Similar to last week, water temperatures on some Minnesota waters are as high as the mid-80s. Many species of fish have moved deeper in search of cooler, more oxygenated waters, but some fish are coming from the deeper weeds where shade and baitfish can be found. Fishing early and late in the day is recommended for walleye and northern pike anglers, however, bass and panfish remain very active throughout the day!
Anglers are asked to fish bodies of water close to home, and practice social distancing at the boat landings and shorelines.
For rules, regulations and other helpful information on fishing in Minnesota, consult the DNR’s Fish Minnesota web page.
[Northeast] [Northwest] [Central] [Minneapolis-St. Paul Area] [Southern]
Northeast Minnesota
Kabetogama
Anglers have been marking large schools of inactive fish in depths of 30-40 feet on Lake Kabetogama, then returning later to find active fish in slightly shallower waters. Enticing these fish to bite can take some time and patience. Pulling spinners is a good way to cover water and get a reaction bite. Lindy rigs and leeches are a great tactic when presented slowly (.1- to .2-mph). Also try casting the weedlines since walleye have been mixed in with the northern pike and smallmouth bass.
Northern pike and smallmouth bass anglers report very active fish along the weedlines and shallow rocky shorelines, with these fish attacking just about anything thrown their way. It won’t be long until the larger pike start heading to deeper water in search of colder and more oxygenated waters. 800-524-9085; www.kabetogama.com
Ely
Walleye fishing remains slow for many anglers, but anglers that do find walleye are all reporting very similar locations and successful presentations. Most of the walleye are coming from the sunken islands that top out at 10-15 feet of water, although not all sunken islands in that depth range are holding fish so anglers need to keep moving until fish are spotted on a depth finder. Once walleye are located, drift over them using a jig and pike sucker or a spinner rig tipped with a leech or crawler. Another successful technique is to troll shad raps through 10-15 feet of water over the large flats during evening hours.
Smallmouth bass fishing remains consistent for bass anglers fishing topwater lures early in the morning. Largemouth bass have also been very active, responding to topwater frogs fished in the weed beds or lily pads. As the sun rises high in the sky, expect both species to slide out a little deeper and become unwilling to hit topwater lures. This is the time to switch over to spinner baits, beetle spins or wacky worms.
The exceptionally high water temperatures have pushed even the smallest northern pike to the weedlines and deeper. Early morning, when the water temperatures are coolest, has been the best time to fish for pike. Good choices are buzz baits, spoons, and large suckers fished under a bobber. The large weed beds and river mouths have been the best locations to find pike. 800-777-7281; www.ely.org
Duluth – Lake Superior, St. Louis River and inland waters
Lake Superior anglers are still catching nice numbers of trout when fishing areas off the mainland and near the mapped shipping channels. Anglers having the most success are using meat rigs towed deep at roughly 1.75-mph. Early to mid-morning hours have been best, but cloudy days have also been productive times to fish. Spoons and flasher-fly combinations are excellent choices when you locate the ideal depth. Surface baits are no longer producing fish. Walleye are scattered along the south shore so it has been difficult to locate fish. The best tactic is to troll mid-range stick baits at least 50 feet behind boards. Anglers that do connect with walleye report some impressive sizes.
The walleye bite has slowed on the St. Louis River. The ideal presentation seems to change daily, and locating the most productive areas can be difficult. Deeper, cooler waters continue to be best. The river has a great channel catfish bite occurring, with fish responding to live bait. A few perch and northern pike are being pulled from the shallow flats along the contours (deep transitions).
The inland waters are giving up the majority of fish. Largemouth bass anglers are enjoying lots of fast action when using topwater lures along the vegetation near shore due to hatching amphibians. Early morning and late evening hours have been the most productive. Some bass are also being taken from shaded areas during the day. Walleye continue to head deeper to areas adjacent the mid-lake humps. Anglers having the most success are drifting live bait through 15-25 feet of water. Don’t be surprised if you catch a few smallmouth bass as well. The sunfish continue to be an easy target when using smaller soft plastics and/or worm chunks in the deeper weeds. Crappies have been actively searching the weedlines for minnows. For the most fish, slowly troll beatle spinners. You may pull in a few northern pike along the way. Muskie fishing has basically come to a halt due to hot water temperatures. Most muskie anglers have chosen to wait until water temperatures drop to roughly 70 degrees. Current inland water temperatures range from the mid-70s to low 80s.
