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FeedNorth Central Minnesota Fishing Report - September 28th, 2012
LAKE MILLE LACS
East - With water temperatures around 60 degrees and a full moon this weekend, the shallow-water crankbait bite should be good. Work the six- to 12-foot rocks off Hunter’s Point, Big Point, and most reefs during low-light periods. Muskie action has been slow, but should improve as well with water temperatures dropping.
Johnson’s Portside (320) 676-3811
West - Walleyes are hitting a jig and minnow during the day on the 12- to 14-foot weed patches in St. Alban’s Bay and Garrison Bay. At night, slip bobbers and leeches are producing walleyes on the deep rocks or off the mud flats in 30 feet or more. Crankbaits are starting to turn walleyes at night on the shallow rock reefs as well. Work the weedlines in most bays with crankbaits for northern pike. Muskie action has been limited.
Terry’s Boat Harbor (320) 692-4430
LAKE OF THE WOODS
With consistently strong winds, anglers have been working areas that the weather allows and catching walleyes. Jigs and shiner minnows are turning walleyes in shallower water in the Stony Point area, Four Mile Bay, Rainy River, the Gaps, and the rock in front of Zippel Bay. At the Northwest Angle, jigs tipped with plastics or minnows are turning walleyes as deep as 50 feet in necked-down areas and steep shoreline breaks near shallow bays. Look for muskies and pike on the main-lake rocks adjacent to deep water and crappies are over the 30- to 35-foot rock areas.
Lake of the Woods Tourism Bureau (800) 382-FISH
LEECH LAKE
You’ll find perch and a few walleyes in four to eight feet in Trader’s Bay, First Duck Point, Second Duck Point, the Meadows, and GrandVu Flats. Walleyes also can be had with a jig and minnow off Pine Point and Stoney Point in four to eight feet. Muskie anglers report a few follows, but not a lot of hook-ups. The duck season started strong with many hunters stating it was the best opener in many years. Teal, wood ducks, mallards, and a few ringnecks were in bags.
Reed’s Sporting Goods (218) 547-1505
RAINY LAKE
It’s been tough to get on the main lake this past week due to consistently strong winds, but some anglers are hitting Sand Bay and catching walleyes in 30 to 32 feet on minnows. The dam area of the Rainy River continues to produce walleyes and smallmouth bass via minnows as well. Grouse hunting continues to be very good and the duck opener seemed to be more productive than last year.
Loon’s Nest (218) 286-5850
LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
A steady diet of strong winds limited fishing pressure over the weekend, but prior to that walleye action was pretty good. Leeches, crawlers, or a jig and minnow were turning walleyes on Big Muskie Bar and Little Muskie Bar in 14 to 16 feet. Walleyes also were hitting off Little Stoney Point, the west-side points, and weedbeds in five to eight feet. Look for perch in six feet off Raven’s Point and the Third River area.
Nodak Lodge (218) 665-2226
BEMIDJI AREA
A jig and minnow is turning walleyes on Lake Bemidji, Cass Lake, Lake Plantagenet, and Pike Bay Lake in 16 to 24 feet. Muskie action has improved a lot this week with trolling patterns producing fish on Plantagenet, Cass, and Big Lake in the six- to 12- foot cabbage and sand areas. Hit 10 to 12 feet for bluegills on Kitchi Lake and Grace Lake. Duck season started with good reports as most groups shot wood ducks, teal, ringnecks, and a few mallards. Grouse and archery hunters are experiencing limited success.
Bluewater Outdoors (218) 444-BAIT (2248)
BLACKDUCK AREA
Gull Lake and Rabideau Lake are kicking out bluegills in 12 to 14 feet, but walleye and crappie action has been slow on all area lakes. Duck hunters shot mainly wood ducks and a few teal opening weekend and there’s still a lot of cover in the woods, which is limiting grouse-hunting success.
Timberline Sports and Tackle (218) 835-4636
BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA
Walleyes are hitting a Lindy rig and shiner minnow or jigs and rainbows in 14 to 32 feet at Gull Lake, Pelican Lake, North Long Lake, and Round Lake. Crappies are suspended over 30 to 32 feet at Cullen Lake, Gull, and North Long, while northern pike are hitting sucker minnows in 12 to 20 feet on Gull and Pelican. Look for sunfish in the shallow weeds of Lake Margaret, Cullen, Round, and the Highway 371 Bay on North Long. Duck-hunting reports indicated that some groups did well and others struggled.
S & W Bait & Guide Service/Nisswa Guide League (218) 829-7010
EMILY AREA
Fishing reports have been replaced by mostly hunting activity this week. Duck hunters seemed pleasantly surprised with the number of teal, wood ducks, and mallards in the area. Grouse hunting continues to improve as the cover drops, and archery hunters are reporting a noticeable increase in deer movement with the cooler weather.
Redding Sports and Spirits (218) 763-2191
GRAND RAPIDS AREA
A jig and minnow is producing walleyes in six to eight feet at Big Cutfoot Sioux Lake and Sand Lake. Minnows also are turning walleyes at Trout Lake, Lake Pokegama, and Spider Lake in 12 to 16 feet. Hit Graves Lake, Bass Lake, Little Cutfoot Sioux Lake, and Big Cutfoot for bluegills and crappies in 10 to 16 feet. There’s some evening crappie action on Pokegama in 10 to 20 feet. Duck reports have been good with a wide variety of birds shot and grouse hunting continues to be strong throughout the area.
Ben’s Bait and Tackle (218) 326-8281
HACKENSACK AREA
Walleye action has picked up at Woman Lake and Pleasant Lake with a jig and minnow or crawlers from the weedlines out to 20 feet. Look to Woman for some keeping-sized perch in 12 to 16 feet as well. Panfish reports have been limited and the wind has limited muskie-fishing activity. Waterfowl hunters have done best on potholes and small sloughs shooting wood ducks and teal. Grouse reports indicate plenty of birds, but a lot of cover, so it will improve.
Swanson’s Bait and Tackle (218) 675-6176
RED LAKE
Another week of windy weather has limited options to fish the lake. When it settles down, a jig and minnow or crankbaits do produce walleyes and northern pike along the shorelines. Bear hunters seem to be winding down, grouse hunting is improving as the leaves drop, and the duck opener went well for many groups with puddle ducks in most bags.
Mort’s Dock (218) 647-8128
ST. CLOUD/EDEN VALLEY AREA
Walleye action is slowly improving with lakes such as Rice, Koronis, and Horseshoe giving up fish via minnows during the day in 20 feet or more or during low-light periods in less than 12 feet with crankbaits. Sunfish action remains strong with Koronis, Rice, Cedar Island Lake, and Horseshoe producing in six to 10 feet. A few more crappies are being found on these lakes suspended over 12 to 18 feet. Hit Grand Lake, Pearl Lake, and Koronis for bass in the six- to 10-foot weeds that remain. The duck opener went well for some groups and not so good for others. Wood ducks, teal, geese and a few mallards were shot.
Mike’s Bait and Tackle (320) 453-2248
SAUK CENTRE AREA
Fishing reports have been limited with the exception of a decent crappie and sunfish bite on the north end of Lake Osakis in 12 to 20 feet. Water levels are low, but the groups that found water to hunt over shot limits of wood ducks, as well as some teal and mallards on opening weekend.
Fletcher’s Bait (320) 352-2155
