April 12, 2012 Explore Minnesota Fishing Report Fishing is starting to heat up now that the cold snap has passed, and anglers are already heading out and catching some nice numbers of crappies, perch and sunfish. And with the fishing opener right around the corner, now is the time to start planning your next fishing trip.
Minnesota fishing opener dates for the 2012/2013 fishing season for most inland waters are as follows: walleye, sauger, northern pike and lake trout, May 12; largemouth and smallmouth bass, May 26; muskie, June 2. The fishing season for crappies, sunnies, perch and catfish is continuous. Please note that seasons and regulations vary for certain boundary waters and some individual lakes and rivers--consult the Minnesota DNR Fishing Seasons and Minnesota DNR Fishing Regulations websites for the most current information. And don't miss the 2012 Governor's Fishing Opener held May 12 in the city of Waconia on Lake Waconia, the second largest lake in the Twin Cities area!
International Falls - Rainy Lake & the Rainy River
There are just a few more days left in the border waters walleye season which closes April 15. Rainy River anglers are finding walleye near the mouths of the Little Fork and Big Fork rivers, and sturgeon in the stretch below the dam at International Falls. Sand Bay has been a great spot for walleye action on Rainy Lake. And wildlife watchers are spotting lots of waterfowl and songbirds in the area. 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
www.visitcookcounty.comDuluth -Lake Superior
Anglers are anxiously awaiting the upcoming smelt run, and the good news is that they were seen off the beaches of Park Point and Wisconsin Point on April 9. Seining is the best way to capture these tasty little fish. With some good weather, the smelt run should be in full swing by the weekend. Anglers have been fishing from boats on Lake Superior for the last few weeks and the bite has been fairly consistent. Many anglers have been catching cohos, browns, loopers, and even a few steelhead. The best presentation has been to troll stickbaits off board lines targeting the shallow shorelines where the smelt are staging. Bright colors such as pink, 57 Chevy and firetiger have been producing well, but anglers should continue to experiment with color. Baits such as smaller spoons, shallow divers, bomber long A's and rapala x raps or clackin' raps have been good. Lots of anglers are catching coho's off the Minnesota entry's southern breakwall, with a few bonus browns also being taken. Bottom rigs with an inflated nightcrawler, along with nightcrawlers or wax worms under a bobber are the preferred methods. When fishing off the breakwall, be sure to bring a long net measuring 12-15 feet. Fish and Island lakes, as well as the St. Louis River back bays are just starting to produce crappies. Try a basic minnow under a float, or cast a small jig and plastic combination for the most fish. The shallow warmer spawning areas have been key. The suckers are also starting to be seen in their usual spawning creeks. 1-800-438-5884;
www.visitduluth.comGrand Rapids
www.visitgrandrapids.comNorthwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
The 15th of April is the last day to fish for walleye until the May opener. The bite has slowed a bit over the past few days as a result of a recent cold snap, but warmer temperatures have arrived and the bite has already started to heat up. The best approach has been a 3/8- to 1-ounce jig tipped with a shiner minnow. Hot spots include 1 mile up river from Sportsman's Lodge to Wheeler's Point, at Four Mile Bay, the Lighthouse Gap, and near the Baudette airport. Graphs are showing a greater number of walleye moving into the Rainy River. Many areas of the river, including Wheeler's Point, and the river areas in front of Adrian's, Ballard's, and Sportsman's, have all produced nice numbers. And sturgeon fishing remains great, especially at Four Mile Bay. Nightcrawlers remain the best bet. 1-800-382-FISH;
www.lakeofthewoodsmn.comBemidji
Lakes in the Bemidji area are completed free of ice. Recent cooler temperatures have slowed the spawning progress for early spawning species such as walleye, northern pike and perch. Surface water temperatures in most lakes have stalled in the low to mid 40s, which is just barely warm enough to get some fish ready to spawn. Walleye at most of the DNR egg stripping stations have not been ready to drop their eggs. Most species of fish prefer to have a warming trend when they spawn, favoring water temperatures that continue to rise after the spawn so the fry can have a better survival rate. The worst situation is falling water temperatures and prolonged cold fronts during the critical period after the eggs hatch. Anglers were taking pre-spawn perch from the shallows right after the ice went out on the lakes--expect the bite to slow down as soon as the perch begin to spawn. Most of the crappies and sunnies have been suspended at the edge of the drop-off closest to areas they will move to once the water warms into the 50s. Expect better success with the crappies and sunnies once water temperatures begin to rise. Until then, use your electronics to locate fish and try vertical presentations or slip bobbers to see if you can coax them to bite. Docks are slowly going out at most of the public accesses, however those responsible for setting up these docks work on a schedule based on average ice-out dates, not on actual ice-out dates. 1-800-458-2223;
www.visitbemidji.comCass Lake
1-800-356-8615;
www.casslake.comBena -Lake Winnibigoshish
www.lakewinnie.netWalker - Leech Lake
1-800-833-1118;
www.leech-lake.comPark Rapids
1-800-247-0054;
www.parkrapids.comDetroit Lakes
