Walleye anglers are finding fish at the weedlines when using live bait rigs and jigs tipped with minnows. Some walleye are also being pulled from the deeper drop-offs on large jig and minnow combinations. Bass are responding well to rigs, jigs and plastics worked on the weedy humps adjacent to deep water. Water temperatures are mostly in the low to mid-60s which is ideal for fall fishing, and it appears these temperatures should hold for at least the next week or two.
The weekend forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with highs in the 60s and 70s. Amazing weather, scenery and fishing make this a great time to hit the water — happy fishing!
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
Anglers fishing Lake of Woods are enjoying great fall fishing amidst colorful trees. The walleye are transitioning to fall locations where they are responding to drifted spinners, trolled crank baits and jigged minnows. In fact, jigging with a frozen shiner or live fathead has become very effective. Anglers will want to remain in one spot for some time before moving on. Northern pike are active and a lot of fish are being caught by unsuspecting walleye anglers. Sturgeon activity has picked up as well.
Emerald shiners are running in the Rainy River, with nice numbers of walleye being reported. Most walleye anglers fishing the river are jigging minnows along the edges and in the holes. Fall on the river offers anglers great fishing and scenic views. There are 42-miles of navigable waters from Wheeler’s Point through Baudette to Birchdale with lots of boat ramps.
Up at the Northwest Angle, fishing remains excellent, especially at the deep mud in Little Traverse Bay. Walleye anglers are having lots of success using gold, white or orange spinners with a crawler or minnow in 24-31 feet of water. As water temperatures cool further, minnows will become the bait of choice. Areas with structure in depths of in 18-27 feet continue to hold fish. Jig and minnow combinations are producing the most fish in these areas. Northern pike and muskie anglers are finding the most fish at the weedy points, especially when using double-blade spinners and topwater lures.
Contact Baudette – Lake of the Woods Chamber of Commerce for more information.
FARGO-MOORHEAD – RED RIVER
Water temperatures are holding at roughly 63 degrees due to recent cool mornings and shorter days. This ideal temperature should hold a while longer, possibly another 2 or 3 weeks. Water levels remain relatively low but stable. The catfish seem to have moved into more traditional breakline areas near holes to avoid the current. Most of the fish can be found in the holes or at the inside corners. For the most action, use frogs or day-old dead suckers, and remain in one area for 25-35 minutes before moving on. The bite is better than it’s been in the past couple of months, and the fish appear to be healthier. Really big fish, however, remain elusive.
Contact the Fargo-Moorhead Convention & Visitors Bureau for more information.
BEMIDJI
The walleye bite is picking up but most fish remain scattered. Anglers should stay on the move until fish are located, then drop a jig or live bait rig tipped with a minnow. Depths of 10-16 feet have been best, especially on Bemidji, Andrusia and Wolf lakes. Northern pike action has been good off the weed edges. Bass fishing remains excellent for those using plastics off the deep weedlines. For crappies, hit the cabbage weeds or look for suspended fish over deeper waters. Check out the Bemidji area fishing video(opens in new window) to learn more.
Contact Visit Bemidji for more information.
BENA – LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
Walleye action has been extremely good on Lake Winnibigoshish. Anglers report lots of success using jig and minnow combinations, spinners with minnows or shallow-running crank baits on the points and shoreline breaks in less than 10 feet of water. Look for perch at the mouth of the river or mixed in with walleye on the points. Northern pike seem to be active throughout the lake, but there haven’t been many large fish reported.
COOK COUNTY: LUTSEN-TOFTE, GRAND MARAIS, GUNFLINT TRAIL AND GRAND PORTAGE AREA WATERS
Lake trout appear to be staging for their spawn on Lake Superior in 60-90 feet of water. The salmon run has started and it is particularly good around the mouth of the Devil Track River. On inland lakes in Cook County, anglers report great fishing all around. The smallmouth bass have been eager to bite on lakes throughout the area. Walleye are active and responding well to jigs and minnows. Most have moved a bit deeper and can be easy to catch during morning and evening hours.
Contact Visit Cook County for more information.
