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FISHING REPORT
Bemidji area
Walleyes are hitting a jig and minnow in 7 to 10 feet at Lake Bemidji and Lake Plantagenet. Crappies are now in the shallow bays of most lakes and Lake Bemidji is the area's best northern pike option in less than eight feet. Bass are an easy catch in shallow water at Deer Lake, Midge Lake and the Turtle River Chain.
Blackduck area
There's an evening walleye bite with crankbaits or minnows on Blackduck Lake in 7 to 10 feet. A jig and minnow combination is turning walleyes on the Blackduck River as well. Look to lakes Rabideau and Gilstead for panfish in less than 6 feet. Bass have been very active in the shallows of most lakes.
Brainerd/Nisswa area
Small jigs tipped with minnows or waxies continue to produce crappies and sunfish in the shallow bays of most lakes. Walleyes are being found in less than 10 feet with spot-tailed shiners or crankbaits working best on Gull Lake and Round Lake. Bass reports are very strong off most lakes in less than eight feet.
Cass Lake area
Allen's Bay on Cass Lake is kicking out crappies and bluegills in 4 feet. The bridge area of Lake Andrusia has been best for walleyes with jigs and shiner minnows in 4 to 8 feet. The shallow, gravel and sand areas throughout Cass are worth checking for perch.
Crosby area
Jigs and crankbaits pitched in the shallows of Serpent Lake are triggering walleyes and bass. Clearwater Lake, Rabbit Lake and the Mississippi River also have provided a few walleyes. Look for crappies in 2 to 5 feet or on the 9- to 14-foot weedlines of Serpent and Rabbit lakes. Work the 2- to 4-foot reeds and bulrushes on lakes Mahnomen, Little Rabbit and Little Black Hoof for sunfish. Bass action has been very good throughout the area and trout continue to be taken on 7 Shad Raps in the pits.
Crosslake
Look for walleyes in the moving water areas of Rush Lake, Whitefish Lake and Cross Lake in less than 8 feet. Lindy Rigs and minnows or crankbaits are working best. The cool water has kept northern pike activity to a minimum, but bass are actively hitting spinnerbaits and jigs on the shallow, emerging weedlines. Crappies continue to be found in the shallow bays of most lakes.
Detroit Lakes
The bays and shorelines of Severson Lake, Lake Melissa, Lake Sallie and Big Detroit Lake are producing numbers of crappies. Minnows continue to work best for walleyes along the 6- to 14-foot shoreline breaks and points of lakes such as Big Detroit, Sallie, Melissa, Pelican, Big Pine, Little Pine and Island. Pike are caught with the walleyes and bass action is strong in shallow water on all lakes.
Duluth area
Minnows are producing walleyes in less than 10 feet at Boulder Lake and Island Lake. Northern pike are inhaling chubs on the shorelines of Rice Lake. There's a decent walleye bite during the day at the St. Louis River in 8 feet. Stickbaits trolled close to the surface have been a safe bet for cohos on Lake Superior.
Ely area
Large sucker minnows are the ticket for northern pike along the emerging weedbeds at Farm Lake. Walleyes are being caught in the tail waters of the power dam at Fall Lake and in the deep pool in front of Silver Rapids Resort on White Iron Lake. Minnows worked in 6 to 20 feet of water have produced the majority of walleyes. Crappie action has been slow so far, but just about any sun-soaked, rock-covered shoreline is holding smallmouth bass.
Grand Rapids area
A jig and shiner minnow is producing walleyes in 7 to 11 feet at Bowstring Lake and Sand Lake. There's some evening walleye action in 14 to 22 feet at Sugar Lake and Deer Lake. The Mississippi River is giving up limits of walleyes in 7 to 18 feet as well. Look for crappies in the shallow bays of Lake Pokegama, Lake Wabana and the Mississippi River. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are hitting at Pokegama, Wabana, Deer and Trout lakes.
Hackensack area
A jig and minnow is the ticket for walleyes at Birch Lake in 15 to 18 feet and at Pine Mountain Lake in less than 12 feet. Crappie action has picked up in the shallow bays of Ten Mile Lake, Five Point Lake and Ox Yoke Lake. Look to the weedlines of Woman Lake for pike, while numbers of largemouth and smallmouth bass can be had in the shallows of most lakes.
