Heading out at sunrise for a great day of fishing
Fishing throughout the state remains very good, especially during low light hours. Live bait rigs with leeches or crawlers are working well for walleye anglers, with spinners and crawlers also turning fish. Anglers report lots of bass and northern pike action as well!
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
Last week’s hot, humid and windless days affected the bite on Lake Kabetogama. Anglers having the most success fished the soft bottom, shallow areas where the first significant mayfly hatch was taking place, and the windswept shorelines where the baitfish had been pushed. Live bait rigs with leeches or crawlers were best, especially right as the sun came up and during the last hour before dark. Remember that baitfish will concentrate in areas where the mayflies hatch, and the walleye and other species of fish will be right behind. Try triggering a bite using a flashy presentation -- spinners are a great option. Larger northern pike have started to move to cooler waters. Anglers are finding smaller pike mixed in with smallmouth bass along most of the shorelines. Just about anything cast toward shore will work. Another highlight is the incredible Lady Slipper bloom taking place in the ditches along the roads. Residents say it’s the best in years! 800-524-9085; www.kabetogama.com
Ely Area Lakes & Streams
The walleye seem to have settled into their summer patterns. Most of the fish are coming from 15 to 20 foot depths on crawlers and leeches, with some anglers still having success using minnows. Use spinner rigs or crank baits to locate the fish, then work the area with a live bait presentation. Remember, minnows are much harder to keep alive as the water heats up. If you do bring minnows, keep the minnow bucket in a cooler with some ice. Smallmouth bass offer consistent action in the shallows. They are in post-spawn mode, and eager to hit presentations worked on or below the surface. Some of the largest bass are coming in on top water baits such as stick baits and frog imitations. Some anglers are doing well using soft plastic baits such as plastic crawfish or tube-style baits on a jig or weighted hook. Some impressive pike have been hitting spinner baits and large crank baits fished in and around the weed edges. Spoons work well too, but you need to use these outside the weed lines unless you are using single hook rigs that are rigged “weedless.” Spoons have been the lure of choice for lake trout anglers. Many lakers have been pulled from 30 to 45 feet of water when trolling spoons with downriggers or Dipsey Divers to achieve the proper depth. 800-777-7281; www.ely.org
Grand Rapids
Fishing has been outstanding for several species. Big Splithand, Big Winnibigoshish and Trout lakes are giving up nice numbers of walleye, especially early and late in the day. Rigs with leeches have been best, but jigs with shiners continue to produce a few fish. Lake Pokegama is producing the most fish during evening hours, with crawlers and spinners working well along the weedlines. Northern pike are active at the emerging weeds, providing anglers with lots of action. Spider, Bass, Pokegama, and Winnibigoshish have been great choices for fast northern pike fishing. Bass fishing has been excellent. The smallmouth and largemouth bass spawn has been over for a week to ten days, and the fish are eager for a meal. On calm days, try top water baits for explosive strikes. Nedi rigs, drop shots and wacky worms are working well. Guides, bait shops and other local businesses have spoken to anglers from all over the country that have come for the area’s great bass action! While numerous lakes are known for their bass populations, some of the best are Wabana, Trout, Pokegama, Loon, Sand and Little Moose. Bass action will continue to heat up in the weeks to come. www.visitgrandrapids.com
Northwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
The walleye and sauger bite has been excellent on Lake of the Woods. While some fish continue to respond to jigs and shiner minnows, most of the fish are coming in on spinners. Good numbers are being pulled from 24 to 27 feet of water near Garden, Knight, Pine Island and Rocky Point. Some anglers are having success using crankbaits on lead core, and drifting a spinner was deadly when the wind picks up. On the Rainy River, the sturgeon "keep one season" opens July 1. A very strong population of sturgeon resides in the river, along with lots of trophy-sized fish. Smallmouth bass anglers are finding lots of nice bass at the rocks, bridges and current breaks. At the Northwest Angle and Islands area, walleye fishing has been excellent in 18 to 28 feet of water when pulling hammered gold or orange lindy rigs. Jigging continues to produce fish on top of the reefs, and this tactic should remain good until the walleye move out deeper to the flats. Currently, key areas include Dawson Island, Little Oak and Shady Island. Anglers will want to check out the many upcoming fishing tournaments taking place on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River. 800-382-FISH; www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com
