
Overall, minnows continue to produce lots of walleye at the emerging weeds. Leeches are also turning good numbers of fish.
Anglers are asked to fish bodies of water close to home, and practice social distancing at the boat landings and shorelines.
For most inland waters, Minnesota fishing opener dates are as follows:
- May 9: Walleye, sauger, northern pike, bass (catch-and-release) and lake trout
- June 6: Muskie
- Continuous: Crappies, sunnies, perch and catfish
For rules, regulations and other helpful information on fishing in Minnesota, consult the DNR’s Fish Minnesota web page.
[Northeast] [Northwest] [Central] [Minneapolis-St. Paul Area] [Southern]
Northwest Minnesota
Baudette – Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
A strong walleye bite is being reported in 17-28 feet of water on the south end of Lake of the Woods. Anglers will find some schools in the shallows feeding on minnows, and others in deeper waters feeding on insects emerging from the mud. Good reports are coming from a variety of areas along the south shore including the Knight/Bridges Island area. Anchored up and vertically jigging a minnow or frozen emerald shiner has been very successful. Jigs in gold, pink and/or orange have been hard to beat. Drifted spinners and trolled crank baits are also turning fish, with a nice mix of eater-, slot- and trophy-sized fish being taken. Some large northern pike and jumbo perch have been in the mix.
On the Rainy River, nice walleye continue to come from depths of 12-24 feet of water on jigs and minnows. The edge of the river channel in Four Mile Bay is also giving up some walleye. Anglers report good numbers of smallmouth bass coming from the rocky areas, current breaks, bridges and rip-rap areas. Some large northern pike continue to be pulled from the bays.
Up at the Northwest Angle, the US/Canada border remains closed, but guests can stay in Minnesota and travel across the lake to fish. Some resorts are offering transport service across the lake to the Northwest Angle, and various south shore resorts are offering parking for guests of Northwest Angle resorts. Anglers fishing the Angle are catching good numbers of walleye when jigging the rocky points and reefs near islands in 10-22 feet of water. Some good fish are also coming in on crank baits worked in 8-12 feet of water. Large northern pike have been very active in the bays and at the creek mouths. Smallmouth bass are eager to bite in the bays and at the shallow rocks. 800-382-FISH; www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com
Bemidji
The walleye bite has improved as water temperatures continue to slowly rise. Water temperatures range from the low- to mid-60s on most area lakes. The emerging weedlines are turning lots of fish on jigs tipped with minnows, and the mid-lake structure is starting to produce as well. Trolling shallow-running crank baits over some of the bars and cabbage in 6-8 feet of water is also producing walleye from dusk until midnight. Look to Bemidji, Grace, Plantagenet and Andrusia lakes for lots of action.
Crappies and bluegills can be found tucked up close to the emerging reeds in 3-6 feet of water. The best presentation has been a small jig and plastic. Bass fishing has been excellent for anglers using swim jigs or jigs with plastics up in the shallows. Northern pike are hitting pretty much anything you throw at them along the weed edges.
As always, please remember to practice selective harvesting — by doing so, we will continue to have great fishing for years to come! 800-458-2223; www.visitbemidji.com
Walker – Leech Lake
Water temperatures on Leech Lake rose into the low 60s last week and walleye fishing picked up nicely. With the addition of some wind, walleye size and numbers were excellent. The winds calmed over the holiday weekend and fewer large fish were taken. Anglers still had success with nice numbers of 13- to 15-inch walleye, along with an occasional 20-plus inch fish. A few perch and northern pike were also reported. Shiners were plentiful and the bait of choice, however, leeches and crawlers presented slowly on the rocks also produced fish. Expect the next two weeks to offer some of the best fishing of the year.
Other area lakes gave up lots of crappies over the holiday weekend. Plastics started to out-fish live bait. Successful anglers tossed small 1/32-ounce jigs into the new weed growth to locate fish. Once located, jigs tipped with minnows or plastics worked extremely well, especially during low light hours. Smallmouth bass were active at the rocks in 9-12 feet of water, with jerk baits and jigs turning lots of fish. Largemouth bass responded well to spinner baits, chatter baits and swim jigs in the shallow bays. Once found, plastics on senkos and ned rigs produced fish when presented slowly. Walleye continue to respond to jig and minnow combinations in waters less than five feet deep. Fish holding in depths of 9-12 feet readily took rigs, jig raps and plastics. Try it all and keep moving until you find active fish.