Lake Mille Lacs
East - Crawlers have started producing walleyes during the day on the north-end sand breaks in 12 to 18 feet. The evening bite is best with bobbers and leeches in 6 to 12 feet on the reefs from Big Point and farther south. Work the docks for smallmouth bass.
West - During the day, live-bait rigs are turning walleyes in 13 to 17 feet throughout St. Alban's Bay. Slip bobbers and minnows or leeches also have turned some daytime fish in 8 to 12 feet off Seguchie Point and Browns Point. Trolling crankbaits in 3 to 6 feet started triggering walleyes along the shorelines at night. Northern pike are being found shallow often in or around the boat harbors.
Lake Minnetonka area
The bass bite has been excellent in shallow water on all lakes. Look for walleyes on Lake Minnetonka in the 14- to 16-foot channels at night. Bobbers and leeches now are working best. Sunfish have moved shallow and the majority of crappie reports are coming from the shorelines in 8 feet. Medicine Lake is kicking out a few walleyes in 12 feet via minnows, as is Lake Independence with leeches in 12 to 14 feet. The channels of Minnetonka remain the best northern pike option.
Lake Winnibigoshish
A jig and minnow or short-snelled Lindy Rig and minnow is producing walleyes in 7 to 14 feet. Better areas this week have been Little Stoney Point, Raven's Point and "the rock" on the east side. Perch action remains most consistent in 7 to 12 feet mainly along the points and shoreline breaks.
Lake of the Woods
Jigs and shiner minnows are producing walleyes in 10 to 14 feet. Better areas this week have been Four Mile Bay, Lighthouse Gap and Morris Point. The bite has been best during the morning and evening hours and bright-colored jigs seem to be working best.
Lake Vermilion
The majority of eating-sized walleyes are coming from 22 to 32 feet. Crankbaits continue to work well during low-light periods on the windswept shorelines, especially throughout Pike Bay. Leeches and minnows also have triggered walleyes this week. Northern pike are active in the shallow, soft-bottomed bays and they are hitting minnows, spinnerbaits, and spoons. Crappies also have started to show up in the shallow bays.
Leech Lake area
Walleye action remains very good in 6 to 9 feet off Stoney Point, Star Point, Pine Point and Joe's Landing. Sucker Bay is giving up a few bass and Shingobee Bay is worth noting for crappies. The Hardwoods area is a safe bet for perch in 9 to 11 feet.
McGregor area
Walleye reports have been limited, but work minnows in 8 to 12 feet at Lake Minnewawa and the area rivers for a few fish. Panfish reports also have been limited, but look to the shallow bays of most lakes to start holding fish very soon. Bass reports have been most consistent, but there hasn't been many people fishing them.
Park Rapids area
White spinnerbaits are producing bass in the shallows of Potato Lake, Lake Belle Taine, Fish Hook Lake and Big Sand Lake. Walleye action is improving in 4 to 9 feet with minnows. Work the small, shallow lakes for better numbers. Panfish have set up in the bulrushes of Mud Bay on Fish Hook and throughout the Crow Wing Chain. Big Mantrap Lake remains the area's best northern pike option.
Rainy Lake
Walleyes and northern pike are hitting shiner minnows in 6 to 10 feet throughout Lost Bay, Saginaw Bay, and Jackfish Bay. On the Rainy River, walleyes remain active from Sherwood Landing to the Golf Course. A few crappies are being caught in Black Bay and the Canadian side is the best smallmouth bass option.
Red Lake
A jig and minnow or slip bobber and minnow is triggering numbers of walleyes on the 6- to 8-foot shoreline breaks throughout the lake. A few big pike have been mixed in and the crappie bite remains strong. Look for them on the north shore or on the rock pile just west of Mort's Landing.
Twin Cities
NORTHEAST METRO - Panfish action has been very good on most lakes in 4 to 8 feet with lakes such as Silver, Tanners, and White Bear standing out. Look to the Prescott area of the St. Croix River for walleyes in 15 to 25 feet. Bass have been hitting spinnerbaits in the shallows of Lake Jane, Olson Lake and Demonterville Lake. On Lake Owasso, sucker minnows are the ticket for northern pike.
WEST METRO - You'll find sunfish in shallow water at Lake Minnewashta. Spinnerbaits are producing numbers of bass at Whaletail Lake, while lakes Stieger and Zumbra are safe bets for northern pike and bass. Pitch a jig and minnow in the Minnesota River for walleyes and white bass. Lake Bavaria continues to give up a few crappies in shallow water.
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