Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update - Sept. 24, 2020

Lower Pauness Lake in the BWCAW / Gary Hamer

Fall fishing continues to improve, with many species feeding more aggressively. A jig or live bait rig tipped with a large minnow remains the most effective tactic. Don’t miss out on the great fall fishing and beautiful fall color show!

Anglers are asked to fish bodies of water close to home, and practice social distancing at the boat landings and shorelines. Learn more about safer ways to travel at Explore Minnesota's COVID-19 Information page.  

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

Walleye fishing remains consistently good for many walleye anglers. Jigs tipped with large minnows have been the go-to for just about every successful angler. Most of the walleye are coming from depths of 20-30 feet of water along the main lake points, sharp drop-offs, and around the sunken islands. There have been a few reports of anglers catching good numbers of walleye when trolling deep-diving crank baits during evening hours in 15-25 feet of water on the large flats.

Northern pike anglers are catching good numbers of pike, but most have been on the smaller side. Large suckers fished under a bobber, large spinnerbaits and spoons have been the go-to baits. Green weeds have been key to finding active pike. Some anglers are also having luck with the pike on the shallow, rocky points.

Smallmouth bass continue to be found out around the sunken islands in 15-25 feet of water. Large minnows have been the top producer as the smallies are eager to put on weight before winter.

Stream trout anglers are having success using nightcrawlers floated off the bottom or suspended under a bobber during the evening hours. Anglers fishing from a boat have been catching trout when trolling small spoons and small minnow baits. 800-777-7281; www.ely.org

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

The inland waters are giving up a good mix of northern pike, bass and walleye. The best fishing has been in the afternoons until dark near and over the mid-lake humps. Look for large changes in depth on your graph and work the transitions. Walleye, pike and bass are being caught by anglers using slip bobbers at the structure in 12-24 feet of water. Leeches have been good choices, but big fatheads have been even better. Muskie anglers report an uptick in action, and that the big live sucker bite is coming alive.

The St. Louis River bite has been good at the deep channels which used to be old shipping routes, especially at the bends. Most fish are coming from 16-25 feet of water, but some nice fish are also being pulled from the shallows, early and late in the day. Some large crappies, walleye and northern pike make up most of the catches, with catfish, drum and white perch also being taken. The smallmouth bass have been very aggressive over the hard bottom and rocky areas in the cooler, faster running waters. The best tactics have included, but are not been limited to, slowly trolling big bodied crank baits, fan-casting rattling traps, and rip jigging boot-tailed plastics and live bait.  

Lake Superior anglers continue to have success when pulling flasher fly combos and spoons in chrome, gold and orange colors. Lake trout continue to stage for the annual autumn spawn, with a few lakes and brown trout being reported. Stream fishing is heating up, with lots of anglers heading out. Some anglers report taking a few steelhead and king salmon. Most of the brown trout are being taken on topwater baits during later afternoon hours. Brook trout are responding best to small spinner baits. Casting into the back end of strong current has been the most productive tactic. 800-438-5884; www.visitduluth.com

Grand Rapids

The bite on Grand Rapids area lakes is heating up as fall sets in and the water temperatures continue to drop. Panfish, walleye, bass and even a few muskie are all being reported. 

Bluegills and crappies have been moving from the shallows out to their wintering holes and adjacent to deep weedlines. Jigs and twister tails have been working well when casted and trolled along the deeper weedlines in depths of 12-18 feet. Some anglers are also taking fish from 20-25 feet of water when using jigging raps or minnows tipped on a plain jig.

The walleye bite has been very strong, and fish have been schooling. A 1/4- to 1/8- jig tipped with a minnow seems to be the best presentation, especially in 8-14 feet of water. Still, some walleye continue to come from waters as shallow as 4 feet when the wind is blowing into areas being fished.

Bass and northern pike are actively biting along the deeper weed edges. Since the weeds are beginning to die off on most area lakes, the weed edge will become shallower and the bass and pike will move in shallower. Depths of 8-14 feet are best as the water temperatures cool. Finding green weeds near a deep water drop-off will really pay off. Casting and reeling large spinner baits, crank baits or spoons are working well to entice a bite, and should continue to result in lots of action. www.visitgrandrapids.com

Northwest Minnesota

Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River

At the south end of Lake of the Woods, anglers are pulling in lots of nice walleye, along with some big trophy fish. Water temperatures have dropped to the upper 50s, the shiners are running and there is a lot of bait adjacent to the shorelines — fall has arrived! The jig bite has really turned on, but pulling spinners with a crawler or shiner, and trolling crank baits remain effective. Strong colors include gold, glow and orange. Depths of 10-16 feet are best along shore; when fishing the mud, work depths of 22-28 feet. 

Emerald shiners continue their run into the Rainy River. Anglers report some nice walleye, but the true walleye run has not yet occurred. Most anglers are jigging with frozen shiners, however, trolling crank baits or crawler harnesses is also producing fish. Sturgeon anglers are doing well when working the deeper holes with a 3-ounce no-roll sinker, 18-inch snell of heavy 60 lb. line and a 4/0 circle hook loaded with crawlers or shiners.  Northern pike are being pulled from the weed edges. The river current remains slow. 

