Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update Jan. 16, 2014 Another nice weekend is in store for Minnesota, with mild and more seasonable temperatures in the forecast for Saturday and Sunday. Fishing is expected to heat up as more stable weather patterns take hold this weekend.
Refresh your knowledge of ice safety guidelines on the Minnesota DNR's website, and remember to check ice conditions often. Please remember that temperature, snow cover, currents, springs and rough fish all affect the stability of ice which could be two feet thick in one place and one inch thick a few yards away. It is important to check ice depth at least every 150 feet. According to the Minnesota DNR, 4 inches of new, clear ice is the minimum thickness recommended for travel by foot. A minimum of 5 inches is recommended for snowmobiles and ATV's, and at least 8-12 inches is advised for cars and small trucks. Items recommended for checking ice thickness include an ice chisel, ice auger, cordless drill and a tape measure. Anglers heading out onto the ice should also carry ice claws and a long rope, and wear a floatation device and ice cleats. Consult with a local bait shop or lakeside resort for the most current ice conditions.
The fishing season for walleye, sauger, northern pike, largemouth and smallmouth bass remains open through Feb. 23, 2014. Smallmouth bass, however, are catch-and-release only through Feb. 23. The winter season for lake trout within the BWCA runs Jan. 4 through March 31, 2014; outside of the BWCA, Jan. 18-March 31, 2014.
Anglers may obtain fishing licenses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by dialing 1-888-665-4236, or accessing DNR License Sales.
This report is brought to you by Explore Minnesota Tourism.
Northeast Minnesota
International Falls - Rainy Lake & the Rainy River
Walleye anglers are taking the most fish early in the day, with jigs and minnows working best. Houses are springing up in Sand Bay, but the best reports have been coming from the area a little west of Grindstone Island. Rainy Lake City continues to be the hot spot for large northern pike. The National Park Service has opened the ice road around Dryweed Island and up to Dove Bay, and this will provide easier access to some great fishing holes. Voyageurs National Park snowmobile and recreation trails are all open and tracked. The lake surface snowmobile trails may have some pockets of slush nearby so it's best to stay on the staked trails. The International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club reports grooming on all of the trails to the east, south and west. With the additional snowfall, trail conditions should remain excellent. 800-325-5766;
www.rainylake.orgKabetogama
Voyageurs National Park staff have started work on the ice road, and this opens up access to some great ice fishing holes. The road runs from the Kabetogama Visitor Center to the Ash River Visitor Center, giving access to the Martin Islands, Nebraska Bay and Spunge Island, and placing you close to the Ash River Narrows. Angling and spearing were a bit off last week. Local anglers are eager to head out on the ice road to set up their permanent houses. Walleye action has been fair, but steady. Sauger and perch action is expected to greatly improve as anglers reach the mid-lake areas via the ice road. Live bait with glow jigs are working well in 25-35 foot depths. Gentle jigging versus fast movement will improve your odds. The land snowmobile trails are in excellent shape, and lake grooming may take place this week. 800-524-9085;
www.kabetogama.comEly
Walleye fishing has been somewhat sporadic, and some anglers are staying active by focusing on northern pike. Jigging for pike using small airplane jigs and spoons has been working for some, but live suckers or shiners under a tip-up or bobber remains the best method. Try fishing the edges of old weed beds where some smaller bait fish remain, or try the points that drop off to deeper waters where hungry pike are in search of an easy meal. Panfish anglers are having lots of success, especially when using small jigs tipped with waxworms for the sunnies, and small minnows under a slip bobber for lots of nice, eating-sized crappies. 800-777-7281;
www.ely.orgGrand Rapids
As of late last week, ice conditions in the Grand Rapids area were ideal for travel by snowmobiles, ATVs, and side-by-sides with chains or tracks; some lakes were also supporting light vehicles. Because of the large number of lakes in the area and the diversity of these waters, it is important to check with local bait shops and resorts for the most current conditions on the lakes you intend to fish. Bluegills and crappies were biting at the weedlines in 8-12 feet of water just off the steep ridges, with fish beginning to school up in the deeper holes. Light "noodle" rods helped detect these soft biting fish, and a downsized presentation with a waxworm or small crappie minnow was the most effective approach. Walleyes and northern pike remained active, especially during low light hours. Cloudy days were also productive. The shoreline structure adjacent to deeper waters were best. On the deeper lakes, such as Lake Pokegama, anglers were encouraged to start at the points that slid into 20-30 feet of water. On the larger area lakes such as Lake Winnibigoshish, feeding walleyes were found at the 18-24 foot humps that dropped to depths of 30 feet. Jigging spoons and rattle spoons tipped with a shiner head were best on one rod, and a full minnow under a bobber rod or "dead stick" was best in the second hole. Tip-ups with larger sucker minnows produced some large northern pike.
