Connor Schmidt's 36-inch muskie; photo courtesy of Dan Schmidt
The muskie season opens this Saturday, June 2! Learn more about muskie fishing in Minnesota waters.
Walleye are starting to lose interest in minnows, and respond better to leeches and crawlers. For the most action, try jigs and live bait rigs tipped with a leech, crawler or minnow to find what works best. Daytime highs will be in the 70s for most areas on Saturday and Sunday, with a chance of showers/thunderstorms on Saturday.
Minnesota fishing opener dates for the 2018/2019 fishing season for most inland waters are as follows: walleye, sauger, northern pike, bass and lake trout, May 12; muskie, June 2. The fishing season for crappies, sunnies, perch and catfish is continuous. For rules, regulations and other helpful information on fishing in Minnesota, consult the DNR's Fish Minnesota web page.
Northeast Minnesota
Kabetogama
The 2018 Memorial Day weekend will be remembered for nearly perfect weather, good fishing and lots of smiles! With temperatures consistently in the mid-80s, lots of sun and little wind, the weather couldn’t have been better. Along with unseasonably warm temperatures, fishing was good, although anglers had to search a bit harder to find fish since they were scattered at all depths. The transition to summer happened very fast so jigs and lindy rigs are now producing. Minnows are still the preferred bait but leeches and crawlers should also work well now that water temperatures have risen into the upper 60s. Search depths of 12 to 25 feet until you locate fish, then drop a jig and minnow combination or a slip sinker rig with a leech or crawler. 800-524-9085; www.kabetogama.com
Ely Area Lakes & Streams
Many anglers are having success with the walleye when fishing Ely area lakes. The action has been exceptional on some lakes with anglers releasing large walleye over 20 inches in favor of 14 to 18 inch keeper-size fish. A lot of anglers are tossing out suckers to catch large northern pike, with many fish in the 40 inch range. Other anglers have had success pitching spinner baits and spoons. The crappies and smallmouth bass continue to spawn in the shallows. The crappies are hitting tiny jigs with small minnows or soft baits, while the smallmouth are responding to 3 to 4 inch tube baits and crawfish imitations. A few lake trout weighing roughly 10 pounds have been pulled from area trout lakes on trolled spoons and larger profile crank baits worked in 20 to 30 foot depths. 800-777-7281; www.ely.org
Duluth Area Lakes & Streams
The inconsistent temperatures have given way to inconsistent bites. The rivers in the area are moving fast and can be cloudy. While fish are being taken throughout the area, the best bite for the next several days is on the inland waters. On most inland lakes, the walleye are starting to drift off the shorelines and can be found on the mid-lake structure. Anglers that drag live bait are taking some very nice fish. The smallmouth bass are becoming more active, hitting crank baits cast over the rock piles. For largemouth bass, northern pike and an occasional walleye, check the developing vegetation where baitfish take cover. Good numbers of panfish continue to be pulled from the shallows on live bait under slip bobbers. The water temperatures have climbed into the low 70s already so fishing will be excellent once steady weather patterns return. Nearby, the St. Louis River is muddy in some areas so anglers are doing best when using a loud, obnoxious crank bait. The worm bite is picking up and anglers are taking some nice walleye on big-bladed crawler harnesses with worms. While jigging has slowed down, it continues to work at the deep transitional areas. A few accidental muskie are being taken so this weekend’s muskie opener should be very good. Crappie action remains strong near the shorelines. On Lake Superior, anglers are taking coho salmon and lake trout when trolling hard-sided surface in 40 to 80 feet of water, with mid-range crank baits also producing a few fish. Lead line is paying off for some, but long-lining braid still turns fish. Some anglers are having success up the North Shore beyond Two Harbors. The spoon bite will be in full swing very soon. 800-438-5884; www.visitduluth.com
Grand Rapids
Fishing for several species has kicked into high gear. Surface temperatures have warmed up as much as 10 to 15 degrees in the last week and the walleye are now biting on all area lakes. The shallow water still holds good numbers of walleye, but many are starting to move to the deeper breaks, humps and islands near shore. Jig and shiners are still producing nice numbers of fish, but leeches under a slip bobber or fished on a rig are also turning fish. Many anglers are taking fish while trolling crankbaits early and late in the day, and often during the day. Big Winnibigoshish, Sand, Pokegama and Bowstring lakes are all producing good numbers of fish. Bass fishing has been equally impressive with smallmouth and largemouth bass pulled from areas near or on the spawning beds. Anglers are asked to please catch, photo and release the larger females to preserve the health of the population and support the supply of large trophy bass. Small spinner baits, chatter baits and neiko worms are all working well. Some of the hot bass lakes are Pokegama, Rice, Wabana and both Trout lakes, as well as the Mississippi River. www.visitgrandrapids.com
Northwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
Walleye fishing remains strong throughout Lake of the Woods. Most anglers continue to have success using a gold, yellow or orange jig tipped with a minnow. Some are doing well with long-lined crank baits in the shallows, with smallmouth bass mixed in. Crawler harnesses are also turning some fish. The best depths during the day are 15 to 25 feet of water, with 10 to 15 foot depths working best during morning and evening hours. The Rainy River action has slowed a bit but walleye are finding some fish when bouncing a jig and frozen shiner off the bottom. Up at the Northwest Angle, walleye fishing has been exceptional! The best presentations are a jig and minnow, bobber rig, and snells with spinners. A newly deceased fathead minnow will also work well on a jig. Pink and white, chartreuse, and blue and white jigs have been the most productive. During evening hours, hit depths of 3 to 15 feet; during the day, check 18 to 25 feet of water. The surface water temperatures are in the high 50s at sunrise, reaching mid- to upper 60s by evening. 800-382-FISH; www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com