Bemidji
Lakes Bemidji, Plantagenet, Andrusia and Wolf are all kicking out walleye in 12 to 22 feet of water. Live bait rigs with leeches or crawlers are working well, with spinners and crawlers also turning fish. A few continue to come in on jigs and minnows. Water temperatures are now in the mid- to upper 70s. These warmer water temperatures have caused the bass bite to really heat up! The early morning top water bite is excellent; later in the day, switch to Texas-rigged plastics or tube jigs along the deep weed edges. Crappies and bluegills are active in and around the cabbage in 8 to 12 feet of water. 800-458-2223; www.visitbemidji.com
Walker - Leech Lake
The fish are on the move on Leech Lake, but once you find them they seem eager to bite. There is a mixture of fish in the weedy transition areas. Pulling spinner rigs and live bait rigging with night crawlers has been great for walleye and other gamefish species. Weed line transitions in 8 to 12 feet that are near deep water have been best, but walleye are also coming in on jigs worked at the weed edges in 4 to 6 feet of water on windy days. On sunny, calm days, check the mud transitions at the deeper shoreline breaks in 17 to 22 feet of water. Areas to scope out first include Stony Point and 1st and 2nd Duck points. 800-833-1118; www.leech-lake.com
Park Rapids
Anglers are taking walleye and crappies when fishing the shallow weeds in 6 to 10 feet of water. Bass are coming from the new weedlines in 12 to 17 feet of water. Trout are holding on the thermoclines in 15 to 25 foot depths. For large bluegills, check the weed beds in 5 to 8 feet of water. Northern pike are cruising the sunken “grassy” islands in 7 to 10 feet of water. Anglers are encouraged to use crawlers instead of minnows, along with plastics and jigging raps over the shallow weed flats. Also consider bottom bouncers for nearly every species that swims, even the big bluegills! 800-247-0054; www.parkrapids.com
Detroit Lakes
The walleye bite in the Detroit Lakes area remains good on the deep weed edges at the bars, points and shallow humps. Look for most fish in 24 to 26 feet of water. Some walleye can still be found in the cabbage weeds and on the flats during low light conditions and when the wind is blowing. Minnows, leeches and crawlers on rigs or jigs are working well, as well are jigging raps. Anglers trolling crank baits, spinners or “slow death” rigs are having some success. Lakes to try include Big Detroit, Sallie, Melissa, Pelican and Big Cormorant. Bass are shallow and relating to the weeds and cover. Some dock anglers are taking quality fish. Smallmouth bass are responding to lures pitched to the rocks, hard, sand bottom areas and deep structure. Smaller northern pike are tight to the weeds, with the larger northerns in the deeper, cooler waters off the breaks. Crappies are hitting aggressive presentations such as trolled spinners or jigs ripped through 8 to 15 feet of water near the cabbage weeds. Sunfish are active in the weeds. 800-542-3992; www.visitdetroitlakes.com
Central Region
Otter Tail Area Lakes
Water temperatures are in the low to mid 70s during early morning hours. Crappies are entering their summer patterns. Work the tall weed stands and objects (swim rafts, docks and even lily pads) located next to deep water using beetle spins, tru flus, and 1/16–ounce jigs tipped with gulp, twister tails or live bait. Work these presentations mid-way through the weeds and over the weed tops. If it takes a while to get a bite then it’s time to move on. For walleye, try night crawlers or leeches on lindy rigs, jigs, slip bobbers and bottom bouncers. Walleye are still spending most of their time on the clam beds and near the weeds and weed lines at the drop-offs. During evening hours, trolling crank baits on the shallow flats has been the most effective. The last of the mayfly hatches are taking place and should be done by the second weekend in July. 800-423-4571; www.ottertailcountry.com
Alexandria Area Lakes
