Fall fishing; photo by Joe Ebsen
Angler success has improved this week as fish start to school. This week's harvest moon should also enhance the bite. Fall colors are peaking in many areas -- this a great time to hit the lake!
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
The walleye are running upstream on the Rainy River, chasing the annual run of emerald shiner minnows. Look for walleye lurking on the weedy edges and below the confluence of feeder streams. Naturally, you should use an emerald shiner minnow as bait. Spinner rigs are usually best for river fishing because of the current. The sturgeon tag season ended Sunday, but catch-and-release is still an option. On Rainy Lake, the walleye are on the reefs and points. The northern pike are at the mouths of the bays. Crappies are active at the west end of Black Bay and up into the Rat Root Lake. Fall colors are mostly at peak throughout Koochiching County. 800-325-5766; www.rainylake.org
Lakes Kabetogama and Namakan - Kabetogama
Angler success has improved over this past week as fish start to school, and fall colors are peaking which makes for a great day on the lake. Walleye and sauger are being caught regularly in a wide variety of depths. While a jig and minnow is producing the most fish, a lindy tipped with a minnow is also turning fish. Look for the traditional fall areas for active fish. Last week, depths of 18 to 37 feet seemed best. The smallmouth bass are starting to show up on the reefs in large numbers where a jig and minnow is producing well. Crappie fishing has also been fantastic once fish are found. Water temperatures were in the low 60s last weekend. 800-524-9085; www.kabetogama.com
Duluth - Lake Superior, St. Louis River and inland waters
Avid anglers continue to chase salmon and walleye on Lake Superior. The walleye can be found by trolling certain areas of the south shore, however, few reports have come in. Few have been fishing the local streams due to fast and high waters following recent rainfall. The good news is that once the waters recede a bit, anglers should find a lot of migratory fish entering the tributaries from Lake Superior. The St. Louis River has also been tough because of the high, fast waters. Those willing to work the river have had success pitching brightly colored soft plastics into slack water areas and retrieving them slowly. A few smallmouth bass and northern pike are also being taken by anglers chucking baits at the shorelines. The inland lakes have been the best bet for anglers with lots of walleye, crappies and northern pike taken on small jigs tipped with crappie minnows. The reservoirs north of Duluth have offered consistent action. Bass are being caught by anglers throwing the typical bass lures such as spinner baits and plastic worms at the vegetation and rock structures, as well as off the docks. Water temperatures have dipped down due to cool nights and constant rain. The current dry spell should help the bite return to normal. 800-438-5884; www.visitduluth.com
Grand Rapids
Walleye are active on the points and drop-offs associated with deep water, especially on windy days. Jig and minnow combinations will continue to put walleye in the boat up until ice forms -- shiners rainbow chubs are generally best. The deeper water bays and main lake drop-offs will hold schools of crappies through the end of fall. Use your locator to find suspended crappies, but watch for fish on the bottom early in the morning. Small jigs with plastics, jigging raps, and small jigs with chubs are all putting fish in the boat. Muskie anglers are heading out since this is the best time of year to catch a trophy of a lifetime. www.visitgrandrapids.com
Northwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
Fishing is excellent on Lake of the Woods. The walleye are coming from areas along the south shore such Long Point, Zippel Bay, Lighthouse Gap, Four Mile Bay and in the river, with anglers filling their live wells. The walleye are thick and full of shiners. A pink, pink/white or gold jig tipped with a shiner minnow has been best, especially in 18 to 30 feet of water. The reefs are also holding fish. The Rainy River walleye are feeding heavily on the shiners. For the most action, vertically jig a shiner. Some anglers are also having success when trolling crank baits. Smallmouth bass, northern pike and crappies are also showing up. Good numbers of sturgeon are being reported, with some measuring up to 60 inches. Up at the Northwest Angle, the water temperatures are dropping and the fishing continues to improve. Surface water temperatures are in the low 50s early in the day, reaching the mid-50s by afternoon. The walleye fishing has been phenomenal. Anglers taking the most fish are using jig and minnow combinations. Areas with current between the islands and near the holes are excellent, with good numbers of slot fish and perch being taken. Many boats have had over 100 fish days! Nice muskie have been taken while trolling and while jigging for walleye. 800-382-FISH; www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com
Bemidji
