Walleye anglers are having success in the deeper waters and at the shallow weedlines. In the deeper waters, try jigs or live bait rigs tipped with large minnows. At the shallow weeds, try crawlers or leeches for a variety of fish. Trolling crank baits at night has also been good for walleye.
Anglers are asked to fish bodies of water close to home, and practice social distancing at the boat landings and shorelines. Learn more about safer ways to travel at Explore Minnesota’s COVID-19 Information page.
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]
Park Rapids
Walleye are coming from depths of 13-17 feet on nightcrawlers and jigs. Rainbow chubs are also working well on any live bait rig.
Northern pike are being caught by anglers casting or trolling spinner baits over the tops of the weed flats in 6-12 foot depths. Chartreuse has been the color of choice lately.
Long line trolling small 1/16-ounce jigs along the top edge of the weedlines has been good for crappie anglers. A white 2-inch gulp twister tail has been the best addition to the jig. 800-247-0054; www.parkrapids.com
Detroit Lakes
Water temperatures in the Detroit Lakes area have dropped from 80 degrees to the mid-70s due to recent rainfall and cool evenings. Lake and river levels are extremely high for this time of the year. On the clear deep lakes, walleye continue to hold in depths of 20-28 feet. Rigs and minnows have started to produce fish, but crawlers and leeches remain the most effective. Jigging raps and rippin’ raps continue to produce fish, as do bouncers and spinners. The shallow lakes are giving up walleye in the deepest waters and at the weed edges.
Smallmouth bass have been very aggressive in the shallows on Lida and Island lakes. Anglers are also catching smallies when pitching plastics deep on Cormorant and Pelican lakes. Minnows and crawlers are working well at the sand/gravel areas. Largemouth bass are coming from the shallow shorelines, as well as the weed edges along the first breaks to deep water.
Larger northern pike are in deeper waters off the sharp breaks on area lakes. Lots of smaller pike are coming from the weeds and weed edges.
Panfish action has been excellent. Crappies are relating to the edges of large flats with breaks to deep water. For the most fish, hit depths of 7-11 feet. The sunfish bite remains very strong in the shallows, off the docks, off the breaks and in the deeper waters. 800-542-3992; www.visitdetroitlakes.com
Central Region
Otter Tail Area Lakes
While the dog days of summer linger on, fishing remains great. Lots of presentations are turning walleye, with fish found deep, shallow, at the weeds, rocks and sand. Timing can be more important than presentation this time of year, so when you find fish that won’t bite, circle back later to see if they’re ready to feed. Even though the water is very warm, don’t overlook the shallows. Crawlers and crank baits are still out-producing minnows, but this will change as water temperatures cool.
The panfish are still very active and can be easily found by trolling the weed beds using small crank baits, jigs and live bait. Bass are holding in the deep weeds and thick slop. For the most action, use jigs and frogs. Muskie anglers are having the most success at night when casting or trolling big baits such as super models and topwater lures. 800-423-4571; www.ottertailcountry.com
Brainerd Area Lakes
The walleye are starting to transition on some area lakes including Gull and North Long where walleye can be found in waters 10-30 feet deep. The deeper fish are typically on the rocks or small flats, with the shallower fish relating to the inside turns of the weedlines. When fishing the deeper walleye, use red tails, creek chubs and jigging raps. The shallower fish are responding best to crawlers, long-line jigs with red tails, and trolled crank baits.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass are both very active, although they are spread out just like the walleye. Various techniques are working well but there has been an increase in the crank bait bite recently. Bluegills and crappies remain eager to bite, with the larger fish most active during low light periods. Northern pike anglers are starting to take fish from the shallower weed edges. 218-825-0410; www.visitbrainerd.com
Northeast Minnesota
Kabetogama
Multiple presentations have been working well on Lake Kabetogama, although walleye remain somewhat tight-lipped and scattered. Anglers willing to switch up presentations are putting fish in the boat. The mid-lake reefs are starting to heat up in depths of 18-25 feet. Look for transition areas off the deep edges using a traditional lindy rig and leech run slowly through schools of fish. Another presentation that is working well is moving much faster at roughly 1.9- to 2.3-mph with a heavy bottom bouncer and spinner or crank bait, staying as close to the bottom as possible. The mud flats are also producing extremely well in depths of 28-34 feet of water. A 2-ounce bottom bouncer and spinner tipped with a leech or crawler is the way to go in these areas. Lead core and down riggers are also good options. The most consistent bite, however, has been at the weedlines. While it seems odd to fish the weeds this time of year, the bite has been amazing. When the wind is blowing, follow it, dragging lindy rigs along the outside weed edges. When the wind is calm, anchor just outside the weedline and pitch small jigs tipped with a leech or crawler and use a slow retrieve. Leeches have been most productive since they are great for walleye, but also work well for smallmouth bass, perch and northern pike.
