Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update - Jan. 4, 2019

Large amounts of snow fell throughout central and northern Minnesota on Dec. 27. Total accumulations ranged from a few inches up to 20 inches. This week's unseasonably warm temperatures will linger through this weekend with high temperatures ranging from the mid-40s in the south to the low to mid-30s in the north. Anglers should expect slushy, wet conditions during the day, and slippery conditions at night.

Extreme caution must be used by ice anglers since heavy snow on the ice, along with thawing and refreezing, reduces the amount of weight that ice can support. Anyone planning to head out should first consult with a local bait shop, resort or guide service for the most current ice conditions. Whenever possible, stay on maintained ice roads and trails.

The DNR encourages anglers to wear a life jacket out on the ice, especially under current conditions. Bring along some rope, ice picks, an ice chisel and tape measure, and always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. Once out on the ice, check ice conditions often.

Please take a moment to review the DNR's Ice Safety web page and Ice Thickness Guidelines web page.

For rules, regulations and other helpful information on fishing in Minnesota, consult the DNR's Fish Minnesota web page.

[Northeast] [Northwest] [Central] [Minneapolis-St. Paul Area] [Southern]

Northeast Minnesota

International Falls - Rainy Lake & the Rainy River

More anglers are venturing out onto Rainy Lake where they are finding a good walleye bite during early morning hours. Sand Bay continues to be the most popular area. The best presentation has been a colorful jig tipped with a minnow in 25 to 30 feet of water. Some crappies are being pulled from 20 foot depths on a bare hook tipped with a small minnow. The National Park Service has been able to stake the Green Trail from Frank’s Bay to Gold Portage which has improved access for snowmobiles and portable gear. The trail is also staked through Kabetogama and Ash River on to Crane Lake, and known pressure ridges have been marked. Trails in the National Park will not be groomed until the partial government shutdown is resolved. The International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club is grooming the trails during the shutdown. 800-325-5766; www.rainylake.org

Ely Area Lakes & Streams

The walleye bite has slowed a bit but some nice fish are still being taken. The best time to fish remains that last hour of daylight, but a second wave of biters generally move back through around 8 p.m. Rainbows and shiners under a bobber are working well, as are actively jigged jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head. Glow red colors are the most productive at night, especially in 20 to 30 feet of water at the main lake points and around the sunken islands. Northern pike fishing ranges from decent to excellent. While live, heavy sucker minnows produce the most hits, a simple Alewife under a tip-up has turned the largest fish. Shallow bays with weeds have been best. Heavy snow fell just before the lake trout opener in the BWCA on Dec. 29. Hard-core lake trout anglers that headed out had some success when using dead smelt on the bottom in neck down areas. The crappies and sunnies continue to offer a great bite. Most crappies can be found in 25 to 35 feet of water when using tear drop jigs tipped with wax worms or a small, soft plastic baits. Glow jigs in pink, chartreuse and red have turned the most fish. Some sunfish are coming in with the crappies, but most are holding in 20 feet of water or less. The sunfish are also responding to wax worms and small, soft plastics. Both species are biting during the day, but shutdown by noon on some lakes. 800-777-7281; www.ely.org

Duluth - Lake Superior and inland waters

Large amounts of snowfall made ice fishing a challenge last week – snow shovels have been very helpful. Small trucks are heading out onto some lakes, and more permanent ice house communities are popping up. While the ice seems to average 12 to 15 inches thick, there areas of flooding on some of the reservoirs north of Duluth. Anglers must be extremely careful when traveling on the lakes. The inland lakes continue to give up the most fish. Tip-ups with small sucker or shiner minnows are turning northern pike and bass, with an occasional walleye being taken at dusk. Bluegills and crappies are coming in on small tungsten jigs tipped with soft plastics or wax worms. On the St. Louis River, anglers are taking some fish from the harbor area and some areas away from the crowds. Most fish are coming from the 5 to 10 feet of water on jigging spoons and puppet minnows. Walleye make up the majority of the catch, but anglers are also taking a few northern pike, eelpout and perch. Some flooding has been reported, along with soft shorelines. Anglers must use extreme caution in these areas. Please note that the Minnesota Winter Trout Opener for lakes entirely or partially outside of the BWCA begins Jan 12. 800-438-5884; www.visitduluth.com

Grand Rapids Area Lakes

Nice walleye continue to be pulled from Pokegama, Trout, and Winnibigoshish lakes, especially during evening hours. Dead sticks with a shiner minnow or rainbow chub seem to be working consistently -- remember to place your split shot 8-10 inches from your hook so the minnow can’t swim too freely. Often, especially in mid- to late winter, walleye are hesitant to chase forage. Perch fishing has been good on area lakes with deep rock and weed edges. Anglers having the most success are using small spoons with 2 to 3 wax worms or a minnow head. Winnibigoshish, Bowstring, Jay Gould and Pokegama lakes are good destinations for a bucket of perch. Use a soft-tipped rod to detect soft bites. Drill several holes and remain mobile. Perch, like other species, are on the move looking for food so anglers should also be ready to move. Once you find a good perch bite you will have a lot of fun and enjoy some great fish fries later. 800-355-9740; www.visitgrandrapids.com

