Many reports indicate that walleye have been unusually active in the shallows where they are responding well to live bait. Spinners and live bait rigs with minnows or crawlers account for the majority of fish. Low light hours remain the most productive.
Happy fishing!
OTTER TAIL AREA LAKES
Crappie action has been good in Otter Tail Lakes Country. Anglers report lots of success when trolling small jigs and plastic baits on top of the weeds and on the weed edges in 7-10 feet of water. Walleye can also be found in the weeds. The larger northern pike have moved deep to cooler and more comfortable water, but there are plenty of smaller pike in the shallows willing to bite. Largemouth bass anglers are having a blast tossing frogs around the lily pads. Larger baits are working well. The bigger bluegills have also vacated the shallows for the main lake structure. For great panfish action, hit the humps, points and deepest cabbage.
Contact Otter Tail Lakes Country Association for more information.
ISLE/ONAMIA – LAKE MILLE LACS
Last weekend, Lake Mille Lacs bass anglers had lots of success using ned rigs and leeches. And a number of huge fish were taken during a bass fishing tournament.
Learn 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.
Contact the Mille Lacs Area Tourism Council for more information.
WILLMAR
As of late last week, anglers found active bass and northern pike in the deeper weedlines when using crank baits, spinner baits, and jig and sucker minnow combinations. Walleye were taken by anglers using nightcrawlers and shiner minnows along the outside edge of the weeds and in depths of 18-25 feet. Early morning and late evening hours remained best for active fish. Just some of the lakes producing fish were Elkhorn, Long, Big Kandiyohi, Diamond and Green. Anglers also reported a great panfish bite, especially along the weedlines. Small plastic baits and waxworms produced the majority of fish.
Anglers in the Willmar Lakes Area will want to check Fishing Friday at Sibley State Park(opens in new window) on Aug. 6. A naturalist will provide tips, information on fish identification, and explain how climate change is affecting fish in Minnesota. Fishing kits, complete with a pole and tackle box, will be provided. Call ahead to reserve your kit. 320-354-2055
BAUDETTE – LAKE OF THE WOODS & THE RAINY RIVER
Strong summer walleye patterns continue on Lake of the Woods. Walleye anglers are having the most success when drifting or trolling crank baits, along with spinners with live bait. Schools of walleye can be found in depths of 30-34 feet over the deep mud in Big Traverse Bay. A nice bite is also being reported in 16-22 feet of water off Pine Island, especially when the wind blows from the south. The most productive colors have been hammered gold, pink, yellow, orange, and red/white.
On the Rainy River, anglers are finding pockets of river walleye in and around the holes, current breaks, rock piles and weed edges. Pulling spinners and trolling crank baits should turn some of scattered fish. Northern pike can be found adjacent to the weeds and at the current breaks. Smallmouth bass are extremely active. The sturgeon “keep one” season continues through Sept. 30.
Up at the Northwest Angle, walleye fishing has been excellent in 28-33 feet of water over the deep mud, especially in Little Traverse Bay. Spinners and crank baits are helpful to cover water and catch active fish. Pods of walleye can be found at the underwater points, sunken islands, and neck-down areas as well. Northern pike are usually willing to play and remain active in the weedy bays. Spinner baits, spoons, crank baits and bucktails are good choices for pike anglers. Smallmouth bass are eager to bite at the deeper rocks. Some nice catch-and- release muskie have also been reported this week.
The border with Canada will open Aug. 9, 2021 to Americans who have a vaccination card combined with a negative COVID PCR (molecular) test less than 72 hours old. Learn more at Border Opening in Time for a Late Summer/Fall Northwest Angle Getaway(opens in new window)!
Contact Baudette – Lake of the Woods Chamber of Commerce for more information.
FARGO/MOORHEAD – RED RIVER
Fishing has improved this week, despite low water levels. Anglers fishing the Cats Incredible catfish tournament over the weekend caught good numbers of fish, along with a few huge fish. The best fishing was clearly early in the morning. Goldeyes and day-old dead suckers (packed on ice) have been the most effective the past few days. Many anglers are now beaching their boats in the banks to stay still in wind and prevent slack in the lines to better detect bites. Also, try downsizing everything from rods to line to sinkers to make it harder for leery fish to detect weight when they pick up the bait.
Contact the Fargo-Moorhead Convention & Visitors Bureau for more information.
BEMIDJI AREA LAKES
Fishing remains steady on most lakes in the Bemidji lakes area. Anglers are finding walleye in 11-18 feet of water on Bemidji, Plantagenet, Wolf, and Andrusia lakes when using jigs with minnows or live bait rigs with crawlers or leeches. Bass fishing remains excellent for those using plastics off the deeper weed edges, with crappies and bluegills also coming from the deeper weeds. Water levels continue to drop due to the lack of rain so some boat launches have become tricky to navigate. Check out the most recent Bemidji fishing video(opens in new window)!
Contact Visit Bemidji for more information.