The great crappie bite has been somewhat of a surprise for anglers, with lots of fish coming from the north end of Lake Kabetogama. Anglers are having success fishing the deep weeds, as well as groups of suspended fish holding just off the deep weeds.
Water temperatures remain in the 70s but will begin to cool at the end of this week. Fishing will continue to improve as we head into fall. 800-524-9085; www.kabetogama.com
Ely
Walleye anglers report that fishing has slowed a bit but fish continue to be taken. The most successful walleye anglers are using jigging raps in 20-30 feet of water at the base of sunken islands. Jigs tipped with big minnows have also been effective. During evening hours, anglers trolling large shad raps over the large flats are taking some very large walleye.
Smallmouth and largemouth bass continue to hit topwater lures early and late in the day. Whopper ploppers and frogs have been the most effective. As the sun rises, the bass head deep, with anglers catching them using spinner baits and beetle spins. Several anglers have recently taken smallies measuring in the high teens and low 20s when using jigs tipped with a large minnow out on top of sunken islands during the day.
Lake trout anglers continue to catch nice lakers when trolling deep-diving crank baits. Anglers have been finding trout roughly 20-30 feet below the surface over deep water. Anglers fishing from a canoe have been having luck jigging heavy bucktails at the bottom of the lake as they drift over deep water.
Northern pike anglers continue to find active pike in the weed beds, with quality fish coming in on spoons, spinner baits and suckers fished under a bobber. Just like last week, anglers report that the larger pike are cruising the weedlines, while the smaller pike are coming from inside the weed beds.
Lots of bluegills are being pulled from the weedlines on small hair jigs tipped with small worms or wax worms. Crappie fishing remains a challenge for many anglers since most of these fish are scattered and often suspended in the deep main lake basins. Anglers with good electronics are locating crappies when putting in the time. Once located, crappie minnows or small jigs and twisters have been the most effective. 800-777-7281; www.ely.org
Duluth – Lake Superior, St. Louis River and inland waters
Lake Superior is giving up some lake trout and an occasional salmon near shore. Successful anglers have been targeting waters of 100-250 feet, dragging the lower areas of the water column. Preferred color schemes remain pink lemonade, deep purple, lime watermelon and bright orange. Spoons and flasher flies tipped with meat continue to be the best tactic. Local tributary streams are starting to give up brook trout and native brown trout to anglers casting small spoons or smaller streamers.
The St. Louis River is starting to give up more fish as recent northeast winds and consistent rain showers have increased the oxygen levels in the river. The best bite has been during late afternoon hours. For the most fish, rip the weed edges near the deep channels in 10-13 feet of water using 3-inch paddle tails, deep-diving crank baits or a 1/8-ounce jig tipped with a minnow, worm or leech. If you get a bite, stay put as fish are schooling once again. Catfish continue to be the dominant catch, but walleye are also being taken.
The inland lakes have been the most productive. The panfish are very active in the deeper vegetation, responding to small plastics, fuzzy grubs and other types of hair jigs. Tip your hook with a piece of crawler and pitch it into the pockets in the weeds for lots of fun action. Slip bobbers and live bait also continue to produce fish. Some walleye are coming from the weeds as well, but the best walleye bite has been over harder substrates such as the rocks and sand. The shallower mid-lake reefs and windblown shorelines are also good areas to target. The key is to troll until you find active feeders. Once located, try jigging puppet minnows or ripping raps. Don’t be surprised if you pull in a few northern pike or smallmouth bass. 800-438-5884; www.visitduluth.com
Grand Rapids
Fish seem to be developing late summer and early fall patterns now that water temperatures are dropping. The walleye will begin to move shallow very soon. Once fish are in full fall patterns, hit the shoreline structure, rock piles and existing cabbage beds. Spinners with chubs, jigs tipped with minnows, and small crank baits should all be productive. Lakes to consider for early and late fall walleye fishing are Big Splithand, Big Winnie, Little Winnie and Moose, along with the Mississippi River.
