Bass and panfish anglers are enjoying an excellent bite. While the walleye bite has slowed a bit, nice numbers of fish are being taken. Weedy areas and lowlight hours seem to be key to catching fish. Expect fishing for most species to continually heat up over the next few weeks as water temperatures drop.
FISHING CONDITIONS IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA
BAUDETTE/WARROAD – LAKE OF THE WOODS & THE RAINY RIVER
Limits of walleye, including some large fish, are being pulled from Lake of the Woods. Crawler harnesses, spinners and crawlers, and crankbaits have been very effective, but jigs also continue to produce fish. Some walleye can be found near shore, some are on the reefs, and some are hanging out in the basin areas. Going forward, expect more down-rigging at the deeper mud. Anglers that have taken their limits of walleye are hitting the back bays, such as Four Mile Bay, Zippel and Bostic, for a nice mix of northern pike and bass. Lake levels continue to drop and all boat ramps have reopened.
On the Rainy River, water levels are dropping and the current is slowing. Sturgeon anglers report good numbers of fish with some very large. The most effective method is a 4 -to 5-ounce weight combined with a sturgeon rig loaded with crawlers. With water levels dropping, some fish are transitioning from the bays to more traditional river structure such as the shoreline breaks, current breaks, weed edges and holes.
Up at the Northwest Angle, fishing remains excellent. The islands areas are giving up a mixed bag of walleye, sauger, northern pike, smallmouth bass, perch, and even a few crappies. Jigging and pulling spinners are producing the most fish. Check the points and neck-down areas with moving water for additional fish. For the most walleye, hit the mud flats. Muskie anglers are having success casting to the shoreline structure.
Plan ahead for the 31st Annual North American Sturgeon Championship(opens in new window) held at Nelson’s Park in Birchdale on Saturday, Aug. 20! Be sure to bring the kids along for the 8th Annual North American Youth Sturgeon Championship.
Contact Lake of the Woods Tourism Bureau for more information.
MOORHEAD – RED RIVER
All ramps on the Red River are now open and usable. Fishing has shifted to a full-on summer pattern as catfish spread out. Most catfish are coming from the holes; weather and other conditions will determine if the fish are in holes near fast or slow waters. The best baits can change a couple times each day. Frogs have been productive during morning hours with cut suckers most effective during afternoon hours most recently. Goldeyes will also produce some days. Remember that most spots will only produce a fish or two so don’t spend too much time in one location, especially if you have caught a couple of fish.
Contact the Fargo-Moorhead Convention & Visitors Bureau for more information.
BEMIDJI AREA LAKES
Bass fishing continues to be excellent on Bemidji area lakes. The most exciting fishing is around sunrise. Throw a topwater bait up into the shallow grass and lily pads for plenty of explosions! During mid-morning hours, use tube jigs, jig worms or Texas-rigged plastic worms for fast action at the deep weed edges. Crappies are coming from the deeper cabbage. For huge bluegills, hit the deeper humps. Walleye are biting but patience is the key. Cover lots of water by pulling spinners with crawlers or live bait rigs with leeches and you’ll pick up a few fish.
FISHING CONDITIONS IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA
OTTER TAIL LAKE COUNTRY AREA LAKES
Anglers are finding walleye by triggering them using reaction techniques. Jigging raps, hair jigs and crankbaits have been some of the best producers. Work these presentations aggressively either in the weeds or along the weedlines. During low-light periods, use live bait rigs. Bass fishing continues to be excellent. Flipping jigs into pads, clumps of cane and bullrushes has been very effective. Another fun, fast way to fish bass is to toss frogs over lily pads. Expect some great bites and topwater blow-ups! Crappie and bluegill fishing remains steady, especially for those trolling and fan-casting small jigs near the cabbage beds.
Contact Otter Tail Lakes Country Association for more information.
ALEXANDRIA AREA LAKES
A strong summer of good fishing continues in the Alexandria area. Walleye are coming from the underwater humps and sunken islands in deeper water. Glide baits and live bait rigs with heavier sinker weights have been very effective. Anglers targeting walleye at the basins are having success using crankbaits trolled on leadcore line. The weedlines continue to hold bass and panfish. Bass anglers are throwing crankbaits to locate fish then switching over to ned rigs once schools of fish are located. Panfish are responding to jigs tipped with small plastics, either trolled or cast along the weedlines. More good fishing is expected this weekend!
Contact Explore Alexandria Tourism for more information.
BRAINERD AREA LAKES
Anglers fishing lakes in the Brainerd Lakes Area are catching walleye at the weeds on the sandy flats, the steep weedlines, and on top or along the edges of the mid-lake humps. Slip bobbers with leeches and jigs with minnows are ideal combinations. Rigging live or artificial nightcrawlers should also lead to a few bites. When fishing hard/sandy bottom areas, use reaction-style lures such as jigging raps or shiver minnows to trigger bites. Depths of 26-30 feet of water are best during sunny, midday periods, but some walleye can also be found in the 6-12 foot weeds. On overcast or windy days and during low-light hours, work depths of 18-24 feet. After dark, long-line trolling shallow-running crankbaits through 5-12 feet of water continues to produce walleye of various sizes. Casting and jigging a 1/16- or 1/32-ounce jig tipped with the tail of a mister twister is turning crappies and rainbow trout. Largemouth bass are very active at the weed flats and weedlines in 6-15 feet of water, as well as in the deep weeds in 16-plus feet of water. For the most action, use ned rigs, drop-shots or topwater frogs at the thick weeds. In the mine pit lakes near Crosby and Ironton, rainbow trout and tullibees are responding well to slip bobbers with crawlers, tungsten jigs with soft plastics, and jigging rap-style lures worked in 20-40 feet of water during the day, and 10-20 feet of water early and late in the day and when it is overcast.
Contact Visit Brainerd for more information.
ISLE/ONAMIA – LAKE MILLE LACS
On Lake Mille Lacs, anglers are catching walleye when using leeches under slip bobbers at the hard/soft bottom transition areas in 24-30 feet of water, and at the edges of the mud flats. Slide on top of the rock reefs in 8-16 feet of water or onto the edges in 16-22 feet of water for great smallmouth bass action.
The Lake Mille Lacs Take a Vet Fishing Weekend(opens in new window) is Saturday and Sunday, August 13-14. If you own a fishing boat and would like to take a veteran fishing, visit takeavetfishing.org/event(opens in new window)s and sign up as a guide!
The DNR reminds Lake Mille Lacs anglers that the walleye season is catch-and-release through the end of summer. The one-fish walleye limit is scheduled to resume Thursday, Sept. 1, running through Wednesday, Nov. 30.
Contact the Mille Lacs Area Tourism Council for more information.
WILLMAR AREA LAKES
Summer fishing patterns are holding strong for many species of fish in the Willmar Lakes Area. As water temperatures begin to drop, the bite should heat up quickly. For now, concentrate on the weedlines to find the most active fish. Anglers using a small jig or spinner rig tipped with a nightcrawler in 10-15 feet of water are catching the most fish. Stay on the move until you locate fish. Many walleye are also being caught at night by anglers trolling through depths of 18-35 feet of water on Green, Eagle and Diamond lakes. The bass bite has been excellent in depths of 8-18 feet on many area lakes including Andrew and Henderson. Northern pike, crappies and sunnies are being pulled from 10-15 foot depths by anglers using a crawler or minnow on North Long Lake. Anglers also report active fish on Andrew, Florida, Eagle, Diamond, Nest and Green lakes.
Comments