The walleye bite continues to heat up and will continue to improve as water temperatures drop. Most of the walleye are coming from 12 to 25 feet of water on jigs and minnows. Anglers will also want to check the edges of green cabbage and areas off the mid-lake structure. Northern pike fishing remains good along the deep weed edges. Anglers taking the most fish are using jigs and minnows, and live bait rigs with medium to large sucker minnows. Crappie fishing remains good for anglers using small jigs and plastics – the crappies are split between the green cabbage and deep water basin locations. Bass fishing remains great off the deep weed edges where fish are hitting jigs with plastics or Texas rigged plastics. 800-458-2223; www.visitbemidji.com
Walker - Leech Lake
Walleye fishing has been erratic lately but the cooler temperatures and stable weather conditions should push the water temperatures down into the upper 50s which is usually when fall fishing takes off. A 1/8-ounce jig tipped with a golden shiner or rainbow is a great presentation. Cadence and colors can change from day to day, so pay attention to the details. Look to the shorelines and points that have wind blowing into them for some of the best action. When the wind is strong, fish depths of 5 to 8 feet; on lighter blow days, move out into depths of 10 to 12 feet. The popular spots should hold fish such as Pine Point, Stoney, Little Stony, Ottertail, Two Points, Sandy Beach, and the flats around Goose Island. Since the flats can be intimidating for fish, cover ground and work a large area until you connect with fish, then work over that area. 800-833-1118; www.leech-lake.com
Detroit Lakes
Water temperatures in the Detroit Lakes area are in the high 50s up to 60 degrees and dropping. Some walleye are deep but most are on sharp breaks on long extending points or off shoreline flats that drop quickly to deep water. Rigs or jigs with minnows, along with jigging raps are producing well. This week and through the weekend the night trolling bite will be good under the moonlight. Large muskie are showing up on area muskie lakes. This bite will continue to improve as water temperatures drop further. Most fish are coming from the edges in 9 to 15 feet of water. Bass have been active in the shallows, and crappie anglers are having success. 800-542-3992; www.visitdetroitlakes.com
Central Region
Otter Tail Area Lakes
Walleye anglers will want to check the drop-offs near the weeds and the slow drops that fade away from points and turns. While walleye can be deep this time of the year, anglers may want to concentrate on shallower waters which often hold the larger walleye. For the most action, use bottom bouncers, jigs or lindy rig presentations. For live bait, use crawlers, sucker minnows, fatheads or red tails. When using minnows and jigs near the weedlines, hold on tight to your rod since the northern pike are also eager to bite. 800-423-4571; www.ottertailcountry.com
Isle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs
On Thursday, Oct. 5, the harvest moon rose. While there’s not a lot of scientific evidence about the effects of a full moon on fishing, many anglers experience an increase in the bite. The Farmer’s Almanac states that some of the “best fishing days in 2017” would be from Sept. 20 through Oct. 5. It also declared that “fish tend to feed more at sunrise and sunset, and also during a full moon (when tides are higher than average).” It should be good out there this weekend, with a great bass, northern pike and muskie bite. 888-350-2692; www.millelacs.com
Willmar
Most anglers are turning their attention to the fall walleye bite now that water temperatures range from 60 to 65 degrees. Many of the great spring locations will work in the fall as well. Stay near the weeds and moving water, and concentrate on the shallower waters for the larger walleye. For the most action, use bottom bouncers, jigs and lindy rig presentations with crawlers, sucker minnows or fatheads. Don’t be surprised if you catch a hungry northern pike as well. Some great shore fishing is also being reported on Lillian, Wagonga, Diamond, South Long, Willmar, Foot and Ringo lakes. 800-845-8747; www.willmarlakesarea.com
Southern Minnesota
Winona - Mississippi River/Lake Pepin
Crappies and sunnies are biting near the snags on the Mississippi River. Northern pike and bass are being caught on sucker minnows and spinner baits. Walleye action is heating up at the dam. 507-452-0735; www.visitwinona.com
Lanesboro - Southeast Bluff Country trout streams
As of Thursday, October 5, conditions on sections of the Whitewater Stream were clear with a normal water flow. As of Friday, September 29, conditions on most area streams and rivers in the Lanesboro area remained clear, with a low water flow. Fisheries staff were noticing blue-winged olives and some caddis on a daily basis. Grasshoppers and crickets were abundant at each field area observed. The trout were very colorful and healthy as they approached their spawn. With the abundant fall color, it was a great time to fish! The remainder of 2017 in southeast Minnesota trout streams will be catch-and-release. 800-944-2670; www.lanesboro.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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