Please note that oxygen levels and other variables are negatively affecting certain fish species, especially the larger fish now that water temperatures are roughly 80 degrees on many area waters. If you catch a large fish, it is very important to release it as quickly as possible. 800-438-5884; www.visitduluth.com
Grand Rapids
Most anglers are limiting their fishing to early morning and late evening hours due to the current hot summer temperatures. Bass and panfish remain active throughout the day when temperatures are hot, but the walleye and northern pike generally retreat and rest in cooler waters in the shade of the weeds.
Largemouth bass anglers continue to have a blast on Grand Rapids area waters due to lots of fast action. Anglers should remember that color can make a big difference in success rates. On the clear water lakes, blacks and blues are dominant, but changing over to a crawfish pattern can sometimes be the trick to increasing the catch rate. Also, creating sound using a vibrating jig with a plastic tail or a buzz bait fished quickly can trigger immediate reaction bites. Some of the better bass lakes in the area are Ranier, Buck, Loon, Rice, Trout, Balsam and Long. www.visitgrandrapids.com
Northwest Minnesota
Baudette – Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
The south end of Lake of the Woods has been good to walleye anglers, with lots of limits, plenty of larger slot fish (19.5- to 28-inches) and some trophy-size walleye (over 28 inches) being taken. The mayfly hatch is over in some areas of the lake, but just beginning in other areas. Success rates have been higher where the hatch has ended. Anglers taking the most fish are using spinners with crawlers, or trolled crank baits. Nice schools of eating-size fish can be found all along the south shore and up north around Garden Island in 10-15 feet of water. Lot of walleye are also staging over the deep mud in depths of 30-34 feet. The most productive colors are hammered gold, gold, glow white and glow red.
Sturgeon anglers are having success on the Rainy River, especially during evening hours. The best approach is to fish the holes in the river using a 3-ounce no-roll sinker and sturgeon rig loaded with crawlers and/or frozen shiners. Many nice smallmouth bass are being pulled from the rocky areas of the river. Northern pike are very active, cruising the bays, weed edges and current breaks. Walleye can be found out on the flats where they are responding to crawler harnesses and trolled crank baits.
Up at the Northwest Angle, fishing has been excellent. Schools of active walleye can be found on the structure, over the sand and on the mud. Lots of nice walleye measuring 8- to 17-inches are coming from the sand, and many 25- to 28-inch fish are being pulled from the structure. Large numbers of eating-size fish are also being caught. The best presentations remain drifting and trolling spinners tipped with a crawler or minnow. Northern pike and smallmouth bass are active in the many weedy bays.
Until the U.S./Canada border opens, guests can travel across the lake and stay in Minnesota waters. Learn more at Boating to the Northwest Angle. 800-382-FISH; www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com
Walker – Leech Lake
Walleye fishing has slowed a bit on Leech Lake, but anglers continue to find active schools of fish, especially early and late in the day. On the main lake, anglers are doing well when pulling spinners through depths of 16-20 feet of water along the rock reefs and transition areas. Switching blade color and speed can be the key to success. Slow-death rigs have also been good at times. Anglers should check the deeper breaklines where large schools of baitfish are holding in 25-30 feet of water — expect some larger walleye to be right nearby. On the west side of the lake in Walker Bay, the shoreline breaks and breaklines continue to kick out fish in 12-20 feet of water depending on the wind and the day. Pulling crawlers and leeches on lindy rigs, as well as throwing slip bobbers with leeches are working best. Crank baits and trolled #5 and #7 shad raps should be strong producers in the near future.
