Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update - June 11, 2020

Moose Lake Resort guest catches a nice muskie on opening weekend / www.VisitGrandRapids.com

Many walleye anglers are having success using jigs and live bait rigs tipped with leeches, crawlers or minnows at the deep weed edges and mid-lake structure. Trolling crank baits during evening hours has also been effective.

Anglers are asked to fish bodies of water close to home, and practice social distancing at the boat landings and shorelines.  

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

The incredible walleye bite has not only returned, it’s gotten better, with several very large walleye reported. Anglers continue to catch as many as 50-plus walleye in an evening when using slip-bobbers and leeches in 5-15 feet of water. Top colors remain pink, purple and blue.

Most smallmouth and largemouth bass have completed their spawn and are starting to feed aggressively on many area lakes. Bass are hitting topwater lures, with some coming in on jerk baits and wacky rigs. Look for both species on the large shallow flats in 10 feet of water or less.

Sunfish have started to spawn in area lakes. The larger bluegills can be found in the back of the shallow, firm bottom bays where they are responding to small jigs tipped with a wax worm or night crawler. Most crappies have moved from their spawning areas to the weed beds and weedlines. Anglers are catching fish when drifting jigs tipped with minnows under a bobber.

Large northern pike, many measuring 40-plus inches, are becoming a little less easy to locate as they begin their move out to deeper waters. The larger pike that continue to be taken are coming in on large suckers fished under a bobber right off the docks or at the mouths of shallow bays. Anglers are also reporting success with spoons, spinners and buzz baits. 800-777-7281; www.ely.org

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

Lake Superior anglers are still catching lots of lake trout, along with an occasional salmon. The best approach remains brightly colored 7- to 11- inch surface baits worked over 50-120 feet of water. Local stream fishing has been good for anglers using small spinners, flat fish and egg patterns. 

The St. Louis River remains very busy, with good numbers of fish coming from Alloueez Bay to Fond Du Lac. Some Lake Superior trout and salmon anglers are taking rogue walleye. The best tactic has been to troll crawler harnesses, but shallow-running crank baits are also turning fish. Minnow hatches are evident in select sections of the river — find bait fish and you should find gamefish, especially in windy sections of the river. Smallmouth bass and northern pike are responding to a variety of presentations. Catfish anglers report catching some very large fish.

Inland water fish are taking on more early summer patterns with good numbers of walleye and northern pike coming from the shallow mid-lake reefs. Slip bobbers and leeches have been best, but also try jigs tipped with plastics, especially when the bite is strong. Panfish and bass are completing their spawn and action has been strong in the shallows with fresh vegetation. Please practice selective harvest to maintain the health of the fisheries. 800-438-5884; www.visitduluth.com

Grand Rapids

Walleye fishing has been good on many area lakes. A jig and minnow combination continues to be best, but many anglers are doing well using leeches and crawlers during the day, and trolling crank baits during evening hours. Lakes to consider include Big Splithand, Pokegama, Jessie, Moose and Trout. Also try a slip bobber and leech at the thick weed beds.

Bass fishing has been excellent in the shallows on most bodies of water, with small ned rigs and hair jigs turning lots of fish. Good lakes to target include Pokegama, Loon, Turtle, Rice, Trout and Deer.

Panfish are off their beds and anglers are reporting lots of nice-size sunnies, along with a few crappies. Small jigs with a chunk of worm is usually all that is needed, but sometimes the smallest leech will turn finicky fish. A large number of lakes in the Grand Rapids area offer excellent panfishing so you will never run out of good choices. www.visitgrandrapids.com

Northwest Minnesota

Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River

It’s been an excellent week of walleye fishing on the south end of Lake of the Woods. The best success has taken place in 13-28 feet of water. Vertically jigging in areas with structure, and drifting or trolling crawler harnesses on the flats or basin areas have all been very effective. If the walleye are spread out, use spinners to cover more water. Gold, pink, orange and glow colors are working well. Most anglers are catching limits of eating-size fish, along with quite a few larger walleye. Nice northern pike and jumbo perch have been mixed in with the walleye catches.

On the Rainy River, most walleye are coming from depths of 12-24 feet of water on jigs, spinners and crank baits. Smallmouth bass can be found in areas with rocks and current breaks. Northern pike are active in the mouths of the bays and current breaks. The sturgeon season opens July 1.

Up at the Northwest Angle, the US/Canada border remains closed, but guests can stay in Minnesota and travel across the lake to fish. Some resorts are offering transport service across the lake to the Northwest Angle, and various south shore resorts are offering parking for guests of Northwest Angle resorts. Check with your favorite Northwest Angle resort for your best options. Fishing around the Angle continues to be excellent. Walleye continue to be pulled from the 5- to 7-foot flats on snelled spinners and crank baits. Another effective approach is to jig the rocky points in 10-20 feet of water where fish are schooled. Good numbers of walleye are also coming from the 10-20 foot flats on spinners tipped with a minnow or half of a crawler. 800-382-FISH; www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com

Bemidji

Walleye anglers are having success using jigs and minnows, as well as live bait rigs with minnows, leeches or crawlers at the deep weed edges and mid-lake structure in 12-16 feet of water. Lakes Bemidji, Plantagenet, Big Turtle and Andrusia are all kicking out nice fish.

Last weekend’s muskie opener went well, with good numbers of fish pulled from Bemidji and Plantagenet lakes.  

