Walking back from the DQ in Glenwood I enjoyed the sun setting.
A touch of fall is in the air and the walleye bite continues to improve as water temperatures slowly drop. Jigs and rigs tipped with minnows are starting to turn the majority of fish.
This weekend should be very pleasant, with mostly sunny skies and highs ranging from 70- to 80-degrees. Explore Minnesota wishes everyone a happy and safe Labor Day Weekend!
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]
Northwest Minnesota
Baudette – Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
A lot of huge walleye continue to be pulled from the south end of Lake of the Woods. Charter boats and guides are doing a nice job of putting guests on schools of eating-size, slot and trophy-size walleye. Most of the fish are coming from 14-36 feet of water on crawler harnesses and crank baits. The best spinner colors have been hammered gold, pink, glow white, glow red and orange. Shiny or brighter colors have been best for crank baits. It is important to get the crank baits down to the fish. To do so, use downriggers, lead core line, snap weights and a 4- to 5-ounce bottom bouncer in the deeper waters.
Walleye are scattered on the flats and along the breaks on the Rainy River. Anglers report a mixed bag of fish when trolling crank baits or crawler harnesses. Sturgeon activity has picked up. The best approach has been to target the deep holes using sturgeon rigs with crawlers or frozen emerald shiners. The smallmouth bass and northern pike remain active around the current breaks, rocky areas and in the bays. Walleye anglers are eager for the shiner run. To learn more, check out When Will the Shiners Run.
Up at the Northwest Angle, scattered schools of walleye can be found around Four Blocks and Little Oak Island, as well as the mud north and east of Little Oak Island. Watch your electronics for schools of fish. Once located, run spinners with crawlers or troll crank baits through the schools. Again, some big northern pike are being caught by walleye anglers. A few muskie are being taken by anglers using topwater lures. 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
Bemidji
The walleye bite continues to improve as water temperatures slowly fall. Jigging raps, and jigs and live bait rigs tipped with minnows are all putting fish in the boat. The mid-lake structure in 14-20 feet of water seems to be holding more fish than the shoreline breaks on Lakes Bemidji, Wolf and Andrusia.
Northern pike action has been good along the deeper weed edges on most area lakes. Bass fishing remains excellent throughout the area. Look for crappies at the deeper cabbage weeds. 800-458-2223; www.visitbemidji.com
Walker – Leech Lake
Water temperatures on most area lakes are in the lower 70s. Water levels remain high and some lakes are dirty with floating weeds, making them difficult to fish. Fishing should pick up nicely as lake temperatures cool and water clarity improves.
Walleye anglers are finding some fish in 16-25 feet of water. The best approach is to pull lindy rigs with minnows or crawlers along the flats. Jigging raps are also turning some fish.
The panfish are starting to take on fall patterns. Look for perch moving into the shallow weed flats.
Muskie anglers will want to concentrate on early morning and late evening hours. The windblown rocks and weed edges are good places to start. 800-833-1118; www.leech-lake.com
Park Rapids
Anglers are finding walleye chasing schools of baitfish in 20-30 foot depths. Vertical baits, such as #5 perch-colored jigging raps, are working well when fished near the bottom. For the deeper walleye, try trolling green, gold or glow-colored spinners tipped with a small sucker minnow.
The weed flats on most lakes are kicking out nice northern pike. The most successful anglers are trolling large spinner baits over the tops of the weed beds in 6-10 feet of water.
Big bluegills are still hanging around the deep weed edges in depths of 12-19 feet, with fish responding well to lindy rigs tipped with a leech or part of a nightcrawler. 800-247-0054; www.parkrapids.com
Detroit Lakes
Water temperatures in Detroit Lakes area lakes are hovering around 70 degrees. The walleye continue to hold on the deep structure in the deeper, clearer lakes. Some fish, however, have moved to the edges and shoreline breaks, and there are always some walleye in the weeds. Jigs and rigs tipped with minnows are starting to turn more fish.