WALKER – LEECH LAKE
Walleye fishing remains inconsistent on Leech Lake, but anglers are taking fish when trolling crank baits, jigging raps, and rigs tipped with live bait. Depths of 6-40 feet are giving up the most fish, especially at the weeds and rocks. During early morning hours, try slip bobbers and leeches in 8-12 feet of water.
Bass action has been good at the weeds. Largemouth bass are coming from the lily pads, and smallmouth bass are holding at the weed edges and deeper rock humps. Spinnerbaits worked through the rice/weeds can result in some very big fish.
Sunfish and crappies are responding well to plastics trolled at 1 mph along the edges of the weeds. Anglers report the most action during low light hours.
Muskie are responding to bucktails and topwater lures cast around the mid-lake rocks and points. The key has been patience and continuous casts early and late in the day.
Contact the Leech Lake Area Tourism Bureau for more information.
PARK RAPIDS AREA LAKES
Walleye are hitting pearl-white crank baits trolled along the shallow weed edges in roughly 10 feet of water. Northern pike are attacking chartreuse spinner baits slowly rolled through deep weed beds in depths of approximately 15 feet. The bluegills are schooled up on the deep weedlines, responding to lindy rigs and a small leech. Suspended crappies can be found roughly 10-12 feet down over 20-30 feet of water just off the weedlines. Most of the slabs are coming in on 2-inch white twister tails on a 1/16-ounce jig. Perch can be found on the shallow weedy flats in depths of 6-10 feet. For the most perch, troll or long-line spinners tipped with a night crawler just below the surface.
ELY AREA LAKES AND RIVERS
While some walleye have slid out a bit deeper, the most consistent bite remains fairly shallow for this time of the year, in 10-13 feet of water. Anglers are catching walleye on spinner rigs, jigs tipped with leech or crawler, and even slip bobbers with a leech. Anglers looking for trophy walleye have been trolling deep-diving crank baits during evening hours roughly 20-30 feet down over 35-70 feet of water.
Bass anglers continue to report excellent bass fishing on many area lakes. The early morning topwater bite remains excellent for both smallmouth and largemouth bass. Whopper ploppers, pop-rs and torpedoes have been very effective on smallmouth bass, but largemouth bass anglers are having better luck fishing frogs in thick cover. As the sun rises, throwing in-line spinners, spinner baits and soft plastics have kept anglers busy catching fish.
Jigs and twisters cast around the weedlines and lily pads have turned good numbers of sunnies and crappies. If the bite slows, simply switch to jigs tipped with waxworms or a piece of a crawler for fun sunfish action; for crappies, switch to a crappie minnow.
Contact the Ely Chamber of Commerce for more information.
COOK COUNTY: LUTSEN-TOFTE, GRAND MARAIS, GUNFLINT TRAIL & GRAND PORTAGE AREA WATERS
Local charter captains report that fishing on Lake Superior has slowed a bit. While fish continue to be taken, most have been scattered.
On the inland lakes, anglers report a similar story. Most fish, including walleye, have been less eager to bite and fairly scattered. The bass and northern pike, however, remain active and easy to catch.
Contact Visit Cook County for more information.
DULUTH – LAKE SUPERIOR, ST. LOUIS RIVER AND INLAND WATERS
Lake Superior anglers are catching lots of lake trout on flasher-fly combinations, with a few salmon also being taken. Productive colors this week include orange, pink, purple and neon-green. Spoons are also turning fish. Anglers are having the most success near Two Harbors and further northeast. Popular depths have been 80-140 feet of water.
The St. Louis River has been mostly quiet, although a few anglers targeting catfish and smallmouth bass have had success. Most of the native river walleye that are being caught have been on the smaller side. For walleye, try speed-trolling crank baits at 1.5-2.4 mph. Once nighttime temperatures drop a bit, river fishing should pick up once again.
The best bite in the area has been on the inland lakes. Wind-drifting with bottom bouncers and smaller composite spinners at the basins has been good for walleye, especially early and late in the day. The wind has been helpful since it breaks up the surface water. Panfish anglers are enjoying a great bite. Bass are hitting rubber tail dancers at the deeper weed edges and near the docks. Top water baits are also turning fish, and will become even more effective as we move into August.
Contact Visit Duluth for more information.
GRAND RAPIDS
Walleye continue to bite on area lakes. Depths of 6-12 feet seem to be best, possibly because warm water temperatures and low water levels often push fish into the shallows. Shallow-running crank baits, spinners with half a crawler or chub, and jigs and plastics have been turning walleye in the shallows. The shallow rock piles should also be checked out, especially for big perch and walleye since they hold lots of small crayfish. A small jig with a chub or shiner or a jig and plastic in a crayfish pattern work well in these locations. Some of the lakes to check out include Big Splithand, Pokegama, Deer, Bowstring and Jessie.
Crappies have become active at the deep weedlines and soft bottom/mud areas. Depths of 8-12 feet have been and will continue to be productive for the next several weeks. Use your electronics to find fish on and near the bottom. Once located, troll spinners with a small chub or cast small jigs with a minnow or plastic action tail for consistent crappie action. Lakes that currently offer a good crappie bite are Little Splithand, Little Moose, Bowstring, Loon, Bass and Dunbar.
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