Walleye are responding well to live bait rigs with leeches or crawlers. Jigs and minnows are starting to turn fish as well. Trolling crank baits at night has also been a good way to put fish in the boat.
Anglers are asked to fish bodies of water close to home, and practice social distancing at the boat landings and shorelines. Learn more about safer ways to travel at Explore Minnesota’s COVID-19 Information page.
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]
Northwest Minnesota
Baudette – Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
On the south end of Lake of the Woods, anglers report lots of great walleye action. The two best techniques are crawler harnesses and crank baits worked over the deep basins. Large numbers of walleye are holding on the deep mud in 30-36 feet of water. Cover water by drifting or trolling, and try to use crawler harnesses in hammered gold, pink, glow or orange colors. Learn more at Crawler Harnesses Producing Numbers of Walleye. The best crank bait colors for stained water have been orange, pink UV, firetiger, chrome/blue and gold. Mix up crank bait size, shape, speed and direction, as well as rattling vs. non rattling to find what works best.
On the Rainy River, walleye and sauger can be found scattered on the flats when trolling crank baits. Anglers targeting sturgeon in the deep holes are doing well when using sturgeon rigs with crawlers or frozen emerald shiners. Smallmouth bass and northern pike are active around the current breaks, rocky areas and in the bays.
Up at the Northwest Angle, anglers report a great walleye bite, especially when fishing the mud adjacent to reefs and islands throughout the Angle. Spinners and crawlers or trolled crank baits are producing good numbers of fish. Lots of northern pike are also being caught. For pike and muskie, cast the bays and troll the rocky points. Smallmouth bass action has been very good in 5-15 feet of water in the rocky areas.
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
Bemidji
Water temperatures have dropped to the upper 60s and low 70s which seems to have increased the walleye bite. Jigs and minnows are starting to produce walleye more consistently, but the majority of fish continue to come in on live bait rigs with leeches or crawlers. Jigging raps are also producing fish. Look to the sharp breaks and mid-lake structure in 12-18 feet of water on Lakes Bemidji, Plantagenet, Andrusia and Wolf for the most fish.
Bass fishing remains excellent for those fishing topwater baits early in the day, and plastics along the deep weed edges later in the day. Northern pike action has been good when using jigs and minnows along the weedlines. Crappies have started to scatter out along the weed edges and cabbage areas. Anglers are asked to please practice selective harvesting to ensure the health of the fisheries for years to come. 800-458-2223; www.visitbemidji.com
Park Rapids
The walleye bite has been fantastic in the Park Rapids area. From eaters to trophies, walleye are being caught on medium-size leeches and orange 1/8-ounce jigs fished along the weed edges just out from shore in 13-23 feet of water. The sunken islands are also producing fish. The best technique has been to drag the jig through depths of 20-30 feet along the bottom slowly. Midday hours have been especially productive. Give the jig a quick upward “snap” occasionally to help draw attention and trigger a sudden bite. 800-247-0054; www.parkrapids.com
Central Region
Otter Tail Area Lakes
Trolling crank baits for walleye can be one of the most effective ways to put fish in the boat, especially at night. One guide reports that some of his biggest walleye were taken after dark when he believes the bigger walleye feed. To try your hand at night fishing, here are a few tips.
Tip #1 – Get a good headlamp. Obviously, the lack of light can be the biggest challenge of night fishing. Heading out during a full moon (or close to a full moon) will provide some natural light but at some point you’ll need light to see your lure, gear and hopefully a fish. Having a quality headlamp with fresh batteries can make all the difference.
Tip #2 – Get organized. You won’t want to be fumbling around the boat looking for stuff in the dark so make sure your net is free and pliers are easily accessible. Clear your boat of clutter since there shouldn’t be anything on the bottom of your boat at night.
Tip #3 – Safety First. Maybe this should be tip #1, but the first two tips go hand in hand with safety. Wear your life jacket. Fish lakes that you are familiar with and bring a fishing partner so you have another set of hands, ears and eyes.
Tip #4 – Keep it simple. Use a traditional spinning rod with 20- to 30-pound braid and a fluorocarbon leader that’s at least 6 feet in length. Attach a fairly large clip to the end of the leader so you can quickly switch crank baits. Start your trolling speed at 2 mph and adjust accordingly. Follow the weed structure in 13-18 feet of water — as water temperatures become more fall-like, waters as shallow as 6-7 feet will work better.
Tip #5 – Relax. Night trolling can be very relaxing and rejuvenating. It’s nice to be surrounded by peace and quiet instead of lots of boats and jet skis. 800-423-4571; www.ottertailcountry.com
Brainerd Area Lakes
Fishing has been very good in the Brainerd Lakes area, and walleye are biting at all times of the day. Look for large schools of fish off the edges of weeds in 12-18 feet of water. The red tail bite has increased a bit, but crawlers remain the best bet. Anglers report that the night trolling bite remains excellent off the outside weed edges.
Bass fishing remains outstanding for those fishing under the docks, off the deep weed points and at the inside turns. Areas of dense cabbage and coontail weeds are also holding fish. The best technique is to punch through the weeds with heavy jigs.
Northern pike are still deep and active, with fish responding to sucker minnows. Bluegills can be found around the cabbage, points and inside turns. Crappies are most active around dusk in the same locations as the bluegills. 218-825-0410; www.visitbrainerd.com
Isle/Onamia – Lake Mille Lacs
Fishing remains consistent on Lake Mille Lacs, and walleye action has been spectacular. Most of the walleye are holding in the gravel/mud areas, but soon fish will move to the shallow rock reefs and points. For now, the best tactics remain bobber fishing in the evenings, and bottom bouncing in the mornings and afternoons.
