Trophy walleye pulled from Thunder Lake; photo by Craig Riendeau
Anglers are having the most success during low light periods, and after dark. Please handle fish carefully and quickly this time of year since thy are more vulnerable and susceptible to fish-kill when water temperatures are this warm.
For rules, regulations and other helpful information on fishing in Minnesota, consult the DNR's Fish Minnesota web page.
Northeast Minnesota
International Falls - Rainy Lake & the Rainy River
Recent storms have led to floating bogs, and one has been causing concern in the west end of Rainy Lake heading into the popular islands area west of Grindstone Island -- please avoid this bog. There have been good reports on walleye hitting jigs and spinners tipped with live bait near the submerged reefs east of Grindstone Island, well away from the floating bog. Crappies are hitting in Black Bay and up the Rat Root River to Rat Root Lake, but most are finicky. Northern pike action has been decent during morning and evening hours along the weedy edges at the mouth of Cranberry Bay and in Black Bay. On the Rainy River, the outside bends have been giving up walleye and smallmouth bass. Sturgeon are coming from the shallow flats downstream from the deeper holes. Please note that the sturgeon tag season is catch-and-release only. The North American Sturgeon Championships will be held Aug. 19, 2017 at Nelson Park in Birchdale. 800-325-5766; www.rainylake.org
Kabetogama
Fairly consistent weather has kept the bite strong on Lake Kabetogama. Normally one would expect anglers struggling to find fish this time of year but it has been just the opposite. Walleye are consistency being pulled from depths of 18-24 feet along the weedlines off shoreline and rocky island points. Lindy rigs tipped with a leech or crawler along with a 4-6 feet snell remains best in the deeper waters; a jig and minnow works well when casting the weedlines. There seems to be an emerging mayfly hatch which has enhanced the soft bottom bite for anglers dragging bottom bouncers with spinners. Smallmouth bass have become extremely active along most shorelines. Larger northern pike have also become aggressive, chasing larger rapalas and suicks. With bonus perch mixed in, anglers have extremely happy! Water temperatures are in the 80s so recreational boaters and anglers are out enjoying the great weather and beautiful scenery. Be sure to visit Voyageurs National Park ….it is unforgettable! 800-524-9085; www.kabetogama.com
Ely Area Waters
Most of the successful walleye anglers have returned to the "old school" method of using crawlers on a spinner rig. Good numbers of fish are being taken while trolling these rigs over and around sunken reefs and deep island points throughout the area. Some are also having success with larger crank baits such as flicker minnows and shad raps, size #11. The larger size is productive this time of year since most of the young minnows have grown much larger. Crappie action has picked up with larger than normal chub minnows turning fish up to 14 inches. Most of these fish have been found suspended over deeper water. Some nice lake trout have been caught by anglers trolling spoons and large crank baits in water down to 55 feet deep. Trolling at speeds from 2 to 3 mph has led to fish weighing up to 10 pounds. White, silver and orange seem to be the best colors for spoons, and silver shad and glass minnow colored husky jerks are best for crank baits. Huge smallmouth bass are also falling for crank baits, along with top water baits worked early and late in the day. Try surface poppers or the old reliable jitterbugs for amazing sights and incredible action. 800-777-7281; www.ely.org
Duluth - Lake Superior, St. Louis River and inland waters
The warm water temperatures and increase in boat traffic make dusk and nighttime angling best. Trolling long rods right off the side of the boat has been very productive, especially when using long line crank baits. Noise is very helpful so try to use a crank bait with buck shot to make it noisy. Lake Superior anglers report consistent action when down-rigging along the north shore for lake trout, with an occasional salmon or walleye also being taken. Anglers having the most success are working waters more than 100 feet deep. Plugs and flashers continue to work best, but some anglers are doing well using other methods -- don't be afraid to experiment. The south shore is seeing more boat traffic now that walleye are showing up more frequently. Trolling with planer board and mid-size crank baits is turning the most fish. Some anglers are also doing well when pulling worm harness set-ups. St. Louis River anglers report a consistent walleye bite when speed-trolling crank baits off the breaks. Shore anglers continue to catch nice catfish, suckers and an occasional carp. Archery continues to be practiced on the rough fish in the shallow weedy areas. Muskie angling on the river is picking up. The local muskie chapter will be hosting a tournament next weekend so expect to see some pre-fishing for the event. The bite on the inland has been very good. The reservoirs north of Duluth are giving up nice size northern pike and walleye. Trolling has been best, but some anglers are also having success jigging. Muskie anglers are finding success, especially after dark. For the most action, try chucking large spinner baits near the vegetation. Bass fishing has been excellent for anglers using top water baits in shallow areas with vegetation. And panfish continue to be an easy target for anglers using floats over worm chunks at the deeper drop-offs. Stream fishing is starting to pay off now that some of the brown trout are entering the tributaries. 800-438-5884; www.visitduluth.com
