Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update - Aug. 14, 2015 This week’s rising air temperatures are causing water temperatures to slowly climb. Leeches and crawlers continue to be top producers, but jigs with minnows are once again producing walleye. Most reports indicate that the weed beds are where anglers will find the majority of fish.
Minnesota fishing opener dates for the 2015/2016 fishing season for most inland waters are as follows: walleye, sauger, northern pike and lake trout, May 9; bass, May 23; muskie, June 6. The fishing season for crappies, sunnies, perch and catfish is continuous. Seasons and regulations vary for certain boundary waters and some individual lakes and rivers--consult the Minnesota DNR Fishing Basics web page for the most current information.
Northeast Minnesota
International Falls - Rainy Lake & the Rainy River
Walleye anglers are doing well in the deeper waters of Rainy Lake when using jigs tipped with leeches, and when drifting with a bottom bouncer or spinner rig tipped with a minnow. This approach is also producing some crappies and smallmouth bass. The best smallmouth bite, however, has been along the windward points on the islands and along the southern shoreline. Some trophy northern pike are being pulled from Black Bay. Rainy River walleye are chasing shiner minnows in 12-18 feet of water. Sturgeon fishing will be the main focus this weekend during the North American Sturgeon Championship at Birchdale. While this is a catch-and-release tournament, the tag season is open on Rainy River. 800-325-5766;
www.rainylake.orgKabetogama
Anglers are having success using a variety of techniques on Lakes Kabetogama and Namakan including slip bobbers, slip sinker rigs, trolling, jig and minnow combinations, and lead-lining. The key to limits is to remain versatile, and try different methods, locations, depths and baits when necessary. Walleye remain scattered at varying depths and structure. Leeches and crawlers are working best on a slip sinker rig with a 2- to 4-foot snell; some anglers are adding a spinner so boat speed must be adjusted accordingly. The highlight has been the number of large fish being reported, with northern pike measuring up to 42-inches, walleye up to 27-inches in length, and some 20-inch smallies too. The result has been a lot of happy anglers! While walleye under 17-inches have been difficult to find, the large number of walleye under 11-inches indicates that the population will remain strong. Anglers are also having success with the sauger and jumbo perch, and the northern pike and smallmouth bass action is on the increase. The best advice is to check your high definition map, locate structure that has a shallow shelf near deep water, and work the deep edges with artificial lures, or hit the open weed pockets using a slip bobber. Everyone is enjoying all the blueberries! 800-524-9085;
www.kabetogama.comEly
The walleye bite remains fairly consistent, with crawlers and leeches still turning the most fish. The rock piles and submerged reefs in 8-20 feet of water are generally best for success. Dunking baits between the rocks will produce more walleye than trolling the mud flats. Spinner rigs are working well as search tools. Smallmouth bass are hitting surface and sub-surface lures worked along the rocky shorelines. The vast majority of bass have been taken from 3-10 feet of water, but a few lunkers up to 6-pounds have been caught by anglers using deep-running crank baits down to 20 feet. Some bragging-size northern pike have been reported over the past week, with large crank baits and spinners turning most of these fish--the larger pike are running deeper than the hammer handles. The best place to start your search is at the deep drops adjacent to weedlines, and mud flats or points jutting out from shore. Crappie action is best when the sun drops behind the trees, with many of the slabs turning most active at dusk so be prepared with a good light source and don't forget the insect repellent. 800-777-7281;
www.ely.orgDuluth - Lake Superior and inland waters
Deeper, cooler waters and structure have been key to success. The inland bite is going well with bluegills, crappies, bass, northern pike and walleye being reported. Trolling double-jointed rapalas has been the best bet for walleye, especially during early morning hours, and from early evening until past nightfall. Muskie are starting to show up more frequently. Lake Superior is producing lots of fish as well. Lake trout have been the most active, however, charters are catching lots of "bonus fish" including walleye, brown trout, and king salmon. Work depths of 80-150 feet for the most active fish, and be sure to use down riggers, lead line and/or snap weights on Lake Superior this time of year. Walleye anglers should concentrate on shallower waters, using typical long line presentations. 800-438-5884;
www.visitduluth.comGrand Rapids
The weed beds have been a better choice than deep structure many species. Weed beds near or surrounded by deep water offer fish shade, oxygen, and lots of forage options. Walleye anglers report that trolling spinners with half a crawler or 2- to 3-inch minnow has worked well. Expect walleye and some bonus northern pike when trolling these presentations over the tops or along the outside edges of the weeds. For consistent pike action, troll minnow-type baits on the weed edges. Bass also prefer weed beds this time of year, with lots of fish coming from the weeds on crank baits, plastic baits fished weedless, and jig and pig combinations.
