BAUDETTE/WARROAD – LAKE OF THE WOODS & THE RAINY RIVER
It’s been a great week of walleye fishing on Lake of the Woods. Anglers are catching lots of nice fish when drifting spinners with crawlers, trolling crankbaits, and jigging minnows. For spinners, use hammered gold, glow red or glow white colors. Gold, pink and glow have been good colors for jigs in the stained waters. Look for various schools of walleye out in the basins in 30-36 feet of water.
On the Rainy River, walleye anglers report some nice-size fish. Anglers are optimistic about river fishing going forward due to good current and forage. Some large sturgeon were taken this week, including a monster sturgeon in the mid-60 inch range. As water temperatures cool, the bite in the river should only get better.
Up at the Northwest Angle, walleye fishing has been excellent for those jigging and pulling spinners and crawlers. Areas around Garden Island, Little Traverse Bay, and various deep points and sunken islands ae holding good numbers of fish. Muskie are being caught by anglers casting in the bays and at the rocky points. Smallmouth bass are very active on the rocky points and along the scattered rocky shorelines.
Contact Lake of the Woods Tourism Bureau for more information.
FARGO-MOORHEAD – RED RIVER
Catfish anglers are enjoying a great week of fishing on the Red River. Successful anglers are fishing right in the middle of the river at the heads of holes or back in the middle of holes. Holes that are three to six feet deeper than the flat running into them have been best. Anglers generally need to sit for 20-30 minutes for a bite, but it’s worth it for the fight! Most baits are turning fish but rotating between frogs and suckers should yield the most fish. Now is a good time to downsize hooks, especially circle hooks, to prevent blinding catfish that are caught.
Contact the Fargo-Moorhead Convention & Visitors Bureau for more information.
DETROIT LAKES AREA LAKES
Water temperatures in Detroit Lakes area lakes remain in the low 70s despite cooler nights and shorter daylight hours. The bright sun and non-existent wind earlier in the week stimulated a significant algae bloom on many area lakes. Some fish move shallower when light penetration is reduced during these conditions. Many walleye, however, remain out in deeper water at the extended bars and points. Walleye anglers are having the most success using rigs with minnows, leeches or crawlers but leeches are getting harder to find. Look for the minnow bite to be “bait of choice” in the near future. Many fish of all species continue to use the weedlines and breaks to find forage and the bite has been strong. Musky action will pick up as water temperatures drop over the next several weeks.
ISLE/ONAMIA – LAKE MILLE LACS
As of today, Sept. 1, on Lake Mille Lacs, you can keep one walleye 20- to 23-inches long or one longer than 26-inches, with fishing allowed from 6 a.m. to midnight. Mille Lacs is full of 26-inch plus walleye but most of the walleye are slow to bite since they have been gorging on the abundant forage in the lake. For the most fish, avoid areas where schools of minnows are located. A number of fun events will take place this Labor Day Weekend including the White Pine Threshing Show and Hunter’s Point Fall Festival and Art Fair!
Contact the Mille Lacs Area Tourism Council for more information.
WILLMAR AREA LAKES
Anglers will enjoy some excellent late summer fishing in the Willmar Lakes Area this weekend. Panfish and northern pike remain very active on most area lakes. Northern pike, crappies and sunnies are being pulled from the shallows of Diamond, Norway, Eagle and Nest lakes. Green Lake is producing nice-sized sunfish in the shallows and quite a few walleye in depths of 25-35 feet of water. For the most walleye, troll during early evening hours. Anglers have found active walleye in 6 feet of water in Long Lake. Other lakes to check out for good walleye action this time of year are Diamond and Big Kandiyohi. Bass remain quite active on Eagle and Green lakes.
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