Some of the smaller area lakes are also kicking out fish, including bass, walleye, northern pike and panfish. Ideal presentations include spinners, lindy rigs and corks worked in 16-22 feet of water along the weedlines. Crappie anglers are having the most success when trolling plastics and 1/32-ounce jigs through 12-16 feet of water to locate fish. Once found, toss out a slip bobber rig with a jig and minnow. The bass have been active in the weeds and at the weed edges, responding well to Texas-rigged plastics. Topwater presentations are a good choice during low light hours. Expect the smallmouth bass to have moved a little off the rock edges, with drop shot rigs turning lots of fish. Muskie fishing is starting to show signs of life, with the majority of action at the weeds and up in the slop. The muskie will likely be transitioning into the rocks in the coming weeks. 800-833-1118; www.leech-lake.com
Detroit Lakes
Walleye anglers are finding fish on the mid-lake structure and long extending points and bars. Look for fish in depths of 19-26 feet on clear water lakes, and tight to the weedlines in shallower waters in the stained water lakes. Anglers are currently doing well when trolling, jig-rapping, bottom bouncing and using spinners and slow-death rigs, but rigs and bobbers with leeches, crawlers or minnows continue to produce some fish.
The crappies have been aggressive, hitting spinner rigs and jigs with plastics worked over weeds in 9-15 feet of water. Northern pike are active at the weed edges, with the larger pike in the cooler, deeper waters off the weed edges with sharper drops. Largemouth bass are relating to weed beds, docks and downed trees in the shallows. Smallmouth bass have been active at the rock/weed transition areas.
Water temperatures are running 78- to 86-degrees in Detroit Lakes area lakes. Due to warm lake and pond water temperatures, leech trapping has ended. 800-542-3992; www.visitdetroitlakes.com
Central Region
Otter Tail Area Lakes
The high temperatures and recent storms seem to have affected the fish. Anglers report great fishing some days, then slow fishing on other days. Patterns are changing often so the key to success is to be able to adapt. Rigging roach rigs with crawlers or leeches has been productive for many anglers. Bottom bouncers with butterfly spinners are a fast way to locate fish. The mid-lake humps are starting to hold lots of fish. Look for areas with a soft to hard bottom transition since fish really like transition areas this time of year. 800-423-4571; www.ottertailcountry.com
Glenwood Area Lakes
Walleye action has been good for anglers using bottom bouncers and crawlers in deeper waters. Trolled plugs are also turning fish in some locations.
Bass and northern pike action remains strong, especially at the deeper weeds holding baitfish. Jigs and plastics have been the most productive in these areas.
Panfish remain active in lakes throughout the area. Anglers report lots of fish at the weedlines, with many good-size panfish being caught. For the most action, use jigs or hair jigs with small plastics. www.glenwoodlakesarea.org
Isle/Onamia – Lake Mille Lacs
Please note that walleye fishing is prohibited during the month of July on Lake Mille Lacs, however, the walleye season will resume on August 1.
Check out current lake conditions at the Mille Lacs Lake Webcams web page. 888-350-2692; www.millelacs.com
Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
Twin Cities anglers that want to fish a nearby lake can rent a boat at parks within the Three Rivers Park District. Learn more at the Three Rivers Park District Watercraft Rentals web page.
Stillwater – St. Croix River
River water conditions on the St. Croix River are now clearing following a huge rain event roughly one week ago that left the area drenched in 8- to 9-inches of rain. The rains churned up the Willow and Kinnickinnic rivers so much that the outflows into the St. Croix River resulted in water clarity less than one foot in many areas. Luckily, that is all in the past now. Water temperatures are hovering around 80 degrees which is more typical of late July/early August temperatures. The fish are hungry, feasting on shiners and shad. A local St. Croix River guide and his guests caught 45- to 50-walleye on a recent trip, but only one was of legal-size! Amidst all of the action were lots of white bass breaking the surface, offering additional fun for the group. The best presentation for the walleye was a crawler worked in 18 -28 feet of water.
The St. Croix River is also producing quite a few nice-size crappies and smallmouth bass. And one lucky angler recently took a 25-pound flathead catfish on a gold bladed cowgirl muskie bait! 651-351-1717; www.discoverstillwater.com
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