Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update - Feb. 13, 2020

Hannah's nice walleye pulled from Lake of the Woods near Border View Lodge

Very cold temperatures will give way to mild temperatures this weekend! Overall, recent cold temperatures have led to a vast improvement in ice thickness and travel conditions on lakes throughout the state.

Before heading out, please consult with a local bait shop, resort or guide service for the most current ice conditions. And please take a moment to review the DNR's Ice Safety and Ice Thickness Guidelines web pages.

Minnesota fishing opener dates for the 2020/2021 fishing season for most inland waters are as follows. Stream trout: April 18; walleye, sauger, northern pike, bass (catch-and-release) and lake trout: May 9; muskie: June 6. 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] [Northwest] [Central] [Minneapolis-St. Paul Area] [Southern]

Northeast Minnesota

International Falls - Rainy Lake & the Rainy River

Anglers are pre-fishing for the upcoming Rainy Lake Sportfishing Club Derby planned for Sand Bay on Feb. 29. If you plan to do some fishing, stick to the plowed roads and groomed trails since slush can be a problem if you travel off the established routes.

Rainy Lake walleye are most active during morning and evening hours. Jigging live bait just off the bottom in roughly 25 feet of water is usually best. There are reports of schools of crappie moving through too, and if that happens, you might have a lot of action in a short period of time.

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 inconsistent at best on Lake Kabetogama. During the recent cold front, it was very helpful to downsize your lure and bait, and keeping your presentation at least 2 inches off the bottom. When marking fish, you may have to switch lures and presentations until you find the right combination. Tip-ups with a sucker minnow have been producing most of the larger fish. Again, it is key to keep your bait roughly 2-4 inches off the bottom.

The ice road and sledding hill on Lake Kabetogama are open and seeing lots of activity. And the snowmobile trails on and off the lake are in excellent shape. 800-524-9085; www.kabetogama.com

Ely Area Lakes and Rivers

Lake trout fishing has been excellent for many anglers, with some groups reporting double-digit catches in one day! The most successful anglers are using tinsel bucktail jigs, or venom tubes in white/pink or white/blue. Laying dead bait on the bottom has also been effective, although anglers are often annoyed by the large number of eelpout hitting dead bait during morning and evening hours. Most of the trout have moved deeper, with fish coming from 40-60 feet of water.

The eelpout spawn in full swing and eelpout fishing has been exceptional on many area lakes. Anglers are finding fish in depths of 20-60 feet, but the best depth can change daily. Once fish are located, expect a fast bite. Laying frozen smelt on the bottom or hooking several pieces of smelt on a bounce jig has been very productive.

Stream trout fishing has also picked up for many anglers. The rainbows have been the most active, and can be found near shore in 10 feet of water or less. Flashy spoons or small rippin’ raps in chrome, pink or white have been the most effective. 

There is a wonderful article on ice fishing for brook trout in the BWCA in the January/February 2020 edition of the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Magazine. Check it out! 800-777-7281; www.ely.org

Duluth - Lake Superior, St. Louis River and inland waters

Now is the time to chase the game fish since the Minnesota season closes Feb. 23. Still, there are plenty of opportunities after the close of the season, including great late ice panfishing, North Shore casting, smelting and stream fishing.

Some anglers are open water fishing on Lake Superior since ice fishing is not an option. Anglers must carefully plan their outing when fishing kayak, canoe or boat, and take all of the necessary safety precautions. This time of year, fish can be in shallow near-shore areas. Some anglers are taking a fish or two when chucking spoons, or casting weighted bobbers over live bait. North Shore angling will get more and more attention as we move further into March. 

The St. Louis River continues to kick out some smaller walleye off the shallower flats. Fish can be caught in many different sections of the river, so if you are struggling in one area, move on. Back bay panfishing is gaining more attention. The influx of returning walleyes from Lake Superior has not yet begun, and it is possible they may not return before the season closes.

The inland waters are giving up lots of nice panfish, and it can be a magical bite when you discover a roaming school of crappies. Basin fishing has improved as soft substrate mud bottoms give up more bug larvae. Concentrate your efforts on the perimeters of the deeper basins in 25-plus feet of water. Spreading out is very important to success. The walleye bite has been on the slower side lately. The best opportunity to take a walleye is during low light periods, especially late in the afternoon.  

Head to the DECC this weekend for the annual Duluth Boats, Sport, RV & Travel Show. The show runs Feb. 12-16, with all the latest boats, docks, lifts, RVs, fifth wheels, travel trailers and gear, as well as seminars and live entertainment. 800-438-5884; www.visitduluth.com

Grand Rapids

Cool temperatures and no additional snowfall have improved ice fishing conditions, and anglers are now able to use snowmobiles and side-by-sides to access area lakes. While the walleye and northern pike season is winding down, there are plenty of other species to target including panfish, tullibee and whitefish. Tullibee and whitefish are most often found in deep, clear bodies of water. Some of the best lakes for whitefish are Deer, Big Ball Club, Big Winnie and Sugar.

