Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update - June 25, 2020

Landen Lentz lands a 26-inch walleye while fishing on Lake of the Woods / Slim's Resort and www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com

Anglers continue to take nice numbers of walleye on live bait rigs with leeches or crawlers. Smallmouth and largemouth bass are extremely active and a lot of fun to catch. For fast action, try spinner baits, crank baits, surface baits or jigs with plastic worms at the weed edges and near-shore structure.

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

Kabetogama

Lake Kabetogama walleye are coming from a variety of depths as they transition to mid-lake reefs and island shoals. Recently, the best bite has been in deeper waters off the structure in 25-32 feet of water. Lindy rigs tipped with a crawler or leech has been most productive. Water temperatures remain in the upper 60s to lower 70s. Sporadic mayfly hatches are occurring but depending on where you are you may see a few or none at all. If you do find mayflies, try dragging spinners through these areas.

Northern pike are active, with a lot pike measuring roughly 20-inches being caught. For the larger pike, try casting large lures such as daredevils, musky killers or suicks in and around the weed beds and shallow rocky shorelines. On calm days, topwater lures are best for large pike.

Smallmouth bass are active around the gradually sloping shorelines. Look for basketball-size boulders in and along the inside turns for the best action. 800-524-9085; www.kabetogama.com

Ely

Walleye fishing has slowed due to mayfly hatches on many area lakes. While some anglers continue to catch walleye in the shallows with slip bobbers, the evening bite has cooled off as walleye become more scattered. To locate these fish, try lindy rigging or trolling crank baits in 15-20 feet of water near large mud flats and around sunken islands.

Topwater fishing remains great for smallmouth bass action, especially at the rocky, shallow flats. The ideal times for the topwater bite are early morning and evening hours. During the day, switch to sub-surface baits such as suspended jerk baits, spinner baits and wacky worms. The best locations will be near the shorelines and on the shallow, rocky flats.

Lake trout fishing has been excellent on many area lakes. Anglers have been finding lakers 30-40 feet down, over deep water. Anglers fishing from a boat are using trolling spoons fished on down riggers. Heavy jigs and dropped to the bottom and aggressively jigged while drifting over deep water is best when fishing from a canoe.

Smaller northern pike remain very active in the shallow bays and at the mouths of shallow bays. Anglers have been catching a good number of pike when using spinner baits, spoons, and suckers fished under a bobber. 800-777-7281; www.ely.org

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

Lake Superior anglers continue to take some nice lake trout and salmon. The best tactic remains pulling stick baits, but spoons are becoming more and more productive. Note areas with temperatures changes, since temperature changes in Lake Superior are considered "structure" by anglers familiar with the big lake. Please practice selective harvesting, and release the large lake trout. Some of these trout are the same age as a middle-aged person. Also, Lake Superior fish are able to withstand large pressure changes so they are often released successfully.

The walleye bite of the St. Louis River is beginning to change. Jigging is a little less effective, and trolling tactics are becoming more successful. The best baits continue to be live bait rigs pulled behind a bottom bouncer, but shallow-running stick baits are also turning fish. Areas producing fish have been the shallower flats and just off the channel breaks. Bonus smallmouth bass, catfish, perch and northern pike are coming in with the walleye.

The inland waters have been unpredictable, but a little time on the water will help you determine the best approach. Drifting live bait rigs in and around the 10-foot breaks has been the most productive, but the larger walleye seem to be most active in depths of 10-20 feet of water. Leeches are becoming the preferred live bait as the wild leech hatches begin. Anglers are taking nice numbers of northern pike, largemouth bass and panfish from the thick vegetation near old spawning beds. Snap-jigging a 1/16-ounce jig tipped with soft plastics in the cabbage has been the most productive tactic. 800-438-5884; www.visitduluth.com

Grand Rapids

Anglers continue to take nice numbers of walleye. In addition to walleye, the Grand Rapids area is known for its largemouth and smallmouth bass. Hundreds of lakes, including the Mississippi River, provide some of the best bass fishing in Minnesota. Some of the area’s most productive lakes include Pokegama, Wabana, Rice, Trout and Big Balsam. The shoreline weeds, docks, rock piles and other off-shore structure are giving up bass on spinner baits, crank baits, surface baits, jigs and plastic worms. These hard-hitting fish will bite anytime of the day. www.visitgrandrapids.com

Northwest Minnesota

Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River

Fishing has been spectacular on the south end of Lake of the Woods. While fish are active throughout the lake, nice numbers are coming from the Lighthouse Gap and Pine Island areas. The key is to head out a few miles, watch your electronics and mark fish, with depths of 5-32 feet being the most productive. Anglers are also doing well at the Morris Point Gap, Zippel Bay, Long Point and Rocky Point. Two main techniques are producing fish — drifting a snelled spinner with a crawler or leech, and jigging a frozen shiner or fathead minnow.  The best colors have been gold, pink, glow red and glow white. Plenty of northern pike and jumbo perch have been mixed in with the walleye.  

On the Rainy River, anglers are having a blast with the smallmouth bass in the rocky areas, around the bridges and at the current breaks.  Northern pike are cruising in the bays, at the bay mouths and at the current breaks. Most of the walleye are holding in 15-25 feet of water, hitting jigs tipped with minnows and trolled crank baits. There is a great population of sturgeon in the river and anglers are looking forward to the July 1 sturgeon season!   

