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FISHING REPORT Alexandria area
A jig and minnow is turning a few walleyes in 4 to 6 feet at lakes Mary, Andrew, and Oscar. Crappies seem to be in and out of the shallows depending on weather conditions, but look to lakes Carlos, Lobster, Darling, Miltona, and Le Homme Dieu when the sun is out. Lake Carlos is the area's best option for northern pike as well.
Bemidji area
A jig and shiner minnow is turning walleyes in 4 to 6 feet, or the moving water areas of Lake Andrusia, Big Wolf Lake and Lake Irving. Northern pike and panfish reports have been limited.
Blackduck area
Walleye action has been limited with a few fish coming off Gull Lake and Blackduck Lake in shallow water. Panfish action also remains slow, but lakes such as Rabideau, Gilstead and Pimushe should turn on once the water warms.
Brainerd/Nisswa area
Finding a consistent walleye bite has been difficult. Even in shallow water, finding numbers of fish has been tough. Crappie fishing has been much more consistent. Flu Flu jigs tipped with minnows or waxworms are triggering numbers of crappies and a few sunfish in shallow water.
Crosby area
Bright-colored crankbaits are producing limits of trout on the local pit lakes. The best walleye reports are coming from 3 to 6 feet, with most anglers doing best using crankbaits. Sunfish and crappie activity has picked up in the shallow bays and shoreline areas of most lakes. Look for northern pike to be hitting sucker minnows under a float throughout the area.
Detroit Lakes
A minnow and bobber rig has worked best for walleyes during the evening hours. Concentrate on the current areas of Pelican Lake, Big Pine Lake, Little Pine Lake and Cormorant Lake for the most fish. Northern pike tend to be mixed while the walleyes and crappie action remains favorable in the shallows of Big Detroit, Sallie, Melissa, Big Pine and Little Pine.
Ely area
A vertically presented jig and rainbow minnow is the ticket for walleyes. Several lakes are producing fish, but the flowing water areas of Fall Lake and White Iron Lake have been best in less than 10 feet.
Grand Rapids area
Numbers of large walleyes are being pulled from Big Cutfoot Sioux Lake in 6 to 8 feet. Minnows are the ticket in the shallows of many lakes for walleyes including Sand, Bowstring, Six Mile and Round. The shallow water at the east end of Lake Pokegama is a safe bet for crappies.
Hackensack area
Minnows are turning a few walleyes in 12 to 14 feet at Birch Lake, Ten Mile Lake and Pine Mountain Lake. Hit Woman Lake in 12 to 14 feet for a few walleyes and jumbo perch. Panfish reports have been minimal with the cool weather.
Lake Kabetogama
Walleyes are hitting minnows in 6 to 12 feet at a good pace. Most of these fish are in the 17- to 26-inch protected slot. The majority of small, eating-sized walleyes are coming from 28 to 32 feet. Sauger and crappie action is limited, but pike are hitting almost anything thrown in the shallows.
Lake Mille Lacs
EAST - The best walleye bite is on the rocks in 6 feet or less with minnows. The Grassy Island area, Hawkbill Point and Big Point have produced the most fish during the day and evening hours. Minnows and leeches also have turned walleyes on the north-end sand breaks.
WEST - Walleyes are scattered throughout St. Alban's Bay in 6 to 22 feet. A jig and small shiner minnow is turning walleyes off Brown's Point, Seguchie Point and Pike Point. A few good-sized pike also have been taken on minnows in the shallow weeds of St. Alban's Bay.
Lake Minnetonka
The best walleye option is at night in 3 to 5 feet. Leeches or small minnows under a float have worked best in Brown's Bay. An occasional walleye also is caught on the weedlines. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows in the channels and crappie action has been excellent in the bays.
Lake Vermilion
A jig and minnow combination is providing consistent walleye action in 6 to 20 feet in Black Bay, Norwegian Bay, Niles Bay and the Narrows. Walleyes also were taken on crankbaits in the Narrows and Black Bay. Crappie action is improving, especially when the sun is out. Look to Black Bay as a good starting area.
Lake Waconia
Fathead minnows are producing walleyes during low-light periods at the Carp Trap, Rock Dock and Harm's Point in 6 to 12 feet. Crappie action has been excellent along the entire south shore, highlighted by some big fish being taken off the docks in the marina. Small jigs tipped with minnows are turning the biggest fish.
Lake Winnibigoshish
It's been an inconsistent walleye bite to start the season, and the cool water and inconsistent weather haven't helped. The best option is a jig and minnow in less than 8 feet. Mallard Point, Sugar Point, the Gap and north-end breaks are good starting spots.
Lake of the Woods
Limits of 16- to 19-inch walleyes and quite a few large fish have been caught in 4 to 13 feet at the Lighthouse Gap, Morris Point Gap and in Four Mile Bay. Anchoring and jigging with shiner minnows has been the best option throughout the day.
Leech Lake
A jig and minnow is producing walleyes in 5 to 10 feet off Pine Point, Otter Tail Point and the Hardwoods. Most wind-driven points are producing fish. Look for consistent perch action in less than 10 feet in the Walker Narrows and Hardwoods area. The boat harbors have started holding crappies.
McGregor area
The shorelines of Big Sandy Lake are producing small walleyes via minnows. Crappies have continued to bite off Pleasant Point and in the narrows on Lake Minnewawa. Bellhorn Bay and the narrows of Big Sandy also have given up crappies.
Red Lake
You can pitch a jig and minnow just about anywhere in 6 to 8 feet of water and catch a number of walleyes. The north side of the lake is producing a surprising number of crappies in 4 to 6 feet and quite a few limits were reported. A few big northern pike have been taken at the mouth of the Tamarack River.
St. Cloud/Eden Valley area
An occasional walleye has been caught during low-light periods around the islands of Lake Koronis in shallow water. The river mouth on Rice Lake and the channels or bridges of Horseshoe Lake also have produced walleyes. Look to Long Lake during the evening hours in less than 8 feet for walleyes. Lakes such as Horseshoe and Long remain the best crappie options.
Twin Cities
NORTHEAST METRO - Shad Raps are triggering walleyes on the St. Croix River in 8 to 15 feet. White Bear Lake is producing walleyes and northern pike in 6 to 12 feet via minnows during the evening hours. Look to the bays of Big Marine Lake and Silver Lake for northern pike as well. Crappie activity remains strong with good reports coming off Vadnais Lake and the marinas of the St. Croix.
WEST METRO - Sucker minnows or crankbaits are producing northern pike at Lake Auburn, Steiger Lake and the south side of Lake Riley. Shiner minnows are the best option for walleyes in less than 10 feet on the Crow River, Minnesota River and Lake Riley. Work the north end of Lake Minnewashta for panfish in less than 8 feet.
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