Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update - May 7, 2020

25-inch walleye pulled from Maple Lake / Joe Scegura Guide Service

Anglers are eagerly awaiting this weekend’s Minnesota Fishing Opener, Saturday, May 9. While anglers are encouraged to head out, they are asked to choose a body of water close to home and practice social distancing at the boat landings and shorelines.  

Nearly all lakes in Minnesota will be free of ice by the May 9 fishing opener. DNR Fisheries Staff expect most walleye to have completed their spawn and be eager to bite. Smaller jigs with shiner minnows, cast and retrieved slowly, should work very well, especially in the warmer water bays.

Lake water temperatures remain very cold so anglers need to use caution and wear a life jacket. Please review cold water dangers before heading out.

For most inland waters, Minnesota fishing opener dates for the upcoming season are as follows:

• May 9: Walleye, sauger, northern pike, bass (catch-and-release) and lake trout
• June 6: Muskie
• Continuous: Crappies, sunnies, perch and catfish

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

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

Fishing on Lake Superior has slowed a bit, probably due to recent high winds. Anglers are reporting a few trout and salmon when trolling. The smelt season is still on, but it is past its peak and the run will soon be over. Area stream anglers are finding some success with a mix of steelhead and brown trout when drifting. The best tactic remains egg patterns drifted under a strike indicator. A few anglers are catching some nice brook trout when using small spinner baits. Stream flows are nearing normal levels. 

Some anglers are trying their luck with panfish in the back bays of the St. Louis River. Reports indicate that the water remains too cold for the crappies to move into the shallows, but it should take place any day now. When the time comes, use a 1/16 ounce small plastic twitched under a float. For those just wanting a fun fight with a fish, drum, suckers and carp are eager to bite. Try soaking a nightcrawler in the current and you'll likely have some action. Anglers may connect with female walleye making their way back into Lake Superior when fishing sections of the river less traveled.

Inland lakes are kicking out a lot of fish. This weekend, try fan-casting the rock piles with husky jerks. Also try dead-sticking shiners over the side of the boat in 8-12 feet of water. 800-438-5884; www.visitduluth.com

Grand Rapids

Ice has been off the water for a couple weeks and most walleye have completed their spawn. These fish will occupy their post-spawn locations, and the smaller male walleye should be very active. Look for them in the shallows. Once located, pitch a 1/8 ounce jig tipped with a shiner or chub. If the bite turns slow, try slowly drifting or slowly trolling a minnow on a plain hook with a split shot 24-30 inches above the hook. If conditions become calm and flat, switch to a 1/16 ounce jig, and cast and retrieve it at a very slow speed. The best color for jigs can vary from lake to lake due to water clarity. For stained water, use orange or glow red; shades of light green or blue which resemble the forage are best on the clearer water lakes. In the evening, just before dark, try trolling crank baits at 1.75 to 2.5 mph in depths of 8-12 feet. Some of the most productive lakes on opening weekend have been Big and Little Splithand, Big Winnie, Big and Little Cutfoot, Jessie and Wabana, along with the Mississippi River.

Crappies have moved into the shallows and will provide anglers with additional options. With the cool water temperatures, check the shallow bays near old pencil reeds. A small jig underneath a float with a minnow or action tail should be all you will need. Keep moving until you find an active pod of fish. Many lakes in the Grand Rapids area offer excellent crappie fishing so if the walleye are slow to bite then crappies are a great alternative. Please be sure to practice social distancing at the boat landings and resorts. www.visitgrandrapids.com

Northwest Minnesota

Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River

Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River are free of ice, and ready for the Fishing Opener. Lake of the Woods area resorts and hotels are welcoming guests back and have implemented a variety of COVID-19 safety measures to ensure guest and employee safety.

On the south end of Lake of the Woods, walleye and sauger should be spread out in schools. The best approach is to anchor and jig with a frozen emerald shiner or other minnow. The walleye/sauger limit on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River is a combined limit of six fish, with up to four walleye allowed. Good numbers of northern pike are being caught in the bays. The pike season on Lake of the Woods never closes.  

There will be a good population of walleye in the Rainy River and Four Mile Bay on opening day based on all of the walleye being caught by sturgeon anglers. The sturgeon bite has been hot with fish over 70 inches in length being taken. The sturgeon catch and release season runs May 8-15, reopening July 1.