www.visitgrandrapids.comNorthwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
As the season progresses, fish are spreading out into deeper water on Lake of the Woods. The morning and evening bite has been good in 15-22 feet of water in some areas. The day bite has improved, with eating-sized fish coming from depths of 29-33 feet. In the first hole, use your favorite jigging spoon or drop shot tipped with a minnow head. In the dead stick hole, a light jig or plain red hook with a live minnow set 6 inches off the bottom has been best. Preferred colors are gold, glow, pink, and orange. Anglers report seeing lots of suspended, trophy-sized fish on their electronics. Measurements show roughly 21-25 feet of ice on most areas of the lake. On the Rainy River, limits are being taken during the day, with the larger fish very active during morning and evening hours. The best approach has been a chartreuse or pink jig tipped with a shiner set in 19-21 feet of water. Please note that the river ice varies greatly; check with local resorts and bait shops for the most current ice conditions. And up at the Northwest Angle, anglers report many trophy-sized walleye mixed in with their limits. Depths of 23-28 feet of water have been best. Monster perch and lots of crappies are also being reported. Use bright and/or glow colors and minnows for the best action. 800-382-FISH;
www.lakeofthewoodsmn.comCass Lake
The warmer temperatures have definitely improved the fishing! Lots of good fishing action was reported earlier this week, with fish biting well on Plantanganet, Pike Bay and Cass lakes. Some of the best reports came from anglers fishing during evening hours on Cass Lake. Roads have been plowed on the north end of Cass Lake. 800-356-8615;
www.casslake.comBena -Lake Winnibigoshish
As of late last week, ice thickness ranging from 10-16 inches on Lake Winnibigoshish. A couple of small roads had been plowed, mostly out to the shore drops on the west and south sides of the lake. Fishing was decent. Perch anglers were taking fish from 6-9 feet of water off the Mississippi River mouth and at the Third River. The main lake shore drops in depths of 13-22 feet were best for walleyes and northern pike. Travel was still best by sled or ATV.
www.lakewinnie.netHackensack
While anglers have been reporting lots of action on Leech Lake, Woman, Birch, and some of the smaller area lakes are producing fish as well, with anglers regularly picking up 1 or 2 walleyes each night. Crappies and sunnies have been showing up in the deeper waters. Most of these fish have been found just off the bottom rather than suspended. Small crappie minnows and waxworms on glow jigs have been best, especially due to the darker conditions created by the layer of snow covering the ice. 800-279-6932;
www.hackensackchamber.comPark Rapids
The ice conditions are great on lakes throughout the area. Most lakes have at least 16 inches of good ice, and cars and trucks are now driving out on many of them. The largest walleyes are being caught during early morning hours, from 6-8 a.m., when using a jig and minnow head in 16-22 feet of water. The Crow Wing Chain of Lakes, as well as Eagle and Island lakes, are all producing crappies at night. Anglers are taking them from 25-35 feet of water on tungsten ice jigs tipped with a wax worm or crappie minnow. Anglers report taking some really nice-sized northern pike from 8-12 feet of water on Fish Hook Lake. 800-247-0054;
www.parkrapids.comDetroit Lakes
Ice conditions are good for Detroit Lakes area lakes, but additional snow and some drifting due to high winds has limited travel on some of the lakes. Ice roads have been plowed roads, allowing easy vehicle access on the lakes. Snowmobiles or track rigs are recommended if traveling off the trails. Panfish action is currently best. The walleye bite has slowed, but some fish are still being taken. Early morning or late afternoon and early evening hours have been best. For sunnies, use small jigs or jigging spoons and waxworms. Crappies are responding best to minnows and plastics. Jigging has been better for walleyes than deadsticks or tip-ups. For the most fish, try jigging minnnows on buckshot rattles, Swedish pimples or jigging spoons in bright or glow colors. 800-542-3992;
www.visitdetroitlakes.comCentral Region
Otter Tail Lakes Country
Patterns have been difficult to predict, and fishing has slowed somewhat during this mid-January timeframe. Currently, panfish are producing the most action and can usually be found around the vegetation in many area lakes. Because panfish are a common food source for both northern pike and bass, if there is a school of panfish, most likely northern pike and bass can be found nearby. Northern pike are currently the most active predator fish, while walleye fishing has been slow. Historically, walleye fishing can be difficult during this time of the year. For those anglers reporting successful outings, walleyes are being pulled from 17-35 feet of water on fat heads and jigs. Glow hooks have also produced fish for night anglers, however, the best color of the glow hook will depend on the lake you're fishing. Vehicle travel on the lakes is fair; please use caution when driving any vehicle on the lakes. 800-423-4571;
www.ottertailcountry.comWhitefish - Whitefish Chain of Lakes Region
Ice conditions really improved on area lakes as a result of recent extreme cold temperatures penetrating the snowcover and building more ice. Still, some areas do remain unstable, and anglers must check ice depth often when venturing out. As of late last week, ice thickness ranged from 8-24 inches. Walleyes were being pulled from 24-36 feet of water on suckers, especially early and late in the day. Evening fishing had improved since the fish were schooling. Lots of crappie and panfish action was being reported in 8-12 foot depths.