Muskie activity is picking up in area muskie lakes. The smallmouth bass remain deep on Cormorant, White Earth and Pelican lakes, but holding in the shallow hard bottom areas on Island and Lida lakes. Largemouth bass are in the shallows, relating to the first break weedlines. Crappies continue to bite on many area lakes at the edges of the flats in depths of 7-15 feet. 800-542-3992; www.visitdetroitlakes.com
Northeast Minnesota
Kabetogama
Fishing success on Lake Kabetogama has been erratic — great for a couple of days then tough for a couple of days. The weedlines have offered the most consistent walleye and smallmouth bass fishing. Pitching a jig tipped with a leech, crawler or minnow into the edges of the weedlines has been best, especially when following the wind. The walleye have been hit or miss on the reefs. With water temperatures quickly dropping, expect the bass to move away from the weeds and shorelines out to the reefs. In fact, this can be the best time of year for bass. Once this happens, a jig tipped with a minnow or plastics can be deadly. Catch and release will be important since they will school up in large numbers and be easy targets.
Larger northern pike have been found suspended over deeper water with some large fish caught by anglers trolling crank baits near the mid-lake structure. The smaller pike have been active in the weeds and along shorelines.
A touch of fall is in the air, and this is a great time to visit Kabetogama and Voyageurs National Park! The cool evenings are perfect for campfires, and hikes in the woods are very comfortable. 800-524-9085; www.kabetogama.com
Ely
Walleye fishing has steadily improved as water temperatures continue to fall into the 60s. Anglers are finding walleye either deep in 20-30 feet of water around the sunken islands or in water less than 10 feet deep on the main lake points. Regardless of where anglers are catching them, minnows have been out-producing all other baits. The best way to catch walleye has been to either jig a minnow or troll a spinner rig during the first two hours or last two hours of daylight. Trolling deep-diving crank baits are turning some fish during evening hours.
Smallmouth bass fishing has been fast and furious for anglers targeting them. As water temperatures fall, the smallies are aggressively hitting large minnows and deep-diving crank baits fished over sunken islands. While whopper ploppers and hula poppers remain effective along the shorelines during early morning hours, the bite has begun to slow down. As the sun rises, spinner baits have been more effective at the large shallow flats, downed trees and current areas.
Northern pike anglers report more large pike moving into the shallow bays. These pike are very active and responding well to large spoons and spinner baits fished on the weedlines, inside the weed beds and around the current areas.
Crappies and sunnies have become more aggressive. The larger bluegills are now being found inside the weed beds, hitting beetle spins, wax worms and small angle worms fished under a bobber. Crappies are also shallow at the inside weed beds but mainly during early morning and evening hours. For the most crappies, use small hair jigs, jigs and twisters, or a jig and minnow fished under a bobber. 800-777-7281; www.ely.org
Duluth – Lake Superior, St. Louis River and inland waters
The inland lakes continue to produce nice numbers of fish. The reservoirs north of Duluth are giving up walleye to anglers trolling waters about 20 feet deep, especially during low light hours. Anglers are also doing well when night trolling in roughly 10 feet of water. Another technique that’s producing walleye is dragging live bait on lindy rigs over the mid-lake humps and near other structure. Panfish have been active near the vegetation in and around 5-10 feet of water. The best bet is a float combination with worm chunks. Bass have been hitting topwater baits like poppers and buzzers. Northern pike are being taken from the breaks and vegetation by shore casters. Please note that the Lake Nebagamon boat access will be closed from Sept. 14 through Oct. 16 due to construction.
Fall is spawning time for lake trout and the fish are actively feeding on herring and other prey along the North and South shores of Lake Superior. Charter captains report some large lakers, as well as a few coho and king (chinook) salmon coming from roughly 150 feet of water. Take notes on productive water temperatures and trolling speeds. Downriggers and long-lined copper wire have been effective when used with spoons or dodger fly combos. Tipping the flies with a smelt head (meat rig) remains a good tactic as well. When you don’t have cut bait, try some scent attractant. The South Shore walleye have been slower this week. Stream fishing has also been slow, but some anglers are still catching a few resident brown trout and brook trout. For the most brown trout, fish during late afternoon hours when the sun is setting.
