Thursday, August 18, 2011

Outdoor News Minnesota Fishing Report

Big Six
LAKE MILLE LACS
East - The key to catching walleyes during the day is working deep, 25 feet or more, and finding a pod of fish and sitting on top of them with rigs and live bait. There has been a better bite at night on slip bobbers and leeches on the eight- to 12-foot rocks. Smallmouth bass remain active on the shallow to mid-depth rocks, and the best muskie reports have come from cabbage bed areas.
Johnson's Portside (320) 676-3811
West - During the day, work the tops and edges of the mud flats with crankbaits and leadcore, Lindy Rigs and crawlers, or spinners and minnows for walleyes. The night bite has been best on slip bobbers and leeches in 32 to 34 feet, off the flats or on the 20-foot rocks. Muskies seem to be getting more active in Vineland Bay.
Terry's Boat Harbor (320) 692-4430
LAKE OF THE WOODS
Downrigging is producing limits of walleyes and sauger throughout Big Traverse. Big walleyes are being caught on the rocks near Bridges Reefs on crawlers and spinners. South of the Northwest Angle, limits of keeper-sized walleyes are being taken by anglers anchoring and pitching jigs or crawlers.
Lake of the Woods Tourism Bureau
(800) 382-FISH
LEECH LAKE
Walleyes have been tough to find during the day, although live bait rigs are turning a few fish on the humps in Walker Bay over 25 to 30 feet, as are Shad Raps in the Meadows area in 12 to 14 feet. At night, slip bobbers and leeches or crankbaits are producing a few 'eyes off Sand Point in eight to 12 feet. Muskie action remains strong, but they seem to be moving toward the rocks and hitting bucktails or jerkbaits.
Reed's Sporting Goods (218) 547-1505
LAKE MINNETONKA
Sunfish are scattered in six to 20 feet with the biggest fish being found along the 15- to 20-foot weed edges. Trolling small jigs and minnows has turned suspended crappies over 25 feet. Walleye action has been limited to some late-night action in 28 feet on a jig and fathead.
Wayzata Bait (952) 473-2227
RAINY LAKE
Minnows, leeches, and crawlers are all producing walleyes this week. The American Narrows and Fox Islands areas have been productive in 28 to 32 feet. The reefs near the east end of the Brule, Blueberry Island, and in Sand Bay are holding walleyes in 30 to 35 feet. Look to Black Bay for a few crappies, and the weedlines in Lost Bay are worth hitting for northern pike. On the Rainy River, walleyes have been most active near the golf course.
Loon's Nest (218) 286-5850
LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
Most of the walleyes being caught continue to come from along the weed edges in 12 to 14 feet on spinner rigs and crawlers. During the evening hours, Shad Raps are producing fish in shallow water. Raven's Point, Mallard Point, Little Stoney Point, the Birdhouses, Sugar Bar, and Long Bar have all produced fish. Perch are hitting minnows in the northwest corner in 12 to 14 feet, and the west side has been best for northern pike.
Nodak Lodge (218) 665-2226
Twin Cities Metro
NORTHEAST METRO
Bucktails are still raising muskies on the weedlines of Bald Eagle Lake during low-light periods. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows along the weed edges of Demonterville Lake, Beaver Lake, and Silver Lake. Look for sunfish in eight to 10 feet on Lake Peltier and Demonterville, while bass fishing remains strong on most lakes.
Blue Ribbon Bait & Tackle (651) 777-2421
LAKE WACONIA
The milfoil edges off Kegg's Reef, North Reef, and Reinkie's Reef are giving up sunfish. Look to the weedlines on the northwest corner of the lake for crappies during low-light periods. Plastics are turning bass on North Reef and Center Reef.
Mases In Towne Marina (952) 442-2096
Statewide
ALEXANDRIA AREA
Walleyes are hitting spinners and crawlers along the weeds of Lake Miltona, Lake Carlos, and Lake Ida. Crappies are most active during low-light periods on the weedlines of Carlos, Lake Le Homme Dieu, Lake Geneva, and Lake Darling.