Northwest Minnesota

Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River

The main lake basin on Lake of the Woods continues to give up good numbers of walleye and sauger. Anglers having the most success are using one jig line and one dead stick in 25 to 31 feet of water during the day, and in 12 to 18 feet of water during morning and evening hours. Gold and glow red, yellow and orange colors are working best. Electronics have been very helpful since some of the larger fish are suspending. Pick-ups and wheel houses of varying sizes are traveling various ice roads, but call ahead since every resort ice road is different. Overall, the ice ranges from 12 to 20 inches thick where resorts have placed their ice houses. The snowmobile trails are staked on the lake from the south shore up to the Northwest Angle.  Anglers are advised to stay on the marked trails. On the Rainy River, some stretches of the river and some of the bay ice remains unsafe due to heavier than normal current. Anglers are reporting some walleye action in Four Mile Bay during lowlight hours. Local anglers who know the river are doing the majority of fishing. At the Northwest Angle, there is an ice road from Young's Bay to Flag Island. Anglers report excellent fishing with good numbers of walleye being taken. Most fish coming from 18 to 24 feet of water. Anglers are advised to work through area resorts and stay on the staked ice trails. 800-382-FISH; www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com

Bemidji

Fifteen inches of snow feel last week, making travel by 4-wheel drive vehicle or snowmobile necessary in some areas. Anglers are taking walleye and perch from 18 to 35 feet of water on Lake Bemidji. Jigging spoons and minnow heads are turning the most fish. Perch action is taking place most of the day, but the best walleye bite has been during early morning, late afternoon and evening hours. Lakes Andrusia, Big, Grace and Plantagenet are also producing nice numbers of fish. Panfish are anglers are doing well on Gull, Moose, Grant and Pimushe lakes. 800-458-2223; www.visitbemidji.com

Bena - Lake Winnibigoshish

About 12 to 15 inches of snow fell on Lake Winnibigoshish last week, but the roads are plowed and anglers are getting out. The perch are a bit sluggish with an occasional flurry of activity in less than 12 feet of water. The northern pike remain active in less than 10 feet of water. There are few walleye reports due to the lack of walleye anglers heading out. www.lakewinnie.net

Park Rapids Area Lakes

Good fishing action can be found throughout the Park Rapids area this week. The walleye are active before noon, and again from 2 p.m. until dark especially on lakes with a little tinge of color in the water.  The best depths have been 11 to 25 feet. On the clearest area lakes, anglers will find a good daytime bite in depths of 25 to 40 feet.  Glow and gold color jigging spoons with a small minnow head have been working best.  A simple bobber, hook and shiner minnow combination will catch the less aggressive fish. 800-247-0054; www.parkrapids.com

Detroit Lakes Area Lakes

Last week’s heavy snowfall made travel around area lakes a bit difficult, but anglers are now getting around easily by 4-wheel drive and snowmobile. A good walleye bite is being reported from Melissa, Sallie, Pelican and Big Cormorant lakes during early morning and evening hours. Jigging spoons with minnow heads are producing some fish in 18 to 30 feet of water. Crappies have been active on Leif, Melissa, and Height of Land lakes over the deeper basins. Little Detroit is kicking out crappies and bluegills for anglers fishing depths of 8 to 12 feet of water. 800-542-3992; www.visitdetroitlakes.com 

Central Region

Alexandria Area Lakes

As of Dec. 28, there was 12 to 14 inches of ice on many area lakes. Walleye were being pulled from 18 to 24 feet of water on artificial jigging baits and live bait. Try a jigging spoon on one rod and a plain hook tipped with a 3 inch minnow on another rod, and if there is a strong preference to one or the other, stick to that presentation. The best crappie action was in the shallow basins and bay areas in 15 to 20 feet of water.  Most crappies were found suspended 2 to 3 feet off bottom.  A small #12 jig tipped with a euro larva worked very well, but after dark, a small crappie minnow also turned fish.  Low light hours have been best. 800-235-9441; www.alexandriamn.org

Isle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs

A resort on the southeast edge of Lake Mille Lacs reports roughly 16 inches of ice, and tandem axle houses allowed out on their ice road. While the cold temperatures and high pressure following last week’s snowstorm slowed the bite a bit, the action during late afternoon and evening hours has rebounded. In addition, more walleye in the 21 to 23 inch slot are showing up. A resort on the south side of the lake reports 16 to 16.5 inches of ice. Their road is open to all size vehicles and fish houses. Check out the Mille Lacs Lake Webcams to view lake activity. 888-350-2692; www.millelacs.com 

Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

On Jan. 6, plan to attend an Ice Fishing Clinic! What's more Minnesotan than fishing on ice? Try your luck on Lake Auburn, learn the basics and make a jigging stick at Lowry Nature Center. Everyone attending this program must pre-register. Carver Park Reserve in Victoria. 763-694-7650

Southern Minnesota

Lanesboro/Preston - Southeast Bluff Country trout streams

Check out the "Area Highlights" section on the Lanesboro Area Fisheries web page for stream maps for areas currently open to catch-and-release trout fishing. 800-944-2670; www.lanesboro.com

Albert Lea Area Lakes

The 72nd Annual Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener will be held May 9-12, 2019 on Fountain Lake, one of the largest lakes in the Albert Lea area. Located about 75 minutes south of the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, Albert Lea is nestled between Fountain and Albert Lea lakes. The area has 13 lakes, many offering fishing, boating, kayaking and canoeing. In the heart of the city, the 521-acre Fountain Lake features several bays and is home to 20 species of fish, including largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, crappie, catfish and yellow perch. 800-345-8414; www.albertleatourism.org 

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