Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update - Jan. 16, 2020

Hunter ice fishing on Lake Winona / www.VisitWinona.com

Lakeland PBS reports that FishingBooker has named the Brainerd Lakes Area the best winter fishing destination in the U.S.!  Read more! 

Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend will be held Saturday, Jan. 18 through Monday, Jan. 20 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day). On Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend, Minnesotans can fish without licenses if they take children 15 or younger fishing.   

Please note that a winter storm with high winds may drop up to a foot of snow in some areas of the state this Friday and Saturday — please plan accordingly. Also, slush has become an issue on many lakes. Anglers are advised to stay on marked lake trails. Before heading out, consult with a local bait shop, resort or guide service for the most current ice conditions. Anyone that decides to head out should check ice thickness often.

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

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

Rainy Lake walleye and crappies are being pulled from Sand Bay during morning and evening hours. Jigging or bobber fishing with live bait will work well when place a foot or so off the bottom in 25-0 feet of water. Shiner minnows seem to be working best. In Black Bay, anglers are taking large northern pike from the weedy edges.

Anglers that plan to head out by snowmobile with portable gear should stay on the staked trails as much as possible since there are areas of slush under a heavy blanket of snow. There may even be slush pockets on the staked and groomed trails. To view the most current conditions within Voyageurs National Park, visit their Winter Ice and Trail Conditions page. 800-325-5766; www.rainylake.org

Kabetogama

Fishing has been extremely inconsistent on Lake Kabetogama. Anglers are marking fish but the fish are hesitant to bite. When the fish are biting, they are generally in depths of 18-35 feet of water. The edges of the reefs, shoreline points and deeper waters over soft bottoms are all giving up some fish. The larger walleye seem to be the most eager to bite, with a few smaller walleye and an occasional perch and northern pike often in the mix.

Many anglers are reporting water flooding after drilling holes. Recent snowfall, along with more snow in the forecast will cause flooding to be an issue for some time. Vehicle travel on the ice is highly discouraged.  Snowmobiles and track machines are the best modes of travel. 800-524-9085; www.kabetogama.com

Ely Area Lakes and Rivers

The ice conditions continue to improve, but areas with slush and high current continue are still unstable and unsafe. Angles must use caution and test ice thickness often when heading out. 

Walleye anglers fishing the transitions from mud to rock are struggling to catch walleye small enough to keep for dinner. The key depth has been 18-23 feet of water. Pink glow demons, tipped with a shiner or rainbow, are turning most of the walleye.

Crappie fishing has slowed, with anglers having to drill lots of holes and hole hop until active fish are found. Most of the active fish have been found high in the water column, roughly 5-10 feet under the ice in 20-30 feet of water. The best presentation has been a small tungsten jig tipped with a waxworm or soft pink, white or blue plastic.

Die-hard stream trout anglers are finding cooperative trout when hiking out to stream trout lakes in the BWCA. Most anglers have been targeting brook trout in 10 feet of water or less. Successful anglers are using small rippin’ raps, spoons or small jig tipped with waxworms, soft plastics or dead minnows.

In the January–February 2020 edition of the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Magazine, an article on ice fishing for brook trout in the BWCA is featured. Find out more.

800-777-7281; www.ely.org

Grand Rapids

Ice conditions for lakes in the Grand Rapids area have improved due to the recent cold temperatures. Anglers are able to get out on a few additional lakes this week as slush solidifies. Please note that there are still some areas with water on top of the ice, so a little scouting and prep work can save a lot of time and effort digging out of deep snow and slush.

Crappies have been very active during morning and evening hours. Crappie minnows on a jig or under a bobber have been producing well, as have jigs tipped with a waxworm or euro larva. Depths of 14-22 feet of water have been the most productive. Most of the bluegills have been in slightly shallower waters at the weeds where they are responding to a small tungsten jig tipped with a wax worm or euro larva.

The weed edges of most area lakes are also holding good population of northern pike. Larger shiners, sucker minnows and frozen dead bait under tip-ups have all been working well.

The walleye bite has also been good. Most of the fish seem to be making their way out to the mid-lake humps.  Successful anglers are targeting structure in 18-25 feet of water, especially during low-light hours. Shiners, rainbow chubs and sucker minnows under tip-ups or bobbers with a plain single hook are working well. Combining a set line with some sort of a jigging bait such as a jigging rap, rattle spoon or flutter spoon has added to the catch rate. www.visitgrandrapids.com

Northwest Minnesota

Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River

Ice conditions are excellent on Lake of the Woods. Recent cold fronts have had an effect on the walleye and sauger bite, but plenty of fish are being taken for fish fries. Some trophy walleye, sauger, large sturgeon, jumbo perch and an occasional northern pike, crappie and tulibee have been in the mix. Most anglers are fishing 25-30 feet of water when on structure, or 30-36 feet of water over mud. The most productive colors are gold, pink, glow red and UV glow. Jigging lines and dead-sticks with a live minnow are producing well. Rattles and noise are very effective. Electronics have been helpful since the walleye are often suspended. 

The Rainy River is frozen over, with some snowmobile traffic on the marked trail. The current has dropped somewhat, but is still strong. Extra caution is always needed on the river. The ice is thin near the International Bridge in Baudette, and even thinner on stretches of the river. Anglers should work through a resort if planning to fish the river. 