Tullibee are excellent when smoked, pickled or fried, and they are a lot of fun to catch on light tackle. The same set-ups used for panfish are generally all that is needed for tullibee — light action rods with a soft tip, 2-4 pound test line, and small tungsten jigs or gold spoons. A good search bait is a heavier gold spoon with a short dropper. The dropper should have a small 1/32 ounce jig and a wax worm or 2- to 3- euro larvae at the end. Drill several holes then use your electronics to locate active fish which can be anywhere from the bottom to 10 feet off the bottom in the water column. Good depths to start at are 20-30 feet where the bottom is soft. Tullibee feed on bugs so it’s important to work the deeper mud bottoms. Some of the good tullibee lakes to check out are Big Winnie, Bowstring, Bass, Little Bass and Jessie.  www.visitgrandrapids.com

Northwest Minnesota

Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River

On the south end of Lake of the Woods, a lot of nice walleye and sauger are being taken. Ice conditions remain excellent, and many resorts have set their houses out 16-22 miles on the lake. Anglers should jig one line using noise such as rattles or vibration to draw fish in, and use a dead-stick with a live minnow in a second hole for neutral fish. The best colors vary, but gold, glow, green, orange and pink are good color choices at this time. Northern pike anglers already pulling in some trophy fish. This bite should continually improve as the month progresses.

On the Rainy River, snowmobiles are now traveling the marked trails, and anglers are reporting some good bites. Please note that extra caution is always needed on the river, especially this year due to higher current levels. Thin ice is reported around the International Bridge in Baudette. Please work through a resort or others knowledgeable of current ice conditions.

Up at the Northwest Angle, resorts have set their houses over 26-32 feet of water, with guests reporting lots of good catches this week. The snowmobile trails from the south shore to the Angle are all in great shape. Successful anglers are using jigging spoons and rippin’ raps in one hole, and a plain red hook with a live minnow in a second hole. Fish houses are allowed on the ice through March 31 — the walleye and sauger season is open through April 14.

Anglers will want to check out the Northernmost to Southernmost Fishing Trip Giveaway! The northernmost and southernmost points of the contiguous U.S. have teamed up to offer a fishing trip giveaway to Lake of the Woods and the Florida Keys to spotlight the fantistic fishing in both areas. 800-382-FISH; www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com

Bemidji

More fish houses continue to pop up on Lake Bemidji. Most anglers are keeping their houses close to the plowed roads. While 4-wheel drive vehicles can travel off the plowed roads, pockets of slush can make it difficult to get around.

Anglers report a short window in the morning and later in the day when the walleye are biting. The perch are often active throughout the day. Hit Lake Plantagenet for the best perch action.  For panfish, head to Gull and Andrusia lakes. 800-458-2223; www.visitbemidji.com

Detroit Lakes Area Lakes

Ice thickness and travel conditions on area lakes continue to improve. The panfish bite remains the most consistent bite in the area. Some anglers are having success with the tullibee in deep waters on lakes that support a tullibee population. This bite will be strong until ice-out.  Expect Little Detroit Lake to be busy this weekend due to the “Polar Fest Plunge!” 800-542-3992; www.visitdetroitlakes.com

Central Region

Otter Tail Area Lakes

Ice conditions have improved considerably on area lakes, and travel has been much easier.  With the improved conditions, now is the time to fish area hot spots you weren’t able to access a month ago! The low fishing pressure should increase the chance for good numbers of fish. The panfish bite has been exceptional in both the shallows and deeper basin areas, and anglers report a nice mixture of bluegills and crappies.

The walleye continue to bite, and anglers are doing well when working the transition areas and also staying mobile. Set lines are a must this time of year but an active line down should also be used for the aggressive fish. Northern pike are still roaming the weedlines. They are eager to bite, especially when presented with a big sucker or dead bait under a tip-up. As always, please be careful and the ice often. 800-423-4571; www.ottertailcountry.com

Isle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs

Ice conditions remain very good on Lake Mille Lacs, and fishing has been great for many anglers.  Lake Mille Lacs will host a number of upcoming fishing contests including the Ducks Unlimited Ice Fishing Contest on Feb. 15 out of Garrison, and the Perch Extravaganza on Feb. 22 out of Isle. 888-350-2692; www.millelacs.com

Willmar

This is the time of year when you have a work a bit harder to get the fish to bite. A few walleye are coming from Norway and Big Kandiyohi lakes, especially 30 minutes before sunset.

Most anglers are pulling panfish from 10-25 foot depths on Nest, Norway, Green, Eagle, Diamond, Point and Big Kandiyohi lakes. The most popular baits are currently fresh shrimp, crappie minnows and wax worms. All area lakes have at least 20 inches of ice in most areas, but everyone needs to stay clear of the lake aerators. 800-845-8747; www.willmarlakesarea.com

Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

No reports are currently available.

Southern Minnesota

Lanesboro/Preston - Southeast Bluff Country Rivers and Streams

As of Wednesday, Feb. 12, all area streams and rivers were in excellent condition. The water was running very clear with a normal water flow despite an additional 8-10 inches of snow on Sunday, Feb. 9. Midges could be seen running around on the snow. The best times to fish were midday from roughly noon until 3 p.m.

The Stream Trout catch-and-release season opened Jan. 1. Maps are available under the “Area Highlights” tab on the Lanesboro Fisheries web page. 800-944-2670; www.lanesboro.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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