www.visitgrandrapids.comNorthwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
Limits of walleye and sauger are being pulled from Lake of the Woods, along with nice numbers of trophy-size fish. Most of the successful anglers are drifting through 18-22 feet of water with spinners and bottom bouncers, hammered gold or orange blades, and leeches or crawlers. Anglers using a jigging technique are doing well with gold or bubblegum colors and a frozen shiner in 27-33 feet of water. Down rigging and trolling is working well in 7-9 and 28-30 foot depths when trolling at 2.5 mph. Areas to check out on the south end of the lake are Morris Point Gap, the Zippel Bay jetty, Long Point, and in front of Pine Island. Across the lake, check the reefs over Little Oak and the West Bar of Garden Island. On the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing remains great, especially east of Timbermill Park heading towards Clementson and Birchdale. Walleye anglers are also doing well. For the most fish, hit the shorelines and deep pockets in 19-20 feet of water using gold or pink lures. 800-382-FISH;
www.lakeofthewoodsmn.comBemidji
Hot weather returned this week causing surface water temperatures to rise back into the mid-70s. Another algae bloom has appeared, and the green-tinted water is reducing visibility in many area lakes. Be sure to use bright colors or lures with some flash and vibration to help fish locate your bait. A safety pin spinner with either live bait or a plastic tail is a great technique when slowly- trolling panfish lakes, or casting and trolling weed flats for walleye and perch. Rip jigging a 1/4- or 3/8- ounce jig with a plastic fluke or plastic paddle tail can be aggressively hopped or ripped through and around the weeds – the technique will catch the attention of most gamefish species including walleye, northern pike, largemouth and smallmouth bass. While walleye fishing has slowed in many lakes, the algae-tinted water gives anglers a chance to catch walleye during the day in some lakes, even in the heat of summer. Bottom bouncers seem to work best when the water is the warmest. Jigs with minnows are once again producing walleye which is normally the case late in the summer. Panfish anglers are catching crappies and sunnies in many of the smaller area lakes -- use ultralight rods with 4- or 6-pound test line to nice numbers of fish. The best areas have been on the edge of the cabbage, coontail or northern milfoil weeds, and suspended over water as deep as 25 feet. Anglers have been finding bass in some of the heaviest weeds when the bass are competing with several other gamefish species. If bass are the dominant fish in a lake, more bass will be on the outside edge of the weeds or at the mid-lake structure. 800-458-2223;
www.visitbemidji.comWalker - Leech Lake
Leech Lake anglers are having success when pulling crankbaits and spinner rigs on the flats and rocks piles. Evening fishing has been the most productive, especially at Walker Bay on to Cedar Point. Fishing with slip bobbers or pulling crankbaits has been best. The key is to remain mobile and cover lots of water. Fishing has been good for crappies, bluegill and bass on many of the smaller area lakes. These are a great option when windy days make it tough to fish Leech Lake. 800-833-1118;
www.leech-lake.comDetroit Lakes Area Lakes
The increase in temperature and bright sunshine have caused the walleye to turn sluggish. When there is cloud cover and the wind picks up, however, the fish turn more cooperative. Most of the walleye can be found in 20-28 feet of water using rigs with live bait, jigs tipped with minnows, or jigging rapalas. Some crappie action is being reported on the large flats and edges of the flats by anglers rip-jigging or trolling beetlespin-type rigs. Sunfish seem to be active anywhere there are weed beds, hitting pieces of crawler or plastics. Multiple species are still responding to leeches – unfortunately, they’re becoming harder to find. Northern pike are active on the deep drop edges at the outside edge of the weedlines. Anglers casting, trolling or working large sucker minnows on rigs are finding fish. Muskie action has been best for anglers chunking baits on Pelican and Big Detroit lakes. 800-542-3992;
www.visitdetroitlakes.comCentral Region
Otter Tail Lakes Area
Walleye anglers are having success using leeches, crawlers, and jigs in 13-20 foot depths. Northern pike have been active in the 15-20 foot weeds, responding to sucker minnows and spoons. Bass are being taken from the 8-15 foot weeds on spinnerbaits, and jigs tipped with minnows. The panfish bite remains good on many area lakes. Muskie anglers are having success when casting jakes into the 20 foot weeds during early morning and evening hours. 800-423-4571;
www.ottertailcountry.comBrainerd Lakes Area
While the bite has slowed a bit, good-sized fish continue to be taken. On the Mississippi River, the bluegill action remains excellent, especially during evening hours. Most fish have been found at the rice in 8-12 feet of water, with a 1/16-ounce colorless jig and half a crawler being the best presentation. Lots of smallmouth bass were also taken while fishing for bluegills, including fish weighing up to 4.5 pounds. Anglers are pulling largemouth bass from the river as well. The best approach is to run lures around and above the submerged logs in 4-6 foot depths -- pause a moment when you hit the logs, then hold on tight! **** Anglers recently fishing a small lake in Pillsbury State Forest reported lots of crappies, bluegills, and a few northern pike. The best action was along the edge of a break in 13-15 feet of water. Nothing fancy was necessary, just red hooks and minnows, or small jigs/puddle jumpers tipped with a minnow. The key was to stay mobile, and move with the fish. And on other area lakes, largemouth bass have been scattered throughout the water column. For the most action, cast deep-diving crank baits that imitate crawfish. 800-450-2838;