Up at the Northwest Angle, walleye fishing has been great for anglers pulling crank baits, and spinners with crawlers in 4-10 feet of water. Other schools of walleye are hanging out deeper at the shoreline breaks and reefs. Lots of northern pike, jumbo perch and smallmouth bass are also being taken. Guests can travel across the lake and stay in Minnesota waters until the U.S. / Canada border opens. Check with your favorite Northwest Angle resort for details.   

As temperatures warm, it is especially important to know how to properly handle and release fish. Learn more at Master the Skill of Quickly and Effectively Releasing A Fish, courtesy of www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com. 800-382-FISH; www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com

Walker - Leech Lake

Strong winds and heavy rain made it difficult to get out onto Leech Lake last week. When anglers were able to get out, the fishing was steady with a nice mix of walleye being taken. Crawlers with a bottom bouncer was the best technique by far. In areas where it was hard to keep the perch off the line, it was best to switch over to a leech. Anglers fishing the east side of the lake did well when pulling a rapala over the tops of the rock humps — a rig tipped with a crawler or leech at the edges worked better for the less aggressive fish.

Open water trolling has been best for muskie anglers, but some fish are starting to move into the shallow cabbage weeds where topwater baits and bucktails are triggering active fish. For lots of smallmouth bass, throw tubes, jerk baits and top water lures on calm days. 800-833-1118; www.leech-lake.com

Detroit Lakes

Water temperatures in the Detroit Lakes area are hovering around 70 degrees, but hot days are forecasted for the weekend which will result in an increase in water temperatures. The mayfly hatch has begun, and it may increase when hot, sunny days return. When the hatch heats up, the fish will concentrate on areas with larva, so look for walleye either deep where the bugs are hatching out of the mud or at the mud near cabbage weeds.

Bass are active on some of the mid-lake weed beds, as well as at the shallow structure near shorelines. Crappies have been hitting jigs snapped or pitched into the cabbage beds in 9-13 foot depths. Most of the fish are higher in the water column. Fathead minnows and plastics are working well. Northern pike are active in the shallows, but some of the bigger fish are coming from the breaks in deeper waters. Muskie anglers are having some success on Big Detroit and Pelican lakes. 800-542-3992; www.visitdetroitlakes.com

Central Region

Alexandria Area Lakes

The fish are sliding off to the structure out in the basin. As of late last week, when conditions were very windy, crank baits and lead core line trolled at 2 mph produced the majority of walleye.  Natural colors and patterns worked better than bright colors. 800-245-2539; www.explorealex.com

Brainerd Area Lakes

While fishing has been inconsistent, the walleye bite has really increased during daylight hours. Fish are staging just off the weed edges, as well as in the dense cabbage. Leeches, crawlers and light pike sucker minnows have all been working well. Crawler and leech harnesses have been best off the deep edge of the weed lines, but slip bobbers and a simple split shot with an octopus hook is best when fishing the weeds. A wonderful night bite is still being reported by anglers pulling crank baits on Gull, North Long and Edwards lakes.

Bass have been extremely active under the docks and in the cabbage out to 14 feet deep. Wacky rigs and sucker minnows have been very effective. Northern pike fishing remains excellent for anglers trolling muskie lures at 3.5- to 4-mph. The bluegills have started biting at the weed lines, with a good crappie bite a little later in the evening. 218-825-0410; www.visitbrainerd.com

Isle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs

Walleye fishing remains great. Nightcrawlers and leeches are producing the majority of fish, but other presentations, such as minnows, swim baits, and trolled crank baits are also turning nice numbers of walleye. Check the deeper waters during the day, and work the humps during the low light hours.

Bass fishing is greatly improved now that the high winds have subsided. Most fish are off their beds and hanging in depths of 8-12 feet at the structure and boulders. Tube jigs continue to produce fish, but drop shots are becoming more effective. A few calm days are in the forecast and some bug hatches are expected, so there will be an opportunity for a good topwater bite.

A few northern pike are being taken, with some measuring over 40 inches. Please remember that as of July 1, you cannot possess or fish for walleye. You also cannot have live bait less than 8-inches long in your possession.   

Check out current lake conditions at the Mille Lacs Lake Webcams web page. 888-350-2692; www.millelacs.com

Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Anglers in the Twin Cities that want to fish a nearby lake can rent a boat at parks within the Three Rivers Park District. Learn more at the Three Rivers Park District Watercraft Rentals web page.

White Bear Lake

White Bear Lake is giving up lots of panfish. Schools of sunfish can be found over depths over 22-28 feet of water. Anglers report lots of fun action when using slip bobbers with small chunks of nightcrawlers or small leeches. Crappies can still be found in the deep weeds when pitching small jigs tipped with a minnow.

The bass bite has been very consistent. Most fish remain in depths of less than 12 feet, relating to the weeds. For the most bass action, use jigs with plastic worms, or toss out a jerk bait.  During early morning hours, try topwater lures. 

Walleye are less eager to bite, but once you find a school of fish, expect some good action. Successful anglers are using slip bobbers near the deep-water points just before sunrise or just after dark.  Lindy rigs with leeches have also been effective in these areas.

White swimbaits and small bucktails are producing muskie at the cabbage weeds. These fish are lingering in the shallows since water temperatures remain in the low 70s. 651/653-5122; www.explorewhitebear.org

Southern Minnesota

Lanesboro/Preston - Southeast Bluff Country trout streams

As of Thursday, June 18, most creeks and streams were clear with a normal water flow. There were reports of some very nice trout being caught in streams with off colored waters.  Caddis were being observed. 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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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. 

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