The 2020-2021 gamefish season came to a close last Sunday, Feb. 28 for Minnesota’s inland lakes. While the gamefish season won’t reopen until May 15, anglers are having lots of fun with all the fast panfish action!
Temperatures will rise into the 40s in the north and 50s in the south this weekend so lake accesses may deteriorate quickly. Anglers should head out soon to take advantage of the great late season bite under sunny skies — don’t forget the sunscreen!
Please remember that Ice anglers need to check ice thickness often since conditions can vary widely, even on the same body of water. Anyone heading out should wear a life jacket and carry ice picks.
Learn more about ice safety.
Minnesota fishing opener dates for the 2021-2022 fishing season for most inland waters are as follows. Stream trout: April 17; walleye, sauger, northern pike, bass (catch-and-release) and lake trout: May 15; muskie: June 5. The fishing season for crappies, sunnies, perch and catfish is continuous. Before dropping a line, brush up on Minnesota’s rules, regulations and other helpful information for fishing.
OTTER TAIL AREA LAKES
While the walleye season closed in the Otter Tail Lakes area on Feb. 28, the panfishing in area lakes gets exciting in March! The sun triggers fish to feed, especially in the shallows. It’s a fun time to fish because you can easily and comfortably walk from hole to hole. Walk quietly and drop your lure into the water and hold on tightly since crappies, in particular, often grab the bait quickly. No electronics are needed. In fact, most of the larger panfish often swim just under the ice.
Contact Otter Tail Lakes Country Association for more information.
ALEXANDRIA AREA LAKES
The late winter bite in the Alexandria Lakes has heated up! With the gamefish season now closed, crappies and bluegills have taken center stage. These fish will soon migrate into the shallows. Anglers are encouraged to start checking the edges of the drop-offs adjacent to known spring panfish feeding and spawning bays. Any cover, such as weeds or remnant weed beds, will be best. Small tungsten jigs tipped with waxworms, spikes or plastics should turn lots of fish. Tungsten jigs work well when fishing weeds since they are heavy and can push through weeds to access fish holding near the bottom. And since late winter panfish are often in groups, anglers can catch a fish and quickly return the presentation before the school moves on. Plastics work well as trailers on jigs since panfish like the quivering action and you can usually catch several fish on just one plastic. If the fish are biting fast and furious, please consider keeping only enough for a fresh meal or two.
Contact Explore Alexandria Tourism for more information.
ISLE/ONAMIA – LAKE MILLE LACS
The perch, sunfish and tullibee have been very active and eager to bite on Lake Mille Lacs recently. Resorts are monitoring ice conditions closely and taking things day by day. At least one access has been closed to car and truck traffic this week, and some ice roads are no longer being maintained. Check out current conditions at the Mille Lacs Lake Webcams(opens in new window) web page. Learn about fishing regulations specific to Lake Mille Lacs on the DNR’s Lake Mille Lacs web page(opens in new window).
BAUDETTE – LAKE OF THE WOODS & THE RAINY RIVER
It’s been a good week of fishing on Lake of the Woods despite erratic temperatures. A mix of walleye, sauger, perch, northern pike, tullibee and eelpout are being pulled from 29-33 feet of water. Jigging spoons with a glow stick or rattles tipped with a piece of minnow have been best for the jigging line. On the deadstick, a colored hook with a live fathead has been the most effective. The largest walleye have been suspended, and electronics have been very helpful to mark these fish. When suspended fish are spotted, reel up quickly before the fish swim through, but slow down when your lure is 2 feet below the fish so you don’t scare them. Anglers are also taking large northern pike on tip-ups with a quick strike rig and either a live sucker or large, dead baitfish set in 5-15 feet of water. The walleye season remains open through April 14, and the northern pike season never closes.
On the Rainy River, anglers are having success during morning and evening hours. Please remember that walleye are catch-and-release only from March 1 through April 14 in Four Mile Bay and the Rainy River. The snowmobile trail is staked and groomed on the river from Baudette to Wheeler’s Point, and on to the Northwest Angle.
Up at the Northwest Angle, nice numbers of walleye continue to be taken. Walleye anglers are having success in 24-31 feet of water when jigging a spoon with rattle — tip the jigging spoon with minnow head, tail or whole minnow. On your deadstick, use a plain hook or a glow jig tipped with a live minnow.
The Northwest Angle Guest Ice Road(opens in new window) is open, allowing guests to easily travel from the south edge of the lake up to the Angle. To view current conditions on Lake of the Woods, check out the many Lake of the Woods web cams(opens in new window).
Contact Baudette – Lake of the Woods Chamber of Commerce for more information.
BEMIDJI AREA LAKES
The perch bite has been good on Bemidji and Plantagenet lakes, but anglers are having to do some sorting. The panfish bite is going well off the weed edges on Wolf, Midge and Gull lakes. Please note that new bluegill/sunfish limits are now in effect on the Cass Lake Chain, the Turtle River Chain, Big Bass, Julia and Medicine lakes. Temperatures in the 40s this week and weekend may cause ice to deteriorate quickly at some of the accesses.
Contact Visit Bemidji for more information.
PARK RAPIDS AREA LAKES
Late ice fishing patterns are solidifying as the panfish begin to gather near potential spawning areas. Anglers will want to concentrate on the drop-offs near shallow spawning bays not far from shore. The best depths range anywhere from 5-15 feet. A small black or glow-white jig tipped with a waxworm or spike will turn the most fish. The larger crappies are actively feeding. Look for schools of fish cruising the bottom in search of blood worms during the day, with fish sometimes found as shallow 6-10 feet deep. At dusk and during nighttime hours, look for suspended schools of crappies in 15-30 feet of water near shoreline drop-offs. A small jigging spoon tipped with a waxworm should be all that is needed.
Contact the Park Rapids Lakes Area for more information.
DETROIT LAKES AREA LAKES
Ice conditions in the Detroit Lakes area remain good and are expected to hold up well through the weekend despite warm temperatures and powerful sunshine. Be aware that there are areas with slush and standing water. Look for the bluegills and crappies to start their move to more shallow waters, especially where green weeds can still be found. For the most bluegill action, use small jigs tipped with waxworms or high-action plastic tails; for crappies, use vertical spoons tipped with minnow heads or small horizontal jigs with plastic tails. The tullibee bite has been very good with fish found suspended over the deep holes. These fish are drawn in with bright or reflective spoons above smaller jigs tipped with waxworms or minnow heads. Smaller flashy spoons tipped with minnow heads are also producing tullibee.
Anglers are asked to fish lakes and rivers close to home, and practice social distancing. Learn more about safer ways to travel at Explore Minnesota’s COVID-19 Information page.
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