WEEKLY FISHING UPDATE – AUGUST 18, 2022
The weedlines and thick deep weeds continue to give up a nice mix of fish, especially during morning and evening hours. Water temperatures are dropping and the bite should continually improve as we move into fall.
FISHING CONDITIONS IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA
BAUDETTE/WARROAD – LAKE OF THE WOODS & THE RAINY RIVER
Walleye fishing has been very good on Lake of the Woods this summer and it remains good with lots of limits being reported. Drifting spinners with two or three hooks and a few inches of crawler is working well. Jigging with a frozen emerald shiner also remains effective for walleye. The larger walleye have been responding well to jigs, spinners and crankbaits worked over the deep mud. Lots of nice eating-size fish can be found in depths of 15-20 feet outside both gaps on the south end of the lake, and in numerous areas of Big Traverse Bay.
Water levels continue to drop on the Rainy River. The shoreline breaks, current breaks, weed edges and holes are holding a mixed bag of walleye, sturgeon and smallmouth bass. Sturgeon anglers are having the most success at the holes, flats or saddles adjacent the current.
Up at the Northwest Angle, anglers continue to take good numbers of large walleye. Little Traverse Bay (large open water east of Little Oak Island) holds lots of walleye over the deep mud. Other good summer locations are the sunken islands, points, and neck-down areas with moving water. Muskie anglers report nice numbers of active fish.
Attend 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.
WALKER – LEECH LAKE
Fishing on Leech Lake remains consistently good. Leeches and nightcrawlers worked in 10-14 of water in areas such as Cedar Point, Sand Point and Breezy Point have been productive, especially during morning and evening hours.On the main lake, pull spinners and crawlers through 12-15 feet of water for walleye. The edges of Big Rock, Huddles and Annex reefs have offered the most consistent action. Smallmouth bass are also active in these areas, responding to swim baits and leeches under a bobber on top of the reefs with boulders. In the evening, troll a #7 shad rap in crayfish or purple through these areas for lots of fun, fast action. Water temperatures are in the high 60s.
Contact the Leech Lake Area Tourism Bureau for more information.
DETROIT LAKES AREA LAKES
Water temperatures in Detroit Lakes area lakes are dropping with current readings in the low 70s. As water temperatures drop further, the bite should continually improve.Walleye anglers are catching fish off the deep weed edges on the breaks in 20-30 feet of water, with some fish still found at the weeds. Slow-death spinners, crankbaits, jigs and rigs with minnows, leeches or crawlers, and rippin’ raps are all producing walleye. Smallmouth bass are very active in the deeper water over hard bottom areas. Largemouth are on inside and outside weed edges, as well as shallow targets such as docks. For the most action, use jigs with plastics or sucker minnows, or cast spinnerbaits or crankbaits. Northern pike and muskies are chasing fast-moving presentations at the cabbage weed beds. Sunfish are relating to the weed beds in 5-25 feet of water. Small jigs tipped with plastic tails, minnows, leeches or a piece of crawler are working well, as is bobber fishing with a hook and a leech or piece of crawler. Crappies continue to come from the outside edge of the cabbage weeds on aggressive presentations worked in depths of 11-15 feet.
Contact the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce for more information.
FISHING CONDITIONS IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA
BRAINERD AREA LAKES
Good multi-species action is reported in the Brainerd Lakes Area. Walleye continue to be pulled from the weeds on sandy flats, bottom sides of steep weedlines, and edges of mid-lake humps. Leeches under slip bobbers and jigs with minnows have been very productive. Anglers fishing hard/soft bottom areas are triggering bites by using rigs with live or artificial nightcrawlers, and reaction-style lures such as jigging raps or shiver minnows. During sunny, midday periods, hit depths of 26-30 feet or the 12-16 foot weeds; during lowlight, windy and/or overcast conditions, fish depths of 18-24 feet.
Panfish are active at the weedlines and on the weed flats in 6-15 feet of water. Various species can be caught when trolling spinner rigs at .8-1.8 mph over the big weed flats and weedlines. Casting and jigging a 1/16- or 1/32-ounce jig tipped with the tail of a mister twister continues to produce crappies and rainbow trout. Northern pike are hitting spinnerbaits trolled over the weeds near bays and over large weed flats. Largemouth bass are active at the weed flats and weedlines in 6-15 feet of water, and in 16-plus feet of water at the deep weeds. Ned rigs, drop-shots and topwater frogs have been very effective in the thick weeds.
In the mine pit lakes near Crosby and Ironton, anglers are catching nice numbers of rainbow trout and tullibees. On sunny days, troll depths of 20-40 feet. During low light hours and when it is overcast, concentrate on depths of 10-20 feet. Crawlers under slip bobbers, soft plastics on tungsten jigs, and rap-style lures are all producing fish.
Contact Visit Brainerd for more information.
ISLE/ONAMIA – LAKE MILLE LACS
On Lake Mille Lacs, walleye anglers are having success when targeting fish in 24-30 feet of water on the hard to soft transition areas. The edges of the mud flats are also good locations. For the most walleye, use a leech under a slip bobber.Smallmouth bass have been very active on top of the rock reefs in 8-16 feet of water, and at the edges in 16-22 feet of water. Anglers should concentrate on areas of big rocks and pockets of sand in rocky locations.
The DNR has relaxed the fall harvest slot for walleye fishing on Lake Mille Lacs. Beginning Thursday, Sept. 1, anglers may harvest one walleye 20-23 inches or one longer than 26 inches, with fishing allowed from 6 a.m. to midnight. The original walleye harvest slot for fall fishing on Mille Lacs was one fish 21-23 inches or one longer than 28 inches.
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