www.explorebrainerdlakes.comIsle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs
The smallmouth bass bite on Lake Mille Lacs is taking place in deeper waters this week. These fish can be found in good numbers in 12-18 feet of water off the deeper rock structure. Use a drop shot rig with a smaller bait or short tubes for the most action. The darker colored plastics have been producing the most fish -- consider colors such as black and pumpkin, or a dark green watermelon. Northern pike are abundant in the weeds of Lake Mille Lacs bays. The best bet is to start in 10-12 feet of water, working the weedlines and cabbage beds. Trolled spoons and sucker minnows under a bobber have produced good numbers of fish. Anglers are also having some luck when throwing spinner baits at the reed edges and shorelines. The muskie bite has just started to heat up. The most successful anglers are pulling large crank baits on the deep mud flats, with a few nice fish also coming off the cabbage beds on the south end of the lake. Expect the bite to continually improve through this fall. 888-350-2692;
www.millelacs.comWillmar Lakes Area
Northern pike, bass and sunfish remain very active on most area lakes, with fish responding well to angle worms, wax worms, and small leeches. Anglers continue to catch panfish off the fishing pier on Foot Lake near Rau Park. Walleye continue to bite on Green Lake in 22-32 foot depths. Eagle and Diamond lakes are also producing walleye. The key is to cover more water to locate fish. 800-845-8747;
www.willmarlakesarea.comTwin Cities Greater Metropolitan vicinity
White Bear Area Lakes
White Bear and Bald Eagle lakes are producing bass at the weed edges. Anglers using spinner baits, and Texas-rigged worms are having the most success. Sunnies are biting on the weed edges throughout the day, hitting angle worms, and panfish leeches. Crappie anglers are taking fish from the weed edges during evening hours. For the most slabs, use crappie minnows and twister tail jigs. Some muskie are being taken, however, few large fish have been reported. 651/653-5122;
www.ExploreWhiteBear.orgSouthern Minnesota
Red Wing– Pool 4 of the Mississippi River
The flathead catfish bite is moving out to the main channel on the Mississippi River. For the most action, use live bullheads, sucker minnows and cut suckers in the main channel around the tips of the wing dams or any underwater structure. Channel cats are being taken on dip baits worked along the rip rap shorelines. Current seams and wooden structure are also good for the larger fish, especially when using cut sucker minnows and chicken livers. There have been reports of walleye coming from the head of Lake Pepin. Successful anglers are using half of a crawler or a leech on dragging jigs being pulled down stream. Some larger fish are coming in on chrome or blue stick baits worked in 12 feet of water. The northern pike bite remains strong for anglers using 6- to 8-inch sucker minnows under a float. Pike can be found staying cool at the mouths of most tributaries entering Pool 4. Bluegill, crappies and white bass are being caught at most wooden structure in low current areas. For the most fish, use a light jig with a piece of crawler or waxworm. Some anglers are also having success pitching light hair jigs to the shoreline in low current areas. 800-498-3444;
www.redwing.orgLanesboro -Southeast Bluff Country Trout Streams
As of Monday, Aug. 10, most area streams and rivers monitored by fisheries staff were in good shape with mostly clear water and a normal flow. The week prior, staff noted trico spinner falls at Forestville State Park. Anglers are encouraged to check water temperatures since anything over 66F may be too warm for good fishing. As updates on stream conditions become available, they are posted on the Southeast Minnesota Stream Conditions web page. You are also welcome to call the office for updates at 507-467-2442. Anglers are encouraged to stop by a DNR Fisheries office in southeast Minnesota to pick up a copy of the new 2015 Trout Angling Opportunities in Southern and Central Minnesota booklet. Check the DNR Fisheries web page for locations. 800-944-2670;
www.lanesboro.comOrtonville - Big Stone Lake
Fishing has slowed on Big Stone Lake. Perch anglers are having some success at Manhattan Reef, GrapeVine Reef, BayView, Buck's Point, Windmill Reef, and off Cramer's Resort. Perch remain light biters, but anglers can catch some nice fish when persistent. A few bluegill and an occasional walleye are also being reported. For the most action, tip a hook or lure with spikes or a piece of nightcrawler, and make sure it reaches the bottom of the lake. 800-568-5722;
www.bigstonelake.comAnglers may obtain fishing licenses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by dialing 1-888-665-4236, or accessing DNR License Sales.