Up at the Northwest Angle, only residents can fish due to an agreement between the U.S. and Canada to keep the international border closed until May 20. Until the border opens, guests can travel across the lake and stay in Minnesota. Some resorts are offering transport service to the Angle prior to the border opening. The Northwest Angle has open water and will be in prime condition for the opener. Most of the walleye will be caught by anglers jigging the shoreline structure, points and neck-down areas. 800-382-FISH; www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com

Walker - Leech Lake

While many things are uncertain these days, one thing to count on is a spectacular opening weekend on Leech Lake. The ice will have been off Leech Lake for more than a week, and the water is warming up nicely.

Most northern pike and walleye should have completed their spawn by May 9, and they will be hungry. Walleye anglers will want to concentrate on depths of 4-12 feet of water at the windblown points and shorelines. Both rocky shorelines and sandy areas should hold lots of fish this time of year.  A jig or lindy rig tipped with a minnow is recommended, but leeches can also be a good option early in the year. Stay on the move until you locate active fish. Walleye anglers fishing local area lakes will want to use a jig tipped with a minnow and play the wind. Casting crank baits and jerk baits is also a good option. Start shallow and work deeper until you find fish. Most will be hungry following their spawn.

The crappies and sunnies are staging to spawn in Leech Lake's dark bottom bays with newly emerging green weeds. A small jig tipped with plastic or a plain hook and crappie minnow are great ways to catch these fish. Please remember that the panfish are vulnerable during their spawn so carefully return all fish you don’t intend to keep. Crappie action is heating up on many local lakes. On the smaller lakes, fish are moving into the shallows — on the larger lakes, many fish remain a bit deeper off the first break. Fish seem to prefer live bait when the water is cold. Keep moving until you find active fish. 800-833-1118; www.leech-lake.com

Park Rapids

The crappies are starting to move into the shallows to spawn. For the most fish, use a crappie minnow and a #6 hook under a bobber in areas with warmer waters. For sunfish, use the same approach, but switch out the minnows for waxworms and use a slightly smaller hook. Again, seek out the warmer waters such as the shallow bays and sun-soaked shorelines, especially during afternoon hours. 

The walleye have completed their spawn and are eager to bite. For the most walleye, use a 1/8 ounce jig tipped with a lively shiner minnow. Colors such as white, blue and lime green are always good “opener” colors.  Slowly cast and retrieve or long-line troll the jig through the shallow flats adjacent to spawning areas. Depths of 3-10 feet should be best. Try to remain quiet since the fish can be easily spooked. 800-247-0054; www.parkrapids.com

Central Region

Pine River Area Lakes

The panfish are moving into the shallows during the late afternoon hours on warmer days. Simple presentations are better when it comes to angling for spring crappies and sunfish. A small bobber dangling a small 1/16 ounce jig only a foot or two below the surface will entice the hungry panfish to bite.  Colors such as chartreuse and blue are generally best, but at times pink and white work as well. 

Walleye have completed their spawn in most area lakes. On opening day, expect the walleye to be in the shallows during low light periods, dropping into slightly deeper water during the day. Shallow-running plugs work as well as small jigs tipped with a fathead-size minnow.  Fish will respond to a smaller offering due to cold water this time of year. 

Northern pike are also off their spawning beds and eager to take an artificial bait or live minnow on the shallow side of the weed beds. Look for them on the inside of the bars and points where weeds exist. Many times, walleye and northern pike will be found in similar depths this time of year, usually in 8-20 feet of water. 

Anglers should wear a life jacket due to very cold water temperatures. Please be patient and practice social distancing at the public accesses. 800-728-6926; www.pinerivermn.com

Isle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs

Water temperatures are in the low 50s in the bays of Lake Mille Lacs. Walleye anglers will want to hit the shallow water rocks on the south side or the north end sand. Expect the bite to be very good. Shiners will be the most productive, but they can be hard to find. Other minnows are available and should also work well. Please note that walleye fishing is catch-and-release only at the time of the opener. 888-350-2692; www.millelacs.com

Willmar

Nest Lake Bay and the northwest end of Eagle Lake are giving up sunfish and crappies in 2-10 foot depths. Anglers have also found active panfish on Point, Diamond and Andrew lakes, as well as near the fairgrounds on Foot Lake. Crappie minnows and wax worms are producing the most fish.

Anglers report seeing lots of walleye near shore — expect fish to be hungry on opening day! 800-845-8747; www.willmarlakesarea.com

Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Three Rivers Park District

Fishing and boating are great ways to enjoy the outdoors and maintain proper social distancing, and the Three Rivers Park District offers many great lake and river options for fishing. Check out their fishing page for a list of fishable waters. www.threeriversparks.org

Southern Minnesota

Lanesboro/Preston - Southeast Bluff Country Rivers and Streams

As of April 30, area streams looked great. Caddis could still be found hatching. Trout abundance was at its highest on record for many streams in the Driftless Region!

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

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

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