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Anglers continue to take walleye, but this week’s high winds made the bite a bit tougher some days. Live bait rigs with crawlers or leeches are turning fish, but jig and minnow combinations are also producing well. Look towards the deep weed edges — remember, fish like to hide in structure to ambush their prey.
Anglers are asked to fish bodies of water close to home, and practice social distancing at the boat landings and shorelines.
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
The south end of Lake of the Woods is giving up lots of walleye. A few patterns are working well. Some walleye remain shallow, in 4-10 feet of water. These fish are responding to crawler harnesses and crank baits. Walleye can also be found on or near the structure when using a jig with a frozen shiner or leech in 15-30 feet of water. Some anglers are doing well when drifting crawler harnesses through depths of 23-28 feet. Gold, pink, orange, yellow, gold or a combination of these colors continue to work well. Some large northern pike are coming from the shallows.
On the Rainy River, smallmouth bass have been very active around the bridges and rocky areas. Northern pike are cruising the bays, bay mouths and current breaks. Walleye are responding to jig and minnow combinations worked in 15-25 feet of water. The sturgeon “keep one” season opens July 1st. All sturgeon must be 45-50 inches, or 75 inches in length.
Up at the Northwest Angle, walleye fishing has been great for anglers pulling spinners with minnows or crawlers in 12-23 feet of water. Jigging the rocky points in 10-20 feet of water where fish are schooling is still effective, with northern pike, jumbo perch and smallmouth bass showing also being taken. Guests can travel across the lake and stay in Minnesota waters until the U.S. / Canada border opens. Check with your favorite Northwest Angle resort for details.
As temperatures warm, it is especially important to learn how to properly handle and release fish. Learn more at Master the Skill of Quickly and Effectively Releasing A Fish, courtesy of www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com. 800-382-FISH; www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com
Bemidji
Anglers continue to take walleye, but the bite has been a bit tougher this week due to high winds and mayfly hatches. Live bait rigs with crawlers or leeches are turning some walleye, but jigs and minnows continue to produce as well. Look towards the deep weed edges and some of the sharper shoreline breaks on Bemidji, Andrusia, Wolf and Plantagenet lakes for the most action.
Northern pike are attacking just about anything tossed along the weed edges. Bass fishing remains excellent on most area lakes for anglers using shaky head jigs and tubes along the deeper weedlines. Crappies and bluegills and being pulled from 10-12 foot depths in and around the cabbage weeds.
As always, please remember to practice selective harvesting — by doing so, great fishing will continue for years to come. 800-458-2223; www.visitbemidji.com
Walker – Leech Lake
Leech Lake is in a summer transition period, with crayfish molting, bugs hatching and walleye on the move. On calm days, look for walleye in 12-16 feet of water, and sometimes as deep as 18-20 feet of water. When the wind blows, the baitfish often move up shallow and the walleye are right behind. A jig and minnow remains a great tactic, but some days crawlers or leeches on a rig, or spinners on a crawler harness are preferred. Concentrate on transition areas such as the gravel/rock/sand to mud transitions, especially when the wind is blowing into these areas. The main lake rocks around Pelican, Big Rock, Ivan’s and Sandy Beach are starting to give up more fish. On the west side of the lake, Traders Bay, Little Stoney, 2nd Duck and the West Goose Flats are still kicking out fish.
Muskie fishing has been slow but a few reports continue to come in from anglers trolling the basin areas or just off the structure. Casting small bucktails or inline spinners at the emergent weed beds can also work well.
Lots of smallmouth bass have been mixed in with the walleye. For the most action, key in on the rock and sand flats, casting small crank baits, jerk baits or topwater lures on calm days. Classic tubes should also turn fish.
Other area lakes are also producing walleye, and the fish have been scattered. Some fish are coming from the shallow rocks in less than 5 feet of water, responding to jigs tipped with a minnow, plastic or half a crawler pitched to the weeds. Rigging live bait (minnows, crawlers or leeches) in depths of 10-14 feet is also working well. Since different baits are working at different times, bring along a variety. Another tactic to consider is working a jig rap in water deeper than 15 feet.