The St. Louis River has offered a decent bite during mid-morning hours. Anglers trolling crank baits through the channel breaks or flats near the deeper channels are taking walleye. Once you find which crank baits works best, set up other lines with the same or similar presentations. One recommendation is a #5 or #7 firetiger crank bait. Jig fishing has slowed this last week, but should pick up again very soon. Muskie anglers are heading out on the river more often. Those having success are speed-trolling over-sized baits on the lower sections of the river, or chucking big spinner rigs along the shorelines up river. 800-438-5884; www.visitduluth.com
Grand Rapids
Water temperatures are dropping slowly on lakes in the Grand Rapids area. The walleye fishing has been good on several area lakes, and the jig and minnow bite has been getting better by the day at the deeper weed lines, rock piles and gravel bars. When you locate a pod of fish, toss out a 1/8-ounce jig with a fathead or shiner. When the wind blows, bump up to a 1/4-ounce jig. Big Winnie, Moose, Bowstring and Round lakes, as well as the mouth of the river on Little Winnie, have all been producing walleye.
Northern pike have been active in some of the same areas as the walleye, with some pretty hefty pike being reported. If you catch a pike in these areas, add a two foot section of #17 test line ahead of your jig so it’s not lost on the next bite. Remember, for table fare, northern pike are great!
Panfish are also starting to turn more active, and the bite will only get better as the water continues to cool. The fall color and fast fall bite in the Grand Rapids area is hard to beat — it’s time to plan a visit. www.visitgrandrapids.com
Central Region
Brainerd Area Lakes
Fish in the Brainerd Lakes Area are transitioning to fall patterns. The majority of walleye have moved off the weedlines into deeper waters. For the most fish, use redtails, with a few walleye also coming in on crawlers.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass have also moved deep, but a few are lingering in the shallows. Jigs with a 4- to 6-inch rubber worm are turning the most fish. Northern pike are responding well to big muskie jerk baits trolled at 10-15 feet of water. The crappies are starting to move a bit deeper, and can be found suspended most of the day. Active bluegills remain tight to the weeds. 218-825-0410; www.visitbrainerd.com
Isle/Onamia – Lake Mille Lacs
As of late last week, walleye fishing remained steady on Lake Mille Lacs. Once walleye were located, they were eager to bite. The gravel/mud held a slight advantage, but some of the shoreline rocks and points were beginning to produce as well. The best methods were still-bobber fishing with a leech or crawler in the deeper areas, and lindy rigging up on the rocks.
Smallmouth bass fishing was absolutely spectacular! While the ned rig remained the best producer, bass were also responding to minnow profile stick baits.
Northern pike and muskie anglers were hitting the water more often, with pike hitting along the weedlines, and muskie being pulled from the rock reefs. In fact, a 48-inch muskie was reported at the rocky reefs. This bite was expected to heat up nicely during the month of September.
Check out current lake conditions at the Mille Lacs Lake Webcams web page. 888-350-2692; www.millelacs.com
Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
Stillwater – St. Croix River
Fall is fast approaching and the deeper waters are starting to offer more stability due to quickly cooling upper water levels. The more fragile shad baitfish head deeper in the fall so the walleye, saugers, catfish, bass and sturgeon generally follow suit. This is the time of year when a wide variety of fish species are caught and the sizes range quite a bit. As shad numbers drop, the bite will heat up. 651-351-1717; www.discoverstillwater.com
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
Be sure to check the Weekly Minnesota Stream Flow Maps for updates before you head out. 800-944-2670; www.lanesboro.com
Ortonville – Big Stone Lake
The perch bite on Big Stone Lake has been excellent and will only get better until ice up. Anglers also report of lots of nice bluegills, with a few 10-plus inch fish being taken. Labor Day weekend is typically the time to switch over to crank baits for walleye. 320-839-3284; www.bigstonelake.com
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