Panfish have become more active recently. Anglers report great sunfish action at the shallow weed beds, deeper edges of the weeds and at the medium-depth mud flats near the weeds. Some nice crappies have also been in the mix. Small jigs tipped with a piece of nightcrawler, wax worms or plastics are turning lots of fish. Productive area lakes include Little Splithand, Rice, Loon, Trout, Graves and Dunbar. www.visitgrandrapids.com
Northwest Minnesota
Baudette – Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
Anglers report great walleye fishing this week on the south shore of Lake of the Woods. Schools of walleye can be found throughout the lake in 14-36 feet of water. Covering water is key, and pulling crawler harnesses and trolling crank baits at 2.2- to 2.8-mph seems to be the most effective. The best spinner colors have been hammered gold, pink, glow white, glow red or orange. Mix up your crank baits until you find the best size, shape and color.
On the Rainy River, summer patterns continue. “Resident walleye” are scattered on the flats and along the breaks. Covering water by trolling crank baits or crawler harnesses has been the most effective, with anglers reporting a mixed bag of fish. Sturgeon anglers are having success in the deep holes when using sturgeon rigs with crawlers or frozen emerald shiners. Smallmouth bass and northern pike are active around the current breaks, rocky areas and in the bays.
Anglers report excellent walleye fishing up at the Northwest Angle. Many nice walleye are coming from the Four Blocks and Little Oak Island. Additional walleye are out over the mud in “no man’s land” north and east of Little Oak Island. Spinners with crawlers and trolled crank baits are producing good numbers of fish. Walleye anglers are taking some large northern pike again this week. When targeting pike and muskie, cast the bays and troll the rocky point areas. Smallmouth bass are active on the rocks in 5-15 feet of water.
Until the U.S./Canada border opens, guests can travel across the lake and stay in Minnesota waters. Learn more at Boating to the Northwest Angle. 800-382-FISH; www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com
Walker – Leech Lake
Water temperatures are starting to drop on Leech Lake, and the fish are responding favorably. An array of tactics are producing walleye in depths are 6-30 feet of water. When fishing the shallows, use slip bobbers, jigs and jigging raps to cover water at the sand and weed edges. At the mid-depth waters, pull lindy rigs with crawlers, small spinners or crank baits along the long breaklines in 12-15 feet of water. The transitions such as the weedlines, rock edges, and sand to mud are all showing fish. For the largest walleye, use deep water presentations such as vertical jigging with jigging raps or pulling live bait rigs with chubs in 25-30 feet of water.
The muskie remain active throughout the lake. For the most fish, cast large bucktails, glide baits and topwater lures near the rock piles, over the tops of the weed beds, and along the windblown shorelines that have nice mix of sand and rock.
Panfish are active at the weedlines and in the cabbage. Anglers having the most success are trolling or casting small 1/32-ounce jigs with twister tails. 800-833-1118; www.leech-lake.com
Isle/Onamia – Lake Mille Lacs
While some people think fishing is tough late in the summer, anglers report that this is not the case on Lake Mille Lacs. The walleye remain scattered, but fishing has been steady. Once walleye are located, the fish are eager to bite. The gravel/mud still holds a slight advantage, but some of the shoreline rocks and points are giving up fish as well. The best methods remain still-bobber fishing with a leech or crawler in the deeper areas, and lindy rigging up on the rocks.
Smallmouth bass fishing has been absolutely spectacular! The ned rig remains the best producer, however, bass are now responding to minnow profile stick baits as well. Northern pike and muskie anglers are hitting the water more often recently. For the most pike, troll the weedlines. For muskie, check the rock reefs where a 48-inch muskie was recently taken. This bite will heat up nicely as we move into September.
Please remember that when the water is this warm, anglers must handle fish carefully. Try to hook the fish quickly, then bring it up slowly. The less handling, the better. Check out current lake conditions at the Mille Lacs Lake Webcams web page. 888-350-2692; www.millelacs.com
Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
You still have a chance to learn how to fish this summer at programs offered by the Three Rivers Park District. Participants will learn the basics of bait and tackle, how to use a rod and reel, and how to catch and release fish. Equipment, bait and fishing license provided during the program. Sign up!
If you’d like to rent a boat to fish Twin Cities area waters, check out the many boat rental options on the Explore Minnesota boating web page.
Southern Minnesota
Lanesboro/Preston – Southeast Bluff Country trout streams
As of Friday, Aug. 14, most creeks and streams were in great condition, with clear waters and a normal flow. More Trico spinner falls were reported on the South Branch Root River, Rush Creek and Winnebago Creek. Anglers were encouraged to get there no later than 9 a.m. to fish. Grasshoppers crickets and beetle foam flies were catching fish. It was recommended to fish the water in the shade. Some of the streams were starting to drop in water level.
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