www.whitefish.orgBrainerd Lakes Area
Walleyes have been difficult to predict, with a flurry of activity around sunset on one day, and then very little action the next. Don’t be afraid to move deeper this time of year, using set lines and jigging spoons. Crappies and sunnies have been hanging in 16-40 feet of water. The best way to locate schools of fish is to find the last remaining green vegetation; the deeper holes surrounded by weeds have been the most productive. A vexilar has been the key to success since panfish suspend themselves at a variety of depths throughout the day. 800-450-2838;
www.explorebrainerdlakes.comAitkin
On the north end of Lake Mille Lacs, roads are plowed out to the south end of Bombeck Flat and to the mud area. At Bombeck Flat, areas with thick snowcover had just over a foot of ice, and areas with minimal snowcover had 17 inches. More roads are planned, but plowing will have to wait until Friday due to the high winds today, Jan. 16. Expect more areas to open to anglers with portables by this weekend. 800-526-8342;
www.aitkin.comIsle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs
Most of the resorts that normally plow roads on Lake Mille Lacs have now done so, and they will continue to clean-up the roads and plow to new areas as they are able. There are still some slushy areas that anglers need to watch out for. Vehicle travel should only be on the plowed roads. If you choose to go "off-road," a snowmobile is your best choice. The walleye bite on Mille Lacs is best around first and last light. A few are being taken during overnight as well. During the day, expect a mix of smaller perch, northern pike, and an occasional tullibee. The best bet is to use a slender spoon or rattle spoon tipped with a piece of minnow on your jig line, and then a shiner or rainbow on a demon or moonglow on your set line. Depths of 23-28 feet seem to be best. 888-350-2692;
www.millelacs.comWillmar
Last weekend proved a bit more difficult than expected on area lakes. Balmy temperatures brought lots of anglers out, but not as many fish were caught. A variety of baits, techniques and depths, but no combination proved better than the other. Anglers should to catch some sunfish, walleyes and crappies when fishing Green Lake. On Eagle Lake, expect crappies and walleyes. Diamond Lake is giving up crappies, perch, sunfish and a few walleyes. And Willmar and Foot lakes are producing nice crappies, sunnies and walleyes. Fish houses are now set up on all area lakes, with fish being reported. 1-800-845-8747;
www.willmarlakesarea.comTwin Cities Greater Metropolitan vicinity
Northeast Metro/Chisago Lakes Area
Crappie anglers are doing well near the hospital on South Lindstrom Lake, with an occasional walleye also being taken. Walleye anglers are taking some fish on the flat at the beginning of the bay on Big Green Lake. Northern pike are also being pulled from this location. Northern pike and sunnies are active by the A-Frame down on Chisago Lake. Crappies are being taken here at night. 651/257-1177;
www.chisagolakeschamber.comWaconia/Lake Waconia
As of last week, fishing was very good on Lake Waconia. Most of the activity was in Waconia Bay, and at Center Reef and Pillsbury Reef. Northern pike anglers were taking lots of fish, with many weighing between 4- and 12-pounds. Small to medium sucker minnows were working best in 10-14 feet of water. Walleyes continued to bite, although the majority of fish were under the legal size limit of 16 inches. Sunnies and crappies remained plentiful, with anglers having the most success in depths of 10-14 feet. Sunnies were active, hitting waxworms and larva; crappies were also biting, but preferring crappie minnows. The best time of day for crappie fishing was after 3 p.m., although anglers were doing well during the day. Most of the ice on Lake Waconia ranged from 18- to 24-inches thick, however, there were still some areas with as little as 10 inches of ice. 952-442-5812;
www.destinationwaconia.orgSouthern Minnesota
Lanesboro -Southeast Bluff Country Trout Streams
As of Jan. 8, most streams were frozen over with very little if any access to open water to fish. This weekend should quickly change these conditions. Please note that Trout Run is currently closed. Fish were caught on the Winter Stream Trout Catch-and-Release Opener! As of Jan. 3, stream conditions were clear and low for most area streams, creeks and rivers. The Whitewater Stream was mostly clear, with normal water levels. As updates on stream conditions become available, they are posted on the Southeast Minnesota Stream Conditions web page. 800-944-2670;
www.lanesboro.com
