Last week’s fishing opener made many walleye anglers very happy! Jigs and minnows fished slowly in depths of 4-12 feet were very effective and are expected to remain so until the end of the month. The bays and lakes with the highest water temperatures were the most productive. Please be aware that some waters in northern Minnesota have extremely high water levels and public accesses may not be accessible
This summer, anglers can participate in a fun fishing tournament and support a worthy cause! The virtual Hook, Line & Shelter Fishing Tournament is open to anglers on any Minnesota lake across seven fish categories beginning May 14 and running through Labor Day.
Minnesota fishing opener dates for the 2022-2023 fishing season for most inland waters are as follows: Stream trout: April 16; walleye, sauger, northern pike, bass (catch-and-release) and lake trout: May 14; muskie: June 4. The fishing season for crappies, sunnies, perch and catfish is continuous.
According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, anglers need to be very cautious due to extremely cold water this time of year. Learn more about cold water dangers.
| NORTHWEST REGIONWalleye and sauger have been eager to bite on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River. Vertically jigging a bright jig tipped with a minnow in 6-20 feet of water has been the most effective due to cloudy waters. Lakes in the Bemidji area have been giving up walleye to anglers using a jig tipped with a minnow in 6-10 feet of water. Lakes with streams flowing in were the most productive. Jig and minnow combinations worked in depths of 6-10 feet have also produced on Leech Lake. Use a similar approach on Detroit Lakes area lakes, focusing on the shoreline flats and breaks to connect with active fish. | ||
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CENTRAL REGIONAnglers are having some success using jigs and minnows in water less than 14 feet deep on Lake Mille Lacs. The less than stellar bite is attributed to the huge forage base of small perch. The smaller, shallower Alexandria area lakes have been the most productive, especially for those using jigs and minnows in the shallows. In Otter Tail Lakes Country, walleye are responding well to jigs tipped with a minnow or soft plastic. The shallow sand flats in water 12 feet of water or less have been the most productive. | |
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