Largemouth bass anglers are doing well when throwing weightless senkos into or just off the pads and weeds. Smallmouth bass are at the rocks, responding to jerk baits during the day, and topwater lures during low light hours.
The panfish have moved out deeper on area lakes. Slip bobber rigs, small jigs and minnows remain the most productive techniques. The bite will really heat up as the days turn warmer. 800-833-1118; www.leech-lake.com
Park Rapids
Bass, northern pike, walleye and panfish are all providing great fishing opportunities throughout the Park Rapids lakes area.
Walleye are coming from a variety of depths, but waters 12-17 feet deep have been best this week. Leeches are producing the most fish when tipped on an orange 1/8-ounce jig head.
Look for bass along any shoreline cover, under docks, at the weed beds and at the deep weedlines. White spinnerbaits and black plastic worms are working very well in 6-12 foot depths. Northern pike can also be found in these areas, but pike prefer a little larger presentation with a lot more flash, especially at the thicker weeds.
Sunnies and crappies are still hanging at the weed beds just outside their spawning areas. Look for them in 5-10 feet of water using a 1/16-ounce jig and small white or grey plastic curly tail grub, cast and slowly retrieved through the weeds about 3 feet under the surface. 800-247-0054; www.parkrapids.com
Detroit Lakes
Walleye are moving off the shallow flats to deeper waters on the extended points and bars. Some fish remain shallow during high winds and cloud cover, but many fish have transitioned to depths of 16-22 feet. A variety of presentations are producing fish.
Bass are at the shallow docks, lifts, rip rap, dead fall and weed beds in roughly 8-12 feet of water. Northern pike are feeding in depths of 8-15 feet, but some of the larger fish are holding off the sharp breaks in deeper water. The crappies continue to relate to the cabbage weeds, with anglers taking fish over the weed tops in 9-15 feet.
Water temperatures in the Detroit Lakes area are in the upper 60s to low 70s. Weed development has been significant over the last week to ten days. 800-542-3992; www.visitdetroitlakes.com
Central Region
Brainerd Area Lakes
The walleye bite is best during low light hours, but fish are being taken in the middle of the day as well. Anglers having the most success are fishing the windblown weed points, inside turns, and windblown rock structure. Leeches on spinners, jigs or slip bobbers have been working well. The key has been to cover water, find active fish, then slow down and work them thoroughly.
The largemouth bass have been very active and can be found in many locations, but the larger fish have been most active near and under the docks lately.
Most bluegills have completed their spawn. The crappie bite has really increased with active fish found in depths of 8-14 feet.
Northern pike are still very active on the shoreline breaks in 10-14 feet of water. Large wood and rubber lures are working well. 218-825-0410; www.visitbrainerd.com
Isle/Onamia – Lake Mille Lacs
Lake Mille Lacs is the second largest lake in the state, and when the wind picks up, the waves are very impressive. And yet, the fish keep on biting! The water temperatures remain at roughly 66- to 69-degrees.
Walleye fishing continues to be nothing short of spectacular. The best depths for walleye vary, with some coming from 8-18 feet of water, and others found at the gravel/mud flats in 24-32 feet if water. Evening hours are best. Lots of 18- to 22-inch fish are being reported, but walleye measuring over 24 inches are also being taken. Bobber fishing, lindy rigging, bottom bouncing, and throwing artificials are all working well.
The amazing bass bite continues as well. Most bass are now at the tail-end of their spawn or post-spawn. The best presentations for bass have been jerk baits, ned rigs and swim baits.
Check out current lake conditions at the Mille Lacs Lake Webcams web page. 888-350-2692; www.millelacs.com
Willmar
Windy conditions made it difficult out on the lakes recently, but anglers still caught plenty of walleye and crappies. The most productive lakes have been Big Kandiyohi, Willmar and Foot. Anglers are having the most success using a nightcrawler on a spinner rig.
Large northern pike are being pulled from Norway Lake. Panfish and walleye remain active on Green Lake, especially during evening hours. For the most action, try the new green crawlers at area bait stores. 800-845-8747; www.willmarlakesarea.com
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