DULUTH – LAKE SUPERIOR, ST. LOUIS RIVER AND INLAND WATERS
Lake Superior fishing continues to be very good for anglers still heading out. Trolling with spoons at 2.5-3.5 mph has been very effective. Fish continue to congregate near the river mouths, and good shore casting opportunities abound. Anglers are enjoying walks along the beautiful shorelines of Lake Superior where casting a heavy spoon can result in fun tangle with a fish and a lasting memory. Stream angling is also heating up with nice reports of brown trout and salmon coming in on flies and hard baits. Expect to run into other anglers on the more popular area streams.
The St. Louis River Estuary is producing good numbers of fish. The lower sections are giving up walleye to those trolling or casting #5 stick baits. Jigging or drifting live bait has worked better in areas south of Riverside. The crappie bite is just starting to heat up, with a few fish coming in on crappie minnows power corked over timber and sharp drop-offs. Muskie anglers are heading out now that water temperatures are dropping. If you head out, expect to see some boats speed trolling the shorelines.
On the inland waters, anglers no longer need to hit the water early in the morning. In fact, later afternoons have been very productive, especially for walleye and northern pike. And it’s been hard to keep rock bass off the hook! Sunnies and crappies haven’t been as eager to bite. For panfish, use lindy-rigging methods and drift with the wind. Bass are responding well to spinner baits and impulse plastics worked off the sharp breaks and around the remaining docks in 4-10 feet of water.
Contact Visit Duluth for more information.
GRAND RAPIDS AREA LAKES & RIVERS
Walleye fishing remains very good on area lakes, but some fish have changed locations on certain lakes. On deeper area lakes, such as Pokegama and Deer lakes, as well as Trout in Coleraine, the fish are moving to offshore structure in deeper waters. This is fairly common on clear, deep lakes that have food sources in deeper depths in the fall. On the shallower bodies of water within Itasca County, walleye are holding in depths of less than 10 feet. A jig and minnow combination is the presentation of choice for walleye in the shallows. Shallow water anglers are also taking nice northern pike and jumbo perch. If you notice birds dive-bombing depths of 4-10 feet of water, check out the area since there are probably schools of baitfish moving through. You may be surprised at what you’ll catch.
Muskie fishing has been very good on Itasca County area lakes. Anglers are seeing more fish per outing than earlier in the year. Good muskie lakes to check out are North Star, Deer, Moose and Big Cut Foot Sioux. The best presentation this time of year is a large bulldog, jerk bait, crank bait or inline bucktail.
Crappies and sunnies are moving off the weedlines into depths of 14-20 feet. And on several lakes, they have already moved to their pre-winter locations of 20-25 feet. Use your electronics to locate schools of migrating fish. Once found, drop a small jig tipped with a small plastic or waxworm for bluegill and sunfish. For crappies, use a jig and small plastic, but also try a crappie minnow occasionally. These presentations should work well for the remainder of the season.
ALEXANDRIA AREA LAKES
Many fish in Alexandria area lakes remain a bit scattered so staying on the move and searching various depths and locations is key. The weedlines continue to be best for bass, northern pike and panfish, with some walleye also found along the weeds. Weeds that are still green are especially good since they draw in baitfish. Bass are responding well to jigs, plastics and moving baits such as crank baits and spinner baits. Northern pike are also coming in on crank baits and spinner baits. Small plastics on jigs remain best for panfish. Walleye holding at the weedlines are being caught on live bait rigs and jigs tipped with minnows. Some walleye are being pulled from the deeper drop-offs heading to deep water on large jig and minnow combinations fished vertically.
Contact Explore Alexandria Tourism for more information.
ISLE/ONAMIA – LAKE MILLE LACS
New regulations are in place on Lake Mille Lacs. From Sept. 16 through Nov. 30, anglers may possess one walleye measuring 21- to 23- inches, or one walleye longer than 28-inches. All other walleye must be immediately released. Fishing will be allowed until midnight through Nov. 30. This is exciting news for anglers that want to take advantage of the great fall fishing Lake Mille Lacs has to offer! Over the next few weeks, try trolling in 4-12 feet of water at the reefs for walleye and smallmouth bass. It won’t be long until muskie action heats up in these areas as well.
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.
Contact the Mille Lacs Area Tourism Council for more information.
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