Fishing continues to be great in the Northwest Angle & Islands area. Anglers are reporting a nice mix of walleye, sauger, jumbo perch, northern pike and eelpout. If the fish turn finicky due to a cold front, downsize your presentation and keep your minnow active on a dead-stick. 

The snowmobile trails from the south end of the lake to the Northwest Angle are groomed and in good shape. Please stay on the trails since there are chunks of ice scattered on the lake. 800-382-FISH; www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com

Walker - Leech Lake

The ice conditions have improved on the south end of Leech Lake. Roads are being reopened, and new roads and new cutouts are being added where possible — many of the larger drifts and banks have slush underneath, although most pockets are beginning to freeze solid. Currently, most of the roads have 17-18 inches of ice. Some ice roads are expected to open to the public this Friday, Jan. 17.  Please note that off-road travel must be limited to snowmobiles or tracked vehicles due to a large amount of snow on the lake. 800-833-1118; www.leech-lake.com

Park Rapids

Northern pike fishing has been good on lakes throughout the Park Rapids area. Tip-ups rigged with #2 chartreuse hooks and tipped with a hot dog hooked once sideways and suspended about 2-3 feet off the bottom in 9-12 feet of water has been ideal for fast bites! Shiner minnows and sucker minnows are also turning pike.

For walleye, a jigging spoon tipped with a small minnow head fished on the deep, mid-lake sunken islands in 20-30 feet of water has worked well. 800-247-0054; www.parkrapids.com

Detroit Lakes Area Lakes

Only a few lakes in the Detroit Lakes area are currently able to support truck travel. It may be another week or so before trucks can get out on more lakes. While recent cold temperatures have frozen some of the slush, there are still flooding issues due to heavy snow cover. The panfish bite remains very good, and it is more predictable than the walleye bite. 800-542-3992; www.visitdetroitlakes.com

Central Region

Otter Tail Area Lakes

Much of the slush has started to freeze solid on area lakes, and travel should only get easier. Anglers still need to monitor ice thickness. Anglers are asked to please avoid drilling any holes on or near a road which will lead to flooding issues. 

There are well-established communities of fish houses on some lakes, but panfish anglers are having the most success when away from the crowds. The natural food that brought them to the community spots in the first place is starting to dwindle so fish will start to roam in search of new bug hatches. For the most action, try spoons, jigs and rattle baits in the basin areas. And don’t forget to check the shallow weeds.

Walleye are being pulled from depths of 20-28 feet. Successful anglers are using a set line with a large fathead set 8 inches off the bottom, as well as loud rattle bait worked within the bottom 4 feet of water. This combination will attract fish to you and give you greater odds of catching fish. 

Northern pike are roaming the weedlines. Large dead-baits or suckers under a tip-up in 8-16 feet of water are a great way to connect with some big pike. For a challenge, move out to the basin and set a line 3-feet under the ice since large pike like to cruse just underneath in search of an easy meal. 800-423-4571; www.ottertailcountry.com

Brainerd Area Lakes

Good ice has finally formed on lakes throughout the Brainerd area. Unfortunately, the forecast calls for more snow which will probably lead to more slush.

Walleye anglers have been taking lots of fish from Gull Lake, with an all-day bite occurring quite frequently. Hubert, North Long and Round lakes are also giving up fish, but generally during low-light hours.

Crappies, bluegills and northern pike remain active in many of the smaller area lakes. Some of the green weeds are beginning to die-off so the weedline bite is slowing down as fish transition to the basin areas. 218-825-0410; www.visitbrainerd.com

Isle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs

Most anglers are reporting a few walleye on each outing this week. Unfortunately, the weather forecast for this Friday and Saturday includes a possible 5-10 inches of snow, as well as wind gusts up to 35 mph on Saturday. Anglers that head out over the weekend may want to hunker down in their fish houses until Sunday morning, when area resorts will be out in force plowing the roads and removing the drifts. It should be an exciting weekend on the ice! Drivers are asked to travel slowly to help preserve the roads. 888-350-2692; www.millelacs.com

Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Waconia - Lake Waconia

Current ice on Lake Waconia ranges from as little as 11 inches up to 17 inches, with 13-16 inches being the most common. While the ice is definitely getting thicker and current conditions allow for tandem wheel houses to be brought out, this weekend’s snow and wind may make travel difficult. 952/442-5812; www.destinationwaconia.org

Southern Minnesota

Lanesboro/Preston - Southeast Bluff Country Rivers and Streams

The Stream Trout Catch and Release Season is open only in specific state parks and city boundaries. Learn more.   

Maps of these areas are available under the “Area Highlights” tab on the Lanesboro Fisheries web page.  

Before you go, check out the DNR’s Stream Flow Report for the most current conditions, as well as the "Area Highlights" section of the Lanesboro Area Fisheries web page for stream maps. 800-944-2670; www.lanesboro.com

Ortonville - Big Stone Lake

Roughly 2-4 inches of snow and high winds are expected over the weekend. Anglers are encouraged to head out onto Big Stone Lake as early as possible to avoid poor travel conditions. 320-839-3284; www.bigstonelake.com

Be sure to visit the Explore Minnesota Fishing & Hunting page for information to help you plan your next Minnesota fishing trip!

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