Fewer anglers headed out this week due to the windy conditions, and many anglers are preparing their boats for storage until next season. Anglers that did venture out enjoyed a great bite, especially on the rivers.
Please remember that the water temperatures are very cold so it is extremely important to wear a life jacket when out on the water due to the risk of hypothermia. Learn more.
For rules, regulations and other helpful information on fishing in Minnesota, consult the DNR's Fish Minnesota web page.
Northeast Minnesota
Kabetogama
While fewer anglers are heading out onto Lake Kabetogama, those that do report great fishing! The walleye bite is consistent off the island points and bay entrances in 22 to 35 feet of water. The best presentation has been a jig and minnow combination. Ash River is also producing well. Smallmouth bass are still eager to bite off the edges of the reefs. Many trophy-sized fish are being reported, and 50 fish in a day is not uncommon. A jig tipped with a minnow or plastic has been the favorite technique. Please practice CPR (catch/photo/release) to ensure a healthy population in the future. 800-524-9085; www.kabetogama.com
Duluth - Lake Superior, St. Louis River and inland waters
Anglers report that the walleye have been very aggressive! One tactic that works really well is to using 2 minnows instead of 1. The result is more scent, and if you miss a fish and it took a minnow, you still have another minnow to work with. This is especially good in areas with cloudy water and current. Water temperatures are dipping into the lower 50s and continue to fall. The St Louis River has also been good for decent-size walleye. Anglers having the most success are using larger chubs pulled on regular hook, line and sinker. Jigging is best and the easiest way to catch a few fish (give the double up method a try), but slowly trolling a crank bait will also working well. A #5 crank bait with rattle are best. For the larger fish, use a larger jig with plastics and a minnow. The crappies are also active. Some anglers are having success with the muskies when throwing large baits at the shorelines. A fun fish to catch is the fresh water Drum (aka sheepshead). They have been taking baits in all sections of the river. Brook trout, brown trout, steel head and some salmon are entering the streams from Lake Superior. Anglers are doing well swinging flies under float indicators and casting smaller spinner baits. The fish are in deeper pools and fast-moving areas. Please be sure to give other anglers room while fishing. The inland lakes have been best for consistent numbers. Snap-jigging (fast jigging cadence using flashy baits) has been a great tactic. Northern pike have been attacking a variety of presentations. Panfish are responding well to small jigs and slip bobber rigs worked in 10 to 17 feet of water at the weed edges. Most panfish are transitioning to their usual winter areas so don't be afraid to try deeper waters -- this is a good time to scout out first ice spots. Muskies have been reported on Island Lake, with anglers taking fish on large sucker minnows. 800-438-5884; www.visitduluth.com
Grand Rapids
Cooler temperatures have arrived, and most anglers are preparing for winter. This is a good time to winterize your open water equipment. Your boat should be completely drained of water and dried out. Your outboard motor should be winterized at your local dealer. Charge all of your batteries completely and store them indoors if possible. Clean off terminals and put a tiny bit of Vaseline on each terminal to protect them from corrosion. A bit of maintenance can help prevent wasting time and money next season. Also tend to your rods and reels. Strip all fishing line off the reels. Remove the spool and apply a thin layer of gun oil to the shaft. For a few cents you can have smooth operating fishing reels when you need them. www.visitgrandrapids.com
Northwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
The walleye bite has been good on Lake of the Woods with lots of small sauger and walleye being taken. The walleye are staged in front of Pine Island, Zippel Bay, Long Point, Graceton Beach and the Gap in 18 to 30 feet of water. Anglers are doing well using a pink, pink/white or gold jig and shiner. The reefs are holding schools of walleye. Rainy River anglers are having success up and down the river, especially at Frontier and Clementson. Schools of shiners continue to come into the river, and when they do, the walleye are close behind. A cold front is moving through which should push more shiners into the river. For the most action, try vertical jigging with a shiner while anchored. Some anglers are also having success when trolling crank baits east of Baudette. Smallmouth bass, northern pike and crappies are being reported daily. And up at the Northwest Angle, fishing has been exceptional! Walleye are being taken by anglers jigging in 14 to 30 feet of water. Crappies continue to bite around the sunken trees and deep holes, with lot of perch mixed in. Anglers have had success trolling for large pike and muskies, but jigging is also working well. 800-382-FISH; www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com