Christopherson's Bait and Tackle (320) 763-3255
ANNANDALE AREA
Bass and northern pike are hitting spinnerbaits and crankbaits on the deep weedlines of Clearwater Lake, Lake John, Sugar Lake, Lake Sylvia, and French Lake. Sunfish can be had in 10 to 12 feet on Maple Lake, Lake Francis, John, Clearwater, and Sylvia. Walleye action has been limited.
Little Jim's Bait (320) 274-5297
BATTLE LAKE
During the day, walleyes are hitting nightcrawlers in 15 to 25 feet at Walker Lake, Rush Lake, Otter Tail Lake, and West Battle Lake. Troll Shad Raps at night on the five- to 12-foot flats of West Battle and Otter Tail for walleyes, as well. Spoons and sucker minnows are triggering northern pike on Otter Tail, West Battle, Clitherall Lake, and Fiske Lake. Crappies are suspending over 20 feet or more on West Battle and Clitherall. Look for sunfish in 16 to 19 feet on West Battle, Clitherall, and Blanche Lake.
Ben's Bait Shop (218) 864-5596
CASS LAKE AREA
Walleye fishing has improved on Cass Lake and Pike Bay Lake in 12 to 16 feet during the day, and six to nine feet at night. The bars such as North Cedar, Deadman's, East Cedar, as well as Stony Point have been best. The 20- to 25-foot main lake humps on Cass are holding perch, while bluegills, crappies, and rock bass are hanging around the lilly pads in Allen's Bay on Cass and Kitchi Lake. Northern pike are hitting perch-colored Shad Raps, and muskies remain most active during low-light periods.
Sunset Cove Resort (800) 279-4831
DULUTH AREA
Chubs are turning walleyes on Island Lake along the 15- to 20-foot structure. Boulder Lake is giving up walleyes via minnows in 10 feet. On Fish Lake, you'll find bluegills and crappies on the weedbeds, while the St. Louis River continues to give up muskies, mostly on double-bladed spinnerbaits. Reports off Lake Superior have been best north of Duluth. Spoons are producing cohos close to the surface, and lake trout are being found down 60 to 80 feet.
Chalstrom's Bait (218) 726-0094
ELY AREA
Northern pike are hitting minnows and crankbaits in six to eight feet on Shagawa Lake or in 18 to 20 feet on Snowbank Lake and Burntside Lake. Minnows are producing a few walleyes in 40 feet on Snowbank and in 20 feet throughout the White Iron Chain. Smallmouth bass reports indicate plenty of small fish in shallow water with the bigger fish being found in 25 feet or more.
The Great Outdoors (218) 365-4744
FAIRMONT AREA
Sunfish are hitting in six feet, and crappies are being found suspended over 12 feet on Hall Lake, Budd Lake, and Lake Sissiton. Catfish action also is strong on all three lakes in 10 to 12 feet. Spinner rigs and nightcrawlers are producing walleyes on South Silver Lake in 10 feet.
Hall Lake Cabins Bait & Tackle (507) 235-5225
GRAND RAPIDS AREA
Spinner rigs tipped with crawlers or chubs are producing walleyes during the day along the weed edges of lakes Wabana, Deer, Sugar, Pokegama, and Trout. Crappies are hitting during the evening hours on the deep cabbage of Pokegama, Rice Lake, and Shallow Lake. Smallmouth and largemouth bass remain active. Muskie action has been limited to some activity at night on Deer and North Star Lake.
Ben's Bait and Tackle (218) 326-8281
HACKENSACK AREA
Ten Mile Lake is giving up walleyes and smallmouth bass in 24 to 29 feet on leeches and crawlers. Look to Five Point Lake, Pleasant Lake, and Stoney Lake with spinnerbaits for largemouth bass. Crappie fishing remains strong on Birch Lake along the deeper weedlines, and sunfish are hitting at Child Lake in 12 to 14 feet. Northern pike and muskie reports have been limited.