Please note that Minnesota fishing guides are available to take groups of two anglers out for a day of fishing! 800-833-1118; www.leech-lake.com
Central Region
Brainerd Area Lakes
Walleye anglers fishing Gull Lake last weekend had the most success at night. Stick baits trolled on any of the flats in 6-12 feet of water produced well. North Long, Hubert and Pelican lakes gave up fish during daylight hours at the emerging cabbage beds. Slip bobbers with leeches or spot tail shiners turned lots of fish. The smaller area lakes are beginning to give up nice walleye to anglers pulling leeches and spinners, as well as leeches under as slip bobbers.
Panfish have all been very active, with crappies starting to spawn in the larger area lakes. Bluegills are still staging but it won’t be long now that water temperatures are in the mid-60s.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass continue to stage. Northern pike action remains hot along the shoreline breaks heading into basin areas. Speed-trolling jerk baits and spoons have worked well. 218-825-0410; www.visitbrainerd.com
Isle/Onamia – Lake Mille Lacs
Walleye have been extremely active on Lake Mille Lacs. Presentations producing fish include 1/4-ounce long-shank fireball jigs tipped with a minnow worked in 8-26 feet of water, and rigged leeches and minnows worked in 20-32 feet of water.
The smallmouth bass are active in depths of 12 feet or less. These bass are at a variety of spawning stages, such as pairing, bedding, cruising and schooled. Depending on the day, jerk baits, swim baits, hair, and fat tubes dragged over the rocky transitions and drop-offs are working well. 888-350-2692; www.millelacs.com
Willmar
Anglers continue to enjoy great fishing in many area lakes. The warmer temperatures have helped increase the bite as fish become ever more active. Walleye action remains high around sunset and sunrise, with fish responding well to spot tail shiners. Popular walleye lake include Foot, Willmar, Long, Big Kandiyohi, Norway and Ringo.
Sunfish and bass have been eager to bite on Lake Calhoun according to anglers using night crawlers and sucker minnows during morning hours near the weedlines. Crappies remain active near the shallows on Foot, Nest and Elkhorn lakes, with night crawlers working extremely well. 800-845-8747; www.willmarlakesarea.com
Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
Stillwater – St. Croix River
The St. Croix River continues to give up nice numbers of walleye to anglers using crawlers and crank baits in 12-21 feet of water. Crank baits are also producing fish. 651-351-1717; www.discoverstillwater.com
Waconia – Lake Waconia
Roughly one week ago, Lake Waconia water temperatures were in the upper 50s which stalled the crappie and sunfish spawn. Anglers found fish at a variety of depths. This weekend, expect most of the panifsh to have moved into the shallows. Bass have been biting well in the shallow reeds, by Peterson’s Creek (carp trap area), and by the Rock Dock in Wagener’s Bay. Northern pike in a range of sizes have been reported. Some walleye anglers have taken fish from Harm’s Point, parts of Center Reef, North Reef and the Clay. 952-442-5812; www.destinationwaconia.org
Southern Minnesota
Lanesboro/Preston – Southeast Bluff Country Rivers and Streams
As of Tuesday, May 19, the streams were recovering from heavy rainfall on Sunday. While most were absorbing the extra water well, the most southeastern streams were in the best condition. Nearly all of the streams and rivers were expected to be running clear with a normal water flow by the weekend.
The Stream Trout harvest season is open. Maps are available under the “Area Highlights” tab on the Lanesboro Fisheries web page. 800-944-2670; www.lanesboro.com
Ortonville – Big Stone Lake
Last week, anglers trolling spinners and crawlers, crank baits and leeches on Big Stone Lake were taking nice numbers of walleye. The best depths were 10-13 feet of water. There were also good reports coming from anglers fishing just off shore and on the rock piles during evening hours. The perch bite was good off the docks and along the shorelines in depths of 3-5 feet of water. Minnows and spikes turned the majority of fish. The bass and bluegill bite was heating up, with panfish leeches producing giant bluegills. Anglers were asked to please return the largest bluegills to help retain the health of the fishery. 320-839-3284; www.bigstonelake.com
Visit the Explore Minnesota Fishing & Hunting page for information to help you plan your next Minnesota fishing trip!
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If you plan on introducing your child to fishing, the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer’s What Kind of Fish is That? is a lovely and informative guide you and your child will enjoy together.
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