As of late last week, fishing in the Alexandria lakes area remained strong. The bass, northern pike and panfish seemed to be biting on nearly every lake. The walleye were not as predictable but many lakes were giving up limits. Bass and northern pike anglers were having lots of success fishing the deep weedlines in 18 feet of water and the outside pencil reeds in 4 to 6 feet of water. Casting a top water bait or jigging a plastic worked well. Both sunfish and crappies were eager to bite, but the sunfish were much easier to find. A small jig under a bobber in 12 to 16 feet of water was the key to catching lots of panfish. Crappies were more difficult to track down, but most of them seemed to be suspended over the weed tops in depths of 12 to 16 feet. A small, 1/32-ounce jig and white twister tail produced the most fish. Walleye anglers had the most success trolling lindy rigs with leeches or nightcrawlers at .1 to .5 mph. The majority of fish were taken from the outside weed edges in 16 to 22 feet of water. Some walleye were also found in depths of 25 to 30 feet, but they were more difficult to catch. Wherever fish were found, it was best to move through them as slow as possible with a lindy rig. 800-235-9441; www.alexandriamn.org
Isle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs
The smallmouth bass bite has been incredible on Lake Mille Lacs, with lots of large fish coming from the shallows and off shore rocks. Small sinkos and small tubes, 3 to 3.5 inches long, are turning the most fish. During a tournament last week, the walleye were biting fast and furious, and tournament anglers reported some of the biggest total bag weights they have seen on Mille Lacs! 888-350-2692; www.millelacs.com
Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
White Bear Area Lakes
Water levels on White Bear Lake are good, allowing anglers access to some areas that have been hard to reach in previous years. This bodes well for future year classes due the increase in spawning areas. For sunfish anglers, White Bear has some mega-size pumpkinseeds that have been very aggressive defending their shallow nests. For now, use a small jig and smaller leech in 4 to 6 feet of water. The pumpkinseeds will leave these areas in the next several days and disperse to deeper weed lines. Muskie are being caught by anglers using smaller muskie lures -- as the season progresses, increase the size of the lure. The bass bite remains strong throughout the lake. Crappies are now suspended in deeper water. For walleye, use live bait in the deeper waters during low light hours or after dark. Bald Eagle Lake has become very weedy in the shallows, but the bass and panfish bite remains strong. 651/653-5122; www.explorewhitebear.org
Southern Minnesota
Red Wing - Pool #4 on the Mississippi River & lower St. Croix River
A couple of days ago, the Mississippi River continued to run very high, and boaters could not exceed 5 mph on the entire St. Croix River. High water levels were expected to linger for roughly 10 days. Summer patterns were being observed with fish spreading out to search for baitfish pods – locate a baitfish pod and you should find all types of gamefish. Most of the keeper walleye were being caught on live bait, especially at the windblown shorelines. 800-498-3444; www.redwing.org
Winona - Mississippi River & Lake Winona
The main channel of the Mississippi River is running fast and high so it has been difficult to fish. Most of the fishing is taking place in the backwaters, where anglers are catching some nice walleye. Crappie anglers are having success on Lake Winona. 507-452-0735; www.visitwinona.com
Lanesboro/Preston - Southeast Bluff Country trout streams
As of Thursday, June 28, fisheries staff reported that the streams were looking pretty good compared to last week. Mill Creek at the County Road 2 Bridge in Chatfield was at 17 centimeters, running a little high with murky water. Anglers wanting to fish this stream should use spinners and worms. Trout Run at the Bucksnort Dam was at 81 centimeters on June 28, and looking like it will be very fishable this weekend. The South Branch of the Root River was at 50 centimeters and running higher than normal on June 28, but it was starting to clear up. It too was expected to be fishable by the weekend. Check out the Minnesota Stream Flow Report before heading out. Twin Cities Trout Unlimited will host a two-night Whitewater State Park fishing and camping trip, July 15 and 16. This event is open to anglers of all ages and abilities. Learn more! 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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