Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update - Feb. 20, 2020

Great fishing from portable ice houses on a Grand Rapids area lake / Weisguy Images

Anglers are eager to head out this weekend for the final days of the 2019-2020 gamefish season. Starting Friday, high temperatures will range from the low to upper 30s, with mostly sunny skies through Sunday!

Recent cold temperatures have improved travel conditions on lakes throughout the state by building ice and solidifying slush.

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

Ely Area Lakes and Rivers

Lake trout fishing remains excellent for many anglers. A few reported back-to-back days of catching more the ten lakers, and at least two anglers landed lake trout weighing more than 15 pounds! Tinsel jigs accounted for the majority of lakers, but spoons turned the largest trout. Key depths were 30-50 feet of water. Larger sucker minnows tipped on a jig or fished on the bottom under a tip-up produced many of the trout.

Back-country stream trout fishing was good for both numbers and size! Anglers found trout just off the shallow flats in 12 feet of water and near shore in waters as shallow as 3 feet. Small rippin’ raps, and small jigs tipped with soft plastics or wax worms were the best producers. Key colors were pink, white and silver.

Panfish action was also very good. The crappies were eager to rise up and hit well-presented minnows and small jigging raps. Most of the fish continue to be found in the main basins of the lakes in 20-40 feet of water. The sunfish responded very well to jigging raps, and small jigs tipped with soft plastics or a wax worm.

Eelpout activity has slowed a bit since the full moon phase, but eelpout anglers and a few unhappy lake trout anglers continue to catch eelpout during evening hours and after dark. Anglers targeting these hard-fighting fish should concentrate on sunken islands or large shallow sand flats. Anglers will want to spread out their tip-ups up and down the humps or sand flats in depths ranging from 15-40 feet of water. For the most success, use heavy pout bounce jigs loaded with smelt pieces and thumped on the bottom to call them in. 800-777-7281; www.ely.org

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

The best bite in the area is on the inland lakes, where good numbers of crappies and bluegills are being taken. Staying mobile and getting away from the crowd continue to be very important. There are times when you can catch a bunch of bluegills during the day, then some crappies around dusk. Light tackle such as small tungsten jigs and soft plastics seem to be the best presentation, but fish are also coming in on waxworms and spikes. Northern pike, bass and an occasional walleye are still being taken on tip-ups with live bait rigs. Targeting transitional areas such as weedlines, or mud to rock/gravel areas has been best. 

The St. Louis River has been slow lately, with anglers struggling to catch fish. Walleye are being seen on electronics but it has been tough to get them to bite. Spoon baits tipped with minnow heads or jigging stick baits seem to draw in the most fish and lead to an occasional taker. Sturgeon have been active, responding to dead-sticks with a bunch of dead minnows on the bottom.  

A few anglers are open water fishing in the Two Harbors area of Lake Superior, but there haven’t been many reports of success. The breakwall has been popular for long rod casting for salmon and loopers. 800-438-5884; www.visitduluth.com

Grand Rapids

Anglers are turning their attention to yellow perch since they are active and one of the best eating fish. Perch anglers will want to target the soft bottom structure where there are emerging nymphs and larvae. In the near future, anglers will want to concentrate on areas with a weed and rock combination where small minnows and baby crayfish can be found. Drill several holes before fishing in order to locate a school of perch. It pays to be mobile when casing perch in the winter. Excellent perch lakes include Pokegama, Big Winnibigoshish, Bowstring, Jay Gould and Big Sand. www.visitgrandrapids.com

Northwest Minnesota

Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River

Anglers are catching good numbers of walleye, along with some very large walleye and lots of sauger on the south end of Lake of the Woods. Lots of action continues to be reported 16- to 22-miles out on the ice. Ice conditions remain excellent, with roughly 30 inches of ice in most areas being fished. Successful anglers are using a small spoon or plain hook with a minnow head. On sunny days, gold has been the best color; on cloudy days, glow pink, green, orange and chartreuse have been the most productive. Don't be afraid to downsize your presentation if fish are not responding. Electronics are very helpful when trying to locate suspended walleye. Northern pike are becoming more active and eager to bite. 