The crappie bite had started to heat up last week on many Detroit Lakes area lakes, but the cold front that arrived last weekend has slowed the bite. Current warmer temperatures and sunshine should help to improve the bite. Prior to the cold front, crappies were found about 5 feet down in 6-8 feet of water. Once the colder temperatures hit, the fish moved deeper--expect them to start moving into more shallow waters as temperatures rise. Bobber fishing with crappie minnows has been the most productive method. Anglers report catching lots of sunnies and bass when fishing for crappies, and have even been surprised by a few northern pike. Please be aware that some area lakes have special crappie regulations, including Star and Lida. 1-800-542-3992;
www.visitdetroitlakes.comCentral Region
Otter Tail Lakes Area
1-800-423-4571;
www.ottertailcountry.comPine River
Anglers are already heading out, and finding panfish in the shallow bays and backwater areas of lakes and streams. The recent cold snap dampened the crappie bite a bit, but once warmer temperatures arrive, these fish will head to feeding and spawning areas in depths of 2-4 feet in the dark-bottomed bays and inlets. A small 1/32- or 1/16-ounce jig tipped with a small crappie minnow on light line set below a small bobber will be the most productive technique at that time. Popular colors include bright yellows, whites and pinks. Generally, the best locations are the Whitefish Chain, Pine Mountain, Ada, Portage, Horseshoe, Hand and Norway lakes, however most area lakes hold strong populations of panfish. Please remember to pull your drain plug before and after entering a lake, and bring a cooler with ice to store your fish since you will also need to drain your livewell before leaving the lake access. 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
Lake Mille Lacs offered anglers some great fishing action last week, with lots of crappies pulled from the channels and harbors. While recent cooler temperatures have brought this action to a halt, milder temperatures are causing the action to heat up once again. Flu flus in a pink or white, tipped with a panfish leech or crappie minnow seems to be working best. Some anglers also recommend a purple or blue lindy toad. Bay and Borden have been good producers. Expect the shallows to give up the majority of fish, especially during lowlight hours. Once the 2012/2013 fishing season opens on May 12, there will be a new 17- to 28-inch protected slot for Lake Mille Lacs walleye, and one walleye 28-inches or longer may be included in the four-fish limit. DNR fisheries staff expect the good winter bite to carry over into this summer. 1-888-350-2692;
www.millelacs.comWillmar
1-800-845-8747;
www.willmarlakesarea.comTwin Cities Greater Metropolitan vicinity
Northeast Metro/Chisago Lakes Area
651/257-1177;
www.chisagolakeschamber.comWhite Bear Area Lakes
Crappies are biting on White Bear and Bald Eagle lakes. Most of the fish can be found in 7-8 feet of water. Anglers fishing White Bear Lake report lots of 11- to 12-inch fish. On Bald Eagle Lake, most crappies have measured roughly 7-inches. 651/653-5122;
www.explorewhitebear.orgWaconia
At the beginning of April, crappie anglers were taking good numbers of fish from Lake Waconia. Most of the action was coming from 7-9 feet of water in Waconia Bay. A good perch bite was also being reported, with quite a few keepers mixed in. Area businesses are gearing up for the upcoming Governor's Fishing Opener held in Waconia on Saturday, May 12, with a community picnic offered Friday afternoon, May 11. 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
1-800-944-2670;
www.lanesboro.comRochester -Southeast Minnesota Lakes and Rivers
Southeastern Minnesota is currently more stunning than usual. Trees are budding everywhere, the grasses are flowing , and the bluebells in the woods make the forest floor almost glow. This is one of the earliest and loveliest springs ever. And right now, the rivers, streams and creeks are perfect for anglers, with fish abundant in the deep runs and riffles where they are competing for the forage and oxygen these areas provide. Water levels are lower than usual this spring, causing fish to be much more concentrated and an easier catch. Anglers are reporting large trout coming from various bodies of water, whether fly fishing or spin fishing. And beginning April 14, anglers can keep their legal limits where regulations allow. White bass are being pulled from the Zumbro River, however they have not yet appeared below the dam at Lake Zumbro. Water temperatures are hovering around 56-degrees, and smallmouth bass will begin to spawn once water temperatures rise to roughly 62-degrees. This generally doesn't occur until the middle of May. These early spring conditions have graced the entire area with an abundant beauty, including some amazing fishing opportunities. 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
George, Fox and Tuttle lakes are giving up quite a few crappies and perch to anglers using minnows; on George and Fox, hit depths of 8-12 feet. Budd Lake is producing crappies, catfish and perch in 8-12 feet of water, with minnows working best. For lots of perch, hit North Silver and Iowa lakes. And anglers fishing Sisseton are catching crappies, bluegills and perch when using waxworms and minnows in 8-12 foot depths. 1-800-657-3280;
www.fairmontcvb.comOrtonville - Big Stone Lake
Anglers are excited about the upcoming walleye season opener on Big Stone Lake on April 21, an early opening date since this is a SD/MN border water. Recent high winds should turn the lake crystal clear, and the spawn should be well underway or complete by the time of the opener--this will set the stage for a great season opener. A few shore anglers have already been fishing for perch, however success has been fair. It seems the boat anglers are holding off awhile, anxiously awaiting the walleye, largemouth bass and northern pike seasons that will open shortly. 1-800-568-5722;
www.bigstonelake.com