Bluegills remain on their beds, and crappies can be found off the edge of the reeds and emerging cabbage weeds. Bass anglers continue to take good numbers of fish on plastics tossed into the shallows. As always, please remember to practice selective harvesting — by doing so, great fishing will continue for years to come. 800-458-2223; www.visitbemidji.com

Walker - Leech Lake

The transition from shiners to leeches and crawlers is complete on Leech Lake. Water temperatures are now in the mid- to upper 60s. Most fish continue to pull away from the shorelines, settling into their summer locations. Some of the best fishing has been on the rocks, but many walleye are also coming from the sand/weed flats and deeper edges in several bays. During the day, especially when winds are calm, work depths of 12-15 feet.

The muskie remain spread out following their spawn. Bucktails and jerk baits seem to be producing the majority of fish. Also try trolling large crank baits in the deep open water.

Other area lakes are giving up lots of walleye on crawlers, leeches and minnows worked along the breaks in depths of 8-12 feet and 14-18 feet. Casting a jig and shiner is also working on the windswept rocks, with jigs and plastics also turning fish in these spots. Jig-raps continue to put fish in the boat — work them fast to locate active fish, then switch to a slower presentation. 800-833-1118; www.leech-lake.com

Park Rapids

Walleye fishing is excellent throughout the Park Rapids area, especially for the larger fish. Walleye can be found in 15-20 feet of water when using a lively minnow like a red tail chub. Anglers will want to place the minnow on a 1/8- to 3/16-ounce orange or green jig, and slowly drag it along the bottom. Early morning and late afternoon hours have been best.

Northern pike measuring 20- to 30-inches are hitting spinner baits and spoons trolled over the tops of the weed beds on shoreline flats in depths of 6-12 feet. The best colors have been florescent orange, chartreuse, and solid chrome. Troll your spinner baits at roughly 1.5-mph throughout the day for good action. 800-247-0054; www.parkrapids.com

Detroit Lakes

There have been extreme weather shifts recently, with water temperatures dropping from 70 degrees down to the high 60s due to recent cold fronts. Expect water temperatures to rise into the low 70s by next week. Bugs have begun hatching, and some fish are switching their diets from minnows to the new hatches. The shiner run is done, but many perch remain shallow, and there is a population of walleye feeding in 7-14 foot depths. The cabbage weeds are holding fish, but not all patches are equal. If fish don’t bite right away, move to the next patch. Jigs tipped with minnows or plastics, rigs tipped with minnows, leeches or crawlers, spinners and rapalas are all taking fish.

The bass are shallow at shoreline targets and at the inside and outside weed edges depending on the weather. Jigs and plastics, spinners, spoons and crank baits are all working well.

Crappies are hitting jigs tipped with minnows or plastics fished aggressively in 9-13 feet of water. Spinners are also turning fish when worked fished on the outside weed edges at .8- to 1.1-mph. 800-542-3992; www.visitdetroitlakes.com

Central Region

Otter Tail Area Lakes

The walleye are moving out to main lake structure on Otter Tail County lakes. Most of these fish now prefer leeches and night crawlers over minnows, with anglers taking nice numbers of fish.

Northern pike are at the weedy flats as they keep a close eye on spawning sunfish and rock bass. Crappies have dispersed from their spawning areas and are migrating towards their summer locations. They can tricky to find when post-spawn so try trolling beetle spins and 1/16-ounce thumper jigs to locate fish over the dense weeds at the drop-offs. 800-423-4571; www.ottertailcountry.com

Brainerd Area Lakes

There has been a mixture of daytime and nighttime walleye bites depending on the lake targeted. The smaller lakes with ample weed growth offer a better daytime bite, whereas the larger lakes such as like Gull, North Long and Edwards are giving up the most fish at night. On the smaller lakes, pull spinners and leeches or try leeches under slip bobbers anywhere cabbage can be found nearing the surface.

Northern pike action has been exceptional, especially at the shoreline breaks with weeds in 10-14 feet of water. The bluegill are spawning so anglers are asked to use selective harvest. Most crappies have finished their spawn, and the post-spawn fish are very active at the tips of points and inside turns. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass are post-spawn and have moved from under the docks to the deep edge of the weeds on the points. 218-825-0410; www.visitbrainerd.com

Isle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs

Lake Mille Lacs water temperatures remain around 66-69 degrees, but the temperature should rise throughout the week. Most fish have completed their spawn and have started to slide out to deeper water. The walleye continue to offer an excellent bite, with more now coming from deeper waters on slip bobbers. The deeper gravel/mud flats have been best, especially during the last hour and half of sunlight. Anglers are also taking fish late at night when using slip bobbers on a rocky point, or tossing artificial lures during the day.

Bass have wrapped-up their spawn and the amount of fish on beds is declining. For lots of fun and fast action, use ned rigs, swim baits, jerk baits or tubes on a break.

Muskie were taken during last weekend’s muskie opener, with most fish pulled from the shallow rocks and weed beds. Topwater action worked well for many, but other tactics also produced fish. 888-350-2692; www.millelacs.com

Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

As Minnesota weather becomes wetter with more intense storms, it can be difficult to find trout in murky waters. Twin Cities Trout Unlimited offers tips for finding a fishable stream after heavy rain at Clearing the Clouds.   

Southern Minnesota

No reports are currently available for Southern Minnesota.

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

Subscribe here to receive any or all of Explore Minnesota Tourism's updates by email.

If you plan on introducing your child to fishing, the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer’s What Kind of Fish is That? is a lovely and informative guide for you and your child to enjoy together. 

Have something else in mind?
Our expert travel counselors can help!