Swanson's Bait and Tackle (218) 675-6176
LAKE KABETOGAMA
The best reports for walleyes and perch are coming from 20 to 28 feet; work the deep weed edges for northern pike. Live bait rigs are working best for walleyes, northern pike are hitting spinnerbaits, and crankbaits seem to be producing a mixed bag of fish.
Gateway Store (218) 875-2121
ORTONVILLE AREA
Perch action remains strong on Big Stone Lake near Manhattan Reef, Bayview, and Rocky Ledge in 10 to 12 feet. The Hwy. 75 dam area on the Minnesota River is kicking out walleyes, northern pike, and catfish. Live bait and artificial presentations have both worked.
Bud's Bait (320) 839-2480
PARK RAPIDS AREA
Walleyes continue to hit minnows and leeches early and late in the day in 14 to 18 feet on Long Lake. Big Sand Lake is giving up walleyes in 32 to 36 feet on leeches and crawlers during low-light periods. Look for northern pike on Fifth and Sixth Crow Wing lakes in 14 to 16 feet. The Crow Wing Chain continues to produce bluegills in 12 to 14 feet. Jigs and plastics are triggering bass on most lakes, but muskie action has slowed.
Delaney's (218) 732-4281
PINE CITY AREA
Cross Lake is giving up crappies in 18 to 20 feet, sunfish in 12 to 14 feet, and walleyes during the morning hours on leeches or Rapalas in 18 to 22 feet. Knife Lake is giving up sunfish in six to eight feet around the big island, and bass and northern pike off Pine Island. You'll find suspended crappies over 25 to 30 feet and walleyes hitting green nightcrawlers in 16 to 18 feet on East Rush and West Rush lakes. Sucker minnows worked on the 10- to 14-foot weedlines have triggered pike here, as well.
Red's Bait & Tackle (320) 629-1154
RED LAKE
Limits of walleyes are being caught in five to seven feet just outside the reeds adjacent to rock humps along the south shore. Good numbers of walleyes also are hitting on the east shore in five to eight feet. Crawlers, leeches, minnows, and crankbaits are all producing fish.
Dr. Tackle Sports (218) 647-8657
Mort's Dock (218) 647-8128
RED WING AREA
Walleyes and sauger are hitting crankbaits at the mouth of the Rush River on Lake Pepin in 17 feet and at the Deer Island area in 15 to 17 feet. Trolling No. 5 Shad Raps along the Lake City Point on Pepin has triggered crappies. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows just inside the Rush River.
Four Seasons Sports (651) 388-4334
ST. CLOUD/EDEN VALLEY AREA
Sunfish action has picked up on Horseshoe Lake, Rice Lake, Long Lake, and Brown's Lake in six to 12 feet. Walleyes are hitting leeches, crawlers, and minnows in eight to 12 feet on Lake Koronis. Catfish remain active on the Sauk River, and you'll find plenty of largemouth bass hitting plastics on Grand Lake and Pearl Lake.
Mike's Bait and Tackle (320) 453-2248
SAUK CENTRE AREA
Sunfish action has picked up on Lake Osakis in 10 to 12 feet on the north and south ends of the lake. Maple Lake is kicking out sunfish in the 12-foot weeds, and Big Sauk Lake is producing walleyes in the narrows bridge area early and late in the day. Minnows are triggering walleyes on Big Birch Lake in 16 to 35 feet.
Fletcher's Bait (320) 352-2155
WILLMAR AREA
Northern pike and bass are being taken along the weedlines of lakes Florida, Andrew, Calhoun, Games, and Norway. You'll find panfish and walleyes cruising the 10- to 15-foot weedline on Diamond Lake. Green Lake continues to produce walleyes during the day in 30 to 40 feet.
Brad's 71 Bait and Sports (320) 235-4097

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