The Rainy River is frozen over and snowmobiles are traveling the marked trail. Some local anglers are pulling walleye from the river, but most anglers are fishing the lake. Anyone that intends to fish the river must use extra caution due to this year’s  high current levels. Thin ice has been reported around the International Bridge in Baudette. If you plan to fish the river, please work through a resort.

Ice fishing is in full swing up at the Northwest Angle, with a nice mix of walleye and sauger being reported. Some jumbo perch and northern pike are also being taken. Most of the resort ice houses are over 26-32 feet of water. For the most fish, use some rattle with your jigging presentation.

The fishing season is extended on these border waters, with walleye and sauger fishing allowed 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

The walleye season closes at midnight on Sunday, Feb. 23 so anglers are starting to focus on the crappies, bluegills, perch and tullibee! A good perch bite is being reported on lakes Bemidji and Plantagenet in 18-30 feet of water. Anglers having the most success are using jigging spoons tipped with minnow heads or waxworms.

Most of the tullibee can be found suspended in 40-60 feet of water. A flasher spoon with a 8-12 inch drop line and small spoon tipped with a waxworm or minnow head has worked well. For active crappies and bluegills, hit Gull, Pimushe, Midge and Turtle lakes. 800-458-2223; www.visitbemidji.com

Park Rapids

Mid-winter fishing is in full swing, but in a few weeks, fishing will change dramatically. For now, target the deeper water for consistent walleye and crappie action. The deep basins are full of crappies during the day, with fish responding best to small minnows, or tiny jigging spoons tipped with a minnow head. 

Walleyes are being pulled from the mid-lake structure such as sunken islands that top off at 25-30 feet of water. White or gold jigging spoons tipped with a minnow head are working best.

The bluegills are stacked up on the steep shoreline breaks with an old weed line. Look for them suspended just outside the break using your electronics. For the most action, use a tiny jig tipped with a waxworm. Neutral colors seem to work best for these observant fish. Large northern pike continue to roam the shallows, responding to sucker minnows under a tip-up in depths of 6-12 feet. 800-247-0054; www.parkrapids.com

Detroit Lakes Area Lakes

The panfish bite in the Detroit Lakes area continues to be very good. Crappies can be found suspended over deep water, and some are moving shallower to the outside edges of the weedlines. Bluegills are also relating to deep water and weeds. Jigs and jigging spoons with waxworms or soft plastics are turning fish. Some walleye continue to be caught by anglers jigging and using dead-sticks just before and after dark. Ice conditions are as good as they have been all season, and travel has improved now that the snowpack has diminished. More access roads have been plowed on area lakes over the last couple weeks, making more lakes easier to access.

The walleye, northern pike and largemouth bass season will end this Sunday at midnight, but anglers can still fish for perch, crappies, sunfish and tullibee. Please note that you will need to renew your fishing license as of March 1. Also, fish houses south of the border created by highways 10, 34 and 200 need to be off the ice by midnight March 2. 800-542-3992; www.visitdetroitlakes.com

Central Region

Isle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs

The ice roads are in good shape and off-road travel is good on Mille Lacs Lake. Fishing has been very good for those getting away from the groups of wheel-houses. Overall, the best fishing has been on the edges of the flats, even the bottom edges. Tullibee are being caught off the flats in deep water. The weather will be spectacular the weekend so head out if you can! Lake Mille Lacs will be the site of the Perch Extravaganza on Feb. 22. 888-350-2692; www.millelacs.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. Midges could be seen running around on the snow. The best times to fish were midday from roughly noon until 3 p.m.

The National Trout Center in Preston will offer Free Nitrate Testing for southeast Minnesota wells and streams on Saturday, Feb. 22. Safe drinking water is a growing concern, especially for private well owners, and for water quality in our springs and trout streams.

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

Ortonville - Big Stone Lake

Anglers are looking forward to a great weekend on Big Stone Lake! The perch bite has been spectacular, and with little to no snow on the lake, travel on the ice has been easy.  Expect to take some good-sized bluegills as well. 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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