More bass are coming from deeper waters, and these fish are definitely bigger than the bass caught on the shoreline structure. For the most action, use a ned rig. A few bass can also be taken when using drop shots and tubes. Natural colors have been best, including crayfish, leech and perch.
Northern pike anglers are having a blast trolling the weed edges, with a variety of sizes being taken. While there have been few reports of muskie action, a 46-inch fish was recently taken by an anglers throwing baits across the rock reefs in 4-10 feet of water.
Please remember that when water is this warm, anglers must handle fish carefully. Try to hook the fish quickly, then bring it up slowly. The less handling, the better. Check out current lake conditions at the Mille Lacs Lake Webcams web page. 888-350-2692; www.millelacs.com
Northeast Minnesota
Ely
Walleye fishing slowed considerably last week as several fronts blew through the area. Still, anglers reported an excellent trolling bite when using deep-diving crank baits trolled at 15-30 feet of water over large flats or open water during evening hours. A couple of anglers also reported success trolling lindy rigs or jigging with larger minnows out around the sunken islands in 20-25 feet of water.
Smallmouth bass have been a challenge for walleye anglers fishing around the sunken islands. Lots of large smallies have been aggressively hitting jigs with minnows, jigs with half a crawler and even deep-diving crank baits trolled near the sunken islands. Anglers are also reporting a good early morning topwater and spinnerbait bite along the shorelines.
A good northern pike bite has been reported on many area lakes, with lots of fish and some large pike being taken while trolling or casting large spoons or spinnerbaits along the weedlines. The smaller pike have been holding inside the weed beds, while the bigger pike are patrolling the weedlines.
Stream trout anglers continue to catch quality size trout in the shallows during the last two hours of the day. Simply trolling small crank baits, flatfish, or slip bobbers with a crawler are producing trout. When winds calm down, trout are surfacing.
Crappies continue to be found suspended and scattered out over the deep basins. Anglers are using their electronics to locate crappies in the basin. Once located, small jigs and twisters, beetle spins and crappie minnows fished under a bobber are producing well.
Lake trout fishing has been good this last week for anglers targeting lakers, with lake trout responding to trolled spoons on lead core or downriggers. Anglers having the most success have been trolling 20-30 feet down over deep water. 800-777-7281; www.ely.org
Duluth – Lake Superior, St. Louis River and inland waters
Lake Superior continues to give up lots of nice lake trout along the North Shore and South Shore. Good reports are coming from anglers fishing near Two Harbors, Silver Bay, and as far as Grand Marais. The South Shore is also producing well on select days. Trolling dipsey divers, riggers or heavy copper line has been best to target waters more than 100 feet deep. Brightly colored spoons have been good for a nice mix of fish. Popular colors include pink lemonade, watermelon, bright limes and hot oranges. Try a zig zag approach, and circle to change up speeds and troll patterns. Flasher fly combinations are also working well. Don’t be surprised if you catch a few bonus salmon and walleye.
Stream fishing has been good for some brook trout and an occasional brown trout. Casting and slowly retrieving #3 spinners or smaller flat fish have turned a few fish. Work the deeper holes at the river bends or try presenting your bait under shaded tree overhangs for a fun tangle with these aggressive trout.
A few walleye are being pulled from the St. Louis River as fish begin to move into the system. Most river anglers, however, continue to pursue catfish, which are responding well to a simple nightcrawler rig. Smallmouth bass and some nice northern pike are being caught in the faster, cleaner waters in the upper sections of the river. Some perch are being caught on the flats when drifting a simple leech, red hook and sinker. Traffic is slow this time of year, so you will likely have large areas of water to yourself. If you haven’t fished the St. Louis River in a while, take your time since some new boating hazards have showed up over the last several weeks.
The inland water bite has offered the most action over the last several weeks, but some days have been a challenge. The best tactic has been to troll deep-diving crank baits through waters over 20 feet deep at roughly 2 mph for some walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike. The mid-lake humps and windblown points and shorelines have been best. Panfishing has been decent later in the afternoons in and around the deeper weeds. For the most action, use a leech or chunk of crawler under a slip bobber. Muskie anglers are starting to head out on the many popular muskie waters, finding that early morning and late afternoon hours have been best. 800-438-5884; www.visitduluth.com
Grand Rapids
Recent storms have helped raise lake levels which had receded too low to allow access to many area lakes. Some lakes have risen as much as 1 1/2-feet so launching a boat is now much easier. Walleye fishing on several lakes has been better than anticipated for mid-August and should continue into the fall. The shallow waters on several lakes have been good locations, especially those that have been windblown for a couple of days. Slowly trolled spinners with a chub or golden shiner have been best when run at 1- to 1.4-mph to cover large expanses of shoreline. Jigs and minnows are starting to turn fish, but this presentation will work even better once water temperatures cool another 10-15 degrees. Some of the lakes that are producing walleye include Big Splithand, Big Winnie, Bowstring and Big Jessie.
Muskie fishing has been good, with several lakes producing fish in the mid 40- to 50-inch range. The weed beds, rock piles and areas with a mixture of both have been good locations. Remember, if you get a bite but don’t catch a fish, return to that area an hour or two later and try again. Changing baits or colors can make a big difference, causing previously reluctant fish to bite. Early and late in the day are the some of the best times to chase these giants, especially on sunny days. Some of the lakes to consider include Deer, Moose, North Star, Big Cutfoot, the Blandin Reservoir and sections of the Mississippi River. www.visitgrandrapids.com
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