Bemidji Area Lakes
Fishing action and water temperatures continue to heat up! Water temperatures are now in the upper 60s to low 70s. Walleye are being caught on the main lake bars, humps and emerging weedlines. Jigs and live bait rigs tipped with a minnow or leech are working extremely well in 12 to 18 feet of water. For fast action, hit Bemidji, Plantagenet, Turtle, Andrusia and Wolf lakes. Northern pike are hitting just about anything thrown their way. Bass and panfish continue to be found at the reeds in the shallows. The muskie season opens Saturday, June 2. 877-250-5959; www.visitbemidji.com
Bena - Lake Winnibigoshish
Walleye are being taken on jigs tipped with leeches or shiner minnows, spinners and crawlers, and live-bait rigs worked in 8 to 12 feet of water on Lake Winnibigoshish. Anglers are having the most success working the shoreline breaks, Little Stoney Point, Rich’s Townsite, The Bird Houses, and the points on the west side of the lake such as Raven’s and Mallard. Look for perch in 14 to 18 feet of water. Lots of northern pike are being reported by pike and non-pike anglers. www.lakewinnie.net
Hackensack Area Lakes
It was a beautiful Memorial Day weekend with fish caught on lakes across the area. There was a great evening bite for walleye on Woman, Pine Mountain, Ten Mile, Baby and Little Boy lakes. Crankbaits, as well as leeches and minnows bounced down the breaks are working well in 5 to 15 feet of water. During the day, 18 feet of water and deeper was best, especially if it was sunny. Many anglers reported crappies up in the shallow reeds, with the bluegill hanging just off the edges. Panfish action was very good on Woman, Webb, Portage and Pleasant lakes. Smallmouth bass fishing has been fantastic for anglers using small plastics off the bottom. 800-279-6932; www.hackensackchamber.com
Park Rapids
Most walleye now prefer leeches and crawlers over minnows. For the most action, hit the emerging weedlines using a live bait rig tipped with a medium leech or a crawler. The smallmouth and largemouth bass are in the shallows preparing to spawn. While these fish will hit just about anything thrown their way, please return the larger fish so they can complete their spawn. The crappies are done spawning with some lingering in the shallows and others moving to deeper waters. Bluegills are starting to gather around new lily pad beds and are an easy to catch when using bobbers and leeches. Northern pike are cruising the shallow, weedy flats. For the most action, troll a shallow-running minnow bait such as a rapala. 800-247-0054; www.parkrapids.com
Detroit Lakes
Water temperatures have risen to 70 degrees on many area lakes, and the shiner bite will end shortly for walleye. The crawler and leech bite, however, will continually improve. Walleye are still relating to the shoreline breaks, long extending points, and shoreline break humps. While 8 to 16 feet of water remains best for walleye, they are starting to move deeper. Bass and northern pike have been very aggressive in the shallows. Crappies have started to move off their beds, transitioning to the outside weed edges. Sunfish remain close to the emerging weeds. The muskie opener is this Saturday, and Pelican Lake will be the site of a walleye tournament this weekend. 800-542-3992; www.visitdetroitlakes.com
Central Region
Otter Tail Area Lakes
The water is warming quickly in Otter Tail Lakes Country and fishing has been hot! Water temperatures have risen into the upper 60s and low 70s on many area lakes, causing the sunfish, crappies, northern pike and walleye to begin their transition from spring to summer patterns. When searching for fish, keep in mind that they generally follow the patterns of their prey, such as the timing and location of spawning baitfish hatching insects. 800-423-4571; www.ottertailcountry.com
Alexandria Area Lakes
Numerous lakes, big and small, throughout the Alexandria area treated anglers very well over the Memorial Day weekend. Limits of 15 to 20 inch walleye were taken, along with a decent number of 25 to 30 inch fish. Water temperatures rose quickly, and the majority of the walleye were already moving deeper. Most of the walleye came in on lindy rigs or jigs tipped with minnow and trolled at .30 to .75 mph through depths of 12 to 18 feet of water. The panfish bite was also red hot, and there were many anglers that chose to target sunnies and crappies. Most of the panfish came from 3 to 6 feet of water on a small hair jig tipped with a minnow or wax worm. 800-235-9441; www.alexandriamn.org
Willmar
Fishing has been great in the Willmar Lakes Area! Sunfish, crappies and largemouth bass have been very active on Diamond, Florida, Andrew, Willmar and Foot lakes. Anglers are reporting a strong walleye bite on Big Kandiyohi and Wakanda lakes. Other lakes to consider for walleye action include Ringo, Solomon and South Long. Lake water temperatures are averaging in the upper 60s to low 70s, and anglers are now having the most success using nightcrawlers, leeches and wax worms. 800-845-8747; www.willmarlakesarea.com
Southern Minnesota
Lanesboro/Preston - Southeast Bluff Country trout streams
As of Thursday, May 31, fisheries staff reported that most area streams and rivers were running high and slightly off in color due to recent rain showers. This weekend, anglers should expect some streams to be in great shape while others may not be fishable. Boaters should remain alert for fallen-tree current traps in waters upriver from Preston. Whenever instream obstacles are encountered, be sure to exit the river until clear passage is available. There are reports of light Hendrickson’s, along with some caddis activity. The humidity has been high but should drop following the Saturday afternoon showers. Before heading out, check the Minnesota Stream Flow Report. 800-944-2670; www.lanesboro.com
Ortonville - Big Stone Lake
The walleye bite over Memorial Day weekend was tough for some but others did well when using a spinner with a night crawler. Evening dock fishing for walleye wasn’t as good as it had been but the white bass were really biting. The panfish bite remains excellent. 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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