most of these incidents have been due to heat being left on, the solar effects of the sun, or houses not being monitored or moved. At this time, foot, ATV, snowmobile (there is a little snow cover now), or light vehicle travel are the recommended modes of lake access . The panfish and walleye bite remains better than average for numbers and size. The best time to catch walleye has been from roughly 4:00 p.m. until a half hour or so past dusk. For the most walleye, use jigging spoons tipped with minnow heads. Some crappies are still coming from the shallow, green weed areas. In the deeper lakes, fish have moved off the breaks to the basin transition areas and to depths of 25-35 feet where fish can be found suspended. A locator is a huge factor in catching these fish. For the most crappies and sunnies, use small jigs tipped with small minnows or waxworms. 1-800-542-3992;
www.visitdetroitlakes.comCentral Region
Otter Tail Lakes Area
1-800-423-4571;
www.ottertailcountry.comPine River
1-800-728-6926;
http://www.pinerivermn.comWhitefish Chain of Lakes Area
www.whitefish.orgBrainerd Lakes Area
1-800-450-2838;
www.explorebrainerdlakes.comAitkin Area Lakes/Northern Lake Mille Lacs
1-800-526-8342;
www.aitkin.comIsle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs
The walleye bite remains strong on Lake Mille Lacs. Anglers are having the most success using a northland macho minnow tipped with a minnow head on one line and a bobber with a small jig tipped with a shiner or rainbow minnow on another line. Most of the action has been around the breakline areas in 14-18 feet of water, especially during the first two hours after sunrise and during the last two hours after sunset. Perch can be found in 16-20 feet of water when using a jigging rapala tipped with a minnow head. Anglers report that northern pike and sunfish are very abundant in the bay areas. Conservation Officers report that ice conditions are changing daily on Lake Mille Lacs. The south side appears to have better ice conditions. Areas of open water remain and the ice continues to shift with windy conditions. It is extremely important that all anglers check with a local bait shop or resort for the most current conditions before heading out! 1-888-350-2692;
www.millelacs.comWillmar
Walleye action has been good on the larger lakes such as Green, Eagle, Florida and Andrew. A few panfish are being caught as well. Most lakes have about 8-12 inches of ice, but varying ice conditions have made it somewhat difficult to head out. Cooler temperatures earlier this week helped increase ice thickness a bit, however most lakes still have ice heaves and open water. All anglers must use extreme caution and check with local resorts and bait shops for the most current conditions. 1-800-845-8747;
www.willmarlakesarea.comTwin Cities Greater Metropolitan vicinity
Northeast Metro/Chisago Lakes Area
Fishing has been great on area lakes. The areas around Pancake Island and Whispering Bay on South Center Lake have been good for panfish action. The area in front of the Lake Street Boat Access on Chisago Lake has been good for crappie anglers. Sunnies are active during the day at the Chisago Lake channel and on the south end of the lake in 6 feet of water in front of the A-Frame. For walleye, hit the area in front of the hospital on South Lindstrom Lake, with a few crappies also being taken. 651/257-1177;
www.chisagolakeschamber.comWhite Bear Area Lakes
Earlier this week, anglers reported that the fish remained very active on both Bald Eagle and White Bear lakes. Most crappies being taken were good-sized and eager to bite. Euro larva and crappie minnows were working well near Bellaire Beach on White Bear Lake. Walleye and perch were coming in on shiners and waxworms on Bald Eagle Lake. Northern pike have been active on both lakes, hitting shiners and sucker minnows on tip-ups. And some nice crappies are also being pulled from depths of 10-12 feet on Big Marine Lake at Scandia, with waxworms and crappie minnows working best. 651/653-5122;
www.ExploreWhiteBear.orgWaconia
952/442-5812;
www.destinationwaconia.orgSouthern Minnesota
Ice conditions remain unstable on most lakes in this region of the state--no further information is available on hard water angling for southern Minnesota.
Lake City - Lake Pepin/Pool #4 Mississippi River
1-877-525-3248;
www.lakecitymn.orgLanesboro - Southeast Bluff Country Trout Streams
1-800-944-2670;
www.lanesboro.comRochester -Southeast Minnesota Lakes and Rivers
Although most Minnesota anglers are focusing on ice fishing, those looking for an exciting fishing experience should check out southeastern Minnesota's trout streams, where the stream trout season opened January 1! While the season is catch-and-release for brown trout and rainbow trout, the bite on area streams and rivers has been very good with lots of action! One area guide who ventured out on New Year's Day reports that he "...experienced just about the best trout opener in 25 years!" He fished the Whitewater River between 8:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. and took 13 browns and 7 rainbows, with 2 back-to-back browns measuring 18-inches. He was able to fish areas that were normally iced over this time of year. The hits and plays kept the outing exciting the entire time. An outing the following day was less eventful due to a front which had moved in, causing ice to form in areas that were previously ice free. The slowdown in action was also due to the fact that trout are very sensitive to changes in weather patterns. Despite fish being skittish, he took seven brown trout in a short period of time. For a list and maps showing designated winter trout fishing streams, visit the Minnesota DNR Winter Trout Streams page. 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
1-800-568-5722;
www.bigstonelake.com</stron