Grand Rapids
Fishing remains good for most species throughout the Grand Rapids area. Walleye continue to be caught by anglers pulling spinners with a shiner or crawler through the shallows. Trolling shad raps during low light periods has also been turning walleye on Pokegama, Deer and Moose lakes. Northern pike have been very active along the weedlines on Spider, Bass, Winnibigoshish, Bowstring and Pokegama lakes. For the most action, cast or troll spoons and crank baits. Muskie action has been excellent with fish being pulled from North Star, Moose, Deer and Spider lakes on double cowgirl spinner bucktails -- the cabbage beds near deeper waters have been best. Crappie fishing has been good at the deep weedlines and edges. Once water temperatures begin to cool, check the deeper waters for school of fish. Bass fishing has been excellent on Pokegama, Trout, Rice, Spider, Burrows, Gunn and Big Turtle lakes.www.visitgrandrapids.com
Northwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
Lots of large walleye are being pulled from Lake of the Woods. Spinners with crawlers, as well as trolled crankbaits are turning lots of fish in 28 to 31 feet of water. The deep mud (no man's land) and deep reefs are producing the most fish. The winning team of the David A. Andersen Warrior Boats tournament had 5 fish weighing nearly 45 pounds -- a 9 pound average! Gold, glow and bright colors continue to be solid choices. Northern pike, perch and smallmouth bass are also reported to be very active in many areas of the lake. Anglers fishing the Rainy River are finding some walleye during morning and evening hours. Trolling crank baits and pulling spinners are the techniques producing the majority of fish. Good numbers of smallmouth bass are being taken along the shoreline bridge embankments and feeder streams. Sturgeon fishing is on fire with a group of first time sturgeon anglers boating 20 sturgeon in two days. The top three sturgeon measured 53, 57 and 61 inches. Up at the Northwest Angle, the walleye bite has been on fire for anglers trolling with blue, chrome, clown or UV pink colored lures through 26-30 feet of water. White, orange or chrome spinners have very effective from the Four Blocks to Garden Island. Muskie have been responding well to bucktails and hard baits. One angler boated 49 and 51.5 inch muskie this past week! 800-382-FISH; www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com
Bemidji
The walleye bite remains a bit slow, but anglers are taking walleye when putting in additional time. Low light hours and cloudy days with some wind are the best times to fish. Some area lakes have an algae bloom which also helps. Live bait rigs with leeches or crawlers are producing the most fish, especially at the deeper humps and deep breaks. Spinners with crawlers, as well as jigging raps are also turning some fish. On cloudy, windy days, jig and minnow/plastic bite has been pretty good right up against the deeper cabbage areas. Northern pike are active along the deep weed edges, hitting live bait rigs with sucker minnows. A jig and minnow bite is also working well. Crappies are active in the cabbage early and late in the day, and along the outside edge of the deeper cabbage the rest of the day. Small jigs with plastics are working well. Most of the larger crappies are holding right near the bottom. The larger bluegills are hitting small jigs with plastics or wax worms off the deep cabbage. Bass fishing remains excellent all day long! The topwater bite is best early and late in the day. As the day progresses, fish the deep weed edges using Texas-rigged plastic worms. Check out the Bassmasters College Series National Championship Aug. 10-12 when 90 teams of anglers from 59 universities across the country will hit the waters of Lake Bemidji. 800-458-2223; www.visitbemidji.com
Walker - Leech Lake
The walleye bite has been inconsistent on Leech Lake, but the more stable weather conditions are improving the bite. Some walleye are hitting jigs with leeches during early morning and late evening hours. Rigging nightcrawlers a bit deeper has also worked some days. The bite can be strong on cloudy days with a little wind. In fact, anglers reported 20 to 30 fish mornings ahead of last week’s cold front. Trolling crankbaits through 14 to 15 feet of water has been effective for some nice 17 to 19 inch fish during midday hours. Chrome-patterned #6 shad raps and #10 husky jerks have been effective. Muskie are hitting 8 to 10 inch jerk baits worked erratically over the rocks or weeds. Bucktail spinners have been turning some fish later in the day once the water has warmed a bit. Please remember to handle these fish carefully and release them quickly, especially late in the summer. August is the best time to target largemouth bass on Leech Lake. For the most action, hit the wild rice, bullrushes, coontails and lily pads in 2 to 5 feet of water. Boy, Sucker and Steamboat bays are great places to start. Smallmouth bass are sliding out a bit deeper, and more people are targeting these feisty fish. For the most action, use tube jigs, jerk baits or deep-diving crankbaits. 800-833-1118; www.leech-lake.com