Bemidji
The wind has kept a lot of anglers off the lakes. Those that have ventured out for walleye have found jigs with minnows and jigging raps working best. Most of the walleye are coming from the 12 to 14 foot weedlines with some pulled from the deeper edges of the mid-lake structure. Northern pike are also coming from these areas. Bass fishing is good, but the fish are scattered. For the most action, use a rattle trap in water less than 8 feet deep. Crappies can be found suspended over deep water basins. A jig with a minnow or plastic has worked well when vertically jigged at the same level as the crappies -- electronics are essential for locating fish. 800-458-2223; www.visitbemidji.com
Park Rapids
Walleye are active, hitting rainbow chubs and night crawlers. For the most fish, use a 3/8-ounce glow jig tipped with a minnow in 13 to 15 foot depths along the shorelines and in areas with current. Large schools of walleye continue to be found in the deep mid-lake holes down to 60 feet – most are coming from depths of 40 to 50 feet. Large northern pike can be caught while trolling “Grandmas” (muskie baits) in black and gold combo along the drop-offs over roughly 15 feet of water. Also look for suspended fish out over deeper water. 800-247-0054; www.parkrapids.com
Detroit Lakes
The water temperatures in the Detroit Lakes remain in the low 50s but are expected to drop significantly next week due to the dramatic cold front taking hold. Walleye are coming from the sharp breaks just outside the deep weed edges and sand grass. In most lakes, fish have been holding in 24 to 32 feet of water. Rigs and jigs with minnows, as well as jigging raps are turning fish. Muskie anglers are having success with large suckers under bobbers set on the edges in 11-15 feet of water. Crappies are starting to gather into larger schools off the sharp breaks. The best approach is a jig tipped with a minnow or plastic. Bass are active in 4 to 12 feet of water on the flats at the fading weeds, especially when wind blows into these areas. Anglers are taking the most fish when using a snap-and-drop presentation with jigs tipped with a minnow or plastic. Largemouth bass up to 21 inches have been reported. Please note that the docks have been removed, so be prepared to launch the old-fashioned way. 800-542-3992; www.visitdetroitlakes.com
Central Region
Otter Tail Area Lakes
The walleye continue to respond to crawlers and bottom bouncers, but vertical jigging with fatheads and lindy rigging with large suckers will also turn fish at the weed lines. Large northern pike are also coming from the weed edges. For the most action, use a large casting bait such as a spinner bait, large crank bait, or large sucker minnow over the weedy drops. Look for weed covered islands for the most largemouth bass. The steep breaks are best for lots of smallmouth bass – please remember that smallmouth bass are catch-and-release only at this time. 800-423-4571; www.ottertailcountry.com
Willmar
Fewer anglers headed out this week due to the windy conditions, but those that did caught nice-sized crappies and walleyes by the culverts on Willmar and Foot lakes. Anglers also pulled walleye from the shores of Lillian and Wagonga lakes. 800-845-8747; www.willmarlakesarea.com
Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
White Bear Area Lakes
As of late last week, White Bear Lake was giving up lots of northern pike, with pike also coming from Lake Jane. Walleye anglers were having success on the St. Croix River. Panfish were hitting on Silver and Powers lakes. Bass anglers were doing well on Powers and Demontreville lakes. 651-653-5122; www.explorewhitebear.org
Southern Minnesota
Winona - Mississippi River/Lake Pepin
As of late last week, the Mississippi River was running high and fast due to lots of rain. While fishing has slowed, anglers were still catching small walleye, and some crappies and sunfish. 507-452-0735; www.visitwinona.com
Lanesboro - Southeast Bluff Country trout streams
As of Thursday, Oct. 26, fisheries staff reported that all branches of the Whitewater Stream were clear with a normal water flow. And as of Monday, Oct. 23, most streams and rivers in southeast Minnesota had a normal water flow with clear to slightly off clarity. 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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