Many anglers fishing the Northwest Angle and Islands area report good results when jigging. Gold spinners with crawlers or minnows are producing lots of fish, with some really nice walleye pulled from 10- 15 foot depths and 21- 27 foot depths at the structure and along the shorelines. Muskie and big pike are hitting topwater lures in the weedy bays. Some large crappies are coming in on small jigs worked in 15-30 feet of water.  

 Until the U.S./Canada border opens, guests can travel across the lake and stay in Minnesota waters. Learn more at Boating to the Northwest Angle. 800-382-FISH; www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com

Bena - Lake Winnibigoshish

Lots of walleye continue to be taken from Lake Winnibigoshish. Anglers having the most success are using jigs and minnows along the shorelines and points in 6-10 feet of water.

Perch anglers are catching good numbers of fish when using minnows along the shorelines in depths of 6-8 feet. Spoons worked in 10 to 15 feet of water remain the ticket for northern pike. www.lakewinnie.net

Detroit Lakes

Water temperatures in the Detroit Lakes area have climbed back up to the mid- to high 60-degree range due to this week’s unseasonably warm weather. Some walleye remain out on the deep structure, and some have moved to the shoreline break weed edges. Rigs or jigs with minnows are turning the majority of fish, but rapalas continue to produce some fish.

Smallmouth bass action has heated up over the last couple of weeks, and it is expected to continually get better. Most of the bass are relating to the weeds and shallow cover. Large northern pike are being pulled from the deeper, sharp break edges relating to cooler waters. The crappies have transitioned off the flats, holding at the sharp breaks, with many suspended over deeper water. For the most crappie action, use small jigs with small minnows or plastics. Bluegill anglers are having lots of success using pieces of nightcrawler, crappie minnows or small plastics on jigs. 800-542-3992; www.visitdetroitlakes.com

Central Region

Brainerd Area Lakes

Fall fishing patterns are in full swing in the Brainerd lakes area. The walleye have moved off the weed edges and can now be found in 16-30 feet of water. Live bait rigs tipped with big chubs and or jigging raps are both working well.

Bluegills are coming from the thick weeds at the inside turns and points. Crappies can be found suspended in 15-30 feet of water. Largemouth bass are active off the weed edges and in the pencil reeds. And anglers report that the northern pike are very aggressive in depths of 8-15 feet. 218-825-0410; www.visitbrainerd.com

Isle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs

Lots of large walleye, bass, northern pike and muskie were pulled from Mille Lacs Lake this week! Check out current lake conditions at the Mille Lacs Lake Webcams web page. 888-350-2692; www.millelacs.com

Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

If you’d like to rent a boat to fish Twin Cities area waters, check out the many boat rental options on the Explore Minnesota boating web page.

Waconia - Lake Waconia

The sunfish are biting consistently along the Lake Waconia weedlines in 10-14 feet of water. The north side of the island and Pillsbury Reef are two areas worth checking out. Small pieces of nightcrawlers or wax worms are effective baits for sunfish. A deeper crappie bite is being reported in 18-24 feet of water, especially off the edges of the reefs such as Anderson’s and Keg’s. Use your electronics to find a school of crappies, then hold on. Once located, these fish are usually very willing to eat. Crappie minnows and gulp are both good options for targeting these early fall crappies.

The bass fishing remains good on Lake Waconia. The most consistent bite has been in shallower waters, but lots of larger fish are coming from deeper waters. For the deep water bass, use senkos, ribbontail worms or football jigs at the deeper weedlines off the reefs.

Walleye fishing has been inconsistent, but anglers expect that to change in the next few weeks. Successful anglers are jigging with fatheads off the edges of the reefs such as Keg’s and Anderson’s.

The muskie and northern pike bite has been the best it has been all year. Medium to large sucker minnows are turning northern pike on the weedlines down by the swimming beach and in Wagner’s bay. Artificial presentations such as spinnerbaits will work as well. Lots of nice pike are being report, with many measuring in the mid-30 inch range. The muskie bite has really improved with the falling water temperatures. Lures such as bucktails, topwaters, and bulldawgs have raised fish from depths of 5-15 feet. 952-442-5812; www.destinationwaconia.org

Southern Minnesota

Lanesboro/Preston - Southeast Bluff Country trout streams

As of Thursday, Sept. 17, most area trout streams were clear to slightly off in color, with low water flows. Reports were mixed with some anglers having lots of success with the trout and others having difficulty. There were reports of blue-winged olives hatching and a huge flying ant hatch on the South Fork Root River off of Deer Road. Some anglers were doing well using streamers. 

Be sure to check the Weekly Minnesota Stream Flow Maps for updates before you head out. 800-944-2670; www.lanesboro.com

Ortonville - Big Stone Lake

An awesome bite is being reported on Big Stone Lake, with anglers taking lots of nice perch and bluegills.  Anglers are asked to please consider releasing the giant bluegills if they are not going on the wall. Don’t miss out on the great fall fishing and beautiful fall color show! 320-839-3284; www.bigstonelake.com

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

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