The forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and highs in the mid- to upper 50s this weekend. Celebrate Mother’s Day on the water with your mom, May 8-9, during Take a Mom Fishing Weekend!
Anglers will want to start planning for the Saturday, May 15, Minnesota Fishing Opener. On the same day, the Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener will host a virtual statewide fishing derby via the FishDonkey app for smartphones. This friendly competition runs from 12:01 a.m. to 4 p.m., with competitions for adults and children. At this time, the forecast for the fishing opener calls for temperatures roughly 10 degrees higher!
Please remember to use extra caution on the water this time of year due to cold water temperatures. Go prepared by reading cold water dangers.
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.
BAUDETTE – LAKE OF THE WOODS & THE RAINY RIVER
Northern pike anglers are catching lots of nice fish in the back bays of Lake of the Woods. Dead bait on a quick-strike rig under a bobber, as well as spoons, spinner baits and crank baits are working well. Remember, the pike season is open year-round on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River. Most anglers are practicing catch-and-release by quickly taking a picture then immediately returning the fish to the water.
On the Rainy River, sturgeon anglers continue to catch monster fish when using a 3- to 5-ounce no-roll sinker combined with a sturgeon rig (18-inch snell of 60-pound test line with a 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook) and a bunch of crawlers, frozen emerald shiners or both in a deeper hole in the river. Local bait shops and most resorts have all the rigs and bait necessary to catch a sturgeon. Good numbers of large fish are being reported. Please note that the harvest season ends May 7; the catch-and release season runs May 8-15.
Up at the Northwest Angle, a few anglers fishing for pike in the back bays, but most are gearing up for the May 15 fishing opener. With the Canada border still closed, there are many ways to get up to the Angle including the LOW Passenger Service, charter boat shuttle service from the south end, and float plane service out of Baudette and other locations.
There is a lot of optimism for this year’s fishing opener due to the large number of walleye coming from the Rainy River that leads into Lake of the Woods. Most anglers will concentrate on the Rainy River, Four Mile Bay, shorelines and islands of Lake of the Woods. The walleye won’t be far from shore so anglers are encouraged to use a jig and frozen shiner in the shallows. Subtly jig just off the bottom, connecting with the bottom at times to trigger fish. When fishing the stained waters of Lake of the Woods, add gold, glow, pink, chartreuse and/or orange colors to your presentation. 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.
PARK RAPIDS
The crappies and bluegills are in the process of setting up in the shallows, and they are feeding heavily to prepare for their spawn in a few weeks. They can be found suspended in depths of 10-20 feet in the colder lakes. In the smaller lakes, where water temperatures are in the mid-50s, look for them in 5-8 feet of water or shallower. One guide recently took good numbers of fish from 3-5 feet of water when using floats with minnows or small plastics. Most of the fish were found around downed trees, beaver lodges or weed cover. The boat canals and areas in front of inflowing creeks will often hold fish as well due to warmer water temperatures. Anglers should suspend their bait well above the bottom.
Contact the Park Rapids Lakes Area for more information.
DETROIT LAKES AREA LAKES
Water temperatures in the Detroit Lakes area warmed last weekend when air temperatures were well above normal. As a result, the panfish moved into the shallows. With this week’s cooler temperatures, the fish will move in and out of the shallows. Look for most of the panfish to be in 4-12 foot depths near the weeds. Small jigs tipped with small minnows or plastic tails will produce the most fish. The fishing opener is just around the corner, and docks are in place in Otter Tail and Becker counties.
FISHING CONDITIONS IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA
OTTER TAIL AREA LAKES
Anglers are now finding panfish in the shallows, but it has been very important to stay as quiet as possible. For the most action, use 1/64- or 1/32-ounce jigs tipped with live or artificial worms or minnows in the warm, dark-bottom bays and along the shorelines. Bobbers are helpful since they give you more time to respond. Artificial bait is recommended since it stays on the hook better when casting.
Contact Otter Tail Lakes Country Association for more information.
ISLE/ONAMIA – LAKE MILLE LACS
Lake Mille Lacs fishing regulations include a one-fish walleye limit from Saturday, May 15 through Monday, May 31, after which walleye fishing will be catch-and-release only through Wednesday, June 30. Learn more about fishing regulations on Lake Mille Lacs(opens in new window). And check out the the Mille Lacs Web Cam webpage(opens in new window) for current conditions.
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