Detroit Lakes
Walleye are coming from 6 to 17 feet of water on Pine, Ottertail and Rush lakes. Walleye are deeper on Sallie, Melissa, Pelican, Cormorant and Big Detroit lakes, with fish coming from the extended bars and mid-lake structure in 17 to 26 feet of water. Jigging, rigging, rapalas, and trolled spinners and crankbaits are producing on all of these lakes. Night-trolling has also been good. Bass are active at the weed edges in 6 to 12 feet of water near the sharper breaks. Pitching jigs and plastics has been best. Smallmouth bass are active in both the shallow and deep waters, especially on Lida and Cormorant lakes. Larger northern pike have moved off the breaks to depths of 15 to 20 feet of water now that the water temperatures are in the mid-70s. Large suckers and trolled/casted baits are turning fish. Crappies can be found on the flats in 6 to 10 feet of water relating to the inside edges of the weeds when it’s windy, and at the outside edges of the weeds when it’s calm. Cast jigs with minnows or plastics, or troll beetle spins for the larger crappies. Sunfish are hitting small pieces of crawler, small leeches, and brightly-colored, active small tail plastics in and along the deep weed edges. 800-542-3992; www.visitdetroitlakes.com
Central Region
Otter Tail Lakes Area
Fishing remains very good, with walleye, crappies, sunnies, largemouth and smallmouth bass continuing to bite. For crappies, cast beetle spins or jigs tipped with gulp or power bait at the weed tops near the deep edges. Large sunfish are also active at the deep weed edges, and the deeper sunfish consistently run larger -- don’t be surprised if you catch a nice bass or walleye! While largemouth bass can throughout most lakes, the largest bass seem to be coming from the mid-depth rock piles with weeds nearby. Texas-rigged power bait, gulp or Carolina rigs have been best, and don’t be afraid to use large baits this time of year. Spinner baits are easy to fish and lead to a nice northern pike. Leeches and nightcrawlers are strong bait for walleye all summer long, especially on spinners, lindy rigs or jigs. 800-423-4571; www.ottertailcountry.com
Isle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs
Anglers are excited for the temporary re-opening of the catch-and-release walleye season and the temporary lifting of the "live bait ban" scheduled for 6 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11, and running through September 4. Beginning Sept. 5, both the "walleye ban" and the "live bait ban" are scheduled to resume through the end of November. The smallmouth bass bite has slowed a bit. While 12 to 15 smallmouth per trip seems pretty good, expectations have been high following all of the publicity the lake has received for bass fishing. For the most action, use a drop shot rig, with jerk baits and tubes running a close second and third. Eight to 12 feet of water has been during low light periods; when the sun is higher in the sky, hit depths of 12 to 20 feet. The northern pike bite has improved, with nice fish coming in on large suckers worked in 9 to 14 feet of water. 888-350-2692; www.millelacs.com
Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
White Bear Area Lakes
The bass have been hanging out along the weed edges in roughly 9 feet of water on White Bear and Bald Eagle lakes. Anglers taking the most fish are using jigs. Northern pike are hitting spinnerbaits in 5 to 6 feet of water. Panfish are hanging out in the shallows in 5 feet of water or less. Waxworms have been the most effective. Muskie have been seen at the deep water points in roughly 20 foot depths. The best presentation has been a Medusa. Walleye have been scarce, with only an occasional fish taken night. 651-653-5122; www.explorewhitebear.org
Southern Minnesota
Lanesboro - Southeast Bluff Country trout streams
As of Tuesday, August 8, conditions for all area streams and rivers were clear, with a normal water flow. There were reports of some nice trico spinner falls in Forestville State Park. Anglers also reported white fly hatches on warm water streams. Fisheries staff want to know if you have caught a rainbow trout on Wisel Creek or the South Fork Root River. If so, please report to lanesboro.fisheries@state.mn.us with approximate date, location and size since they are stocking rainbow trout fingerlings (3 to 4 inches long) in these waters. 800-944-2670; www.lanesboro.com
Ortonville - Big Stone Lake
Stable conditions and cooler temperatures have increased the bite on Big Stone Lake. Perch are still highly sought after, with anglers using their favorite techniques to entice them to bite. All of the traditional perch hot spots are kicking out schools of 6 to 8 inch fish, along with some 9 to 11 inch perch. The key is to keep the presentation simple, tipping the hook with spikes or a piece of night crawler, and fishing these just a few inches off the bottom. Anglers having the most success with the walleye are trolling crank baits from Cramer’s Resort north up past Sodak Shores, with limits of 16 to 18 inch fish being reported. The bite has improved since the weeds up north have died off, providing more fishable waters. Expect walleye action to continually improve as fall approaches. 800-568-5722; www.bigstonelake.com
Anglers may obtain fishing licenses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by dialing 1-888-665-4236, or accessing DNR License Sales.
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