LAKE MILLE LACS
East – The fall crankbait bite for walleyes has picked up at night on the shallow rocks around Liberty Beach, Hunter’s Point, and Big Point. Daytime walleye reports have been limited and muskie-angler numbers have been minimal. Smallmouth bass are continuing to hit plastics and live bait on the rocks.
Johnson’s Portside (320) 676-3811
West – Trolling crankbaits at night in four to six feet has produced walleyes in the MyrMar area, Garrison Reef, and in St. Alban’s Bay. Slip bobbers and leeches also are turning a few walleyes at night off the mud flats in 30 feet or more. During the day, work the weedlines, points, and weed patches with a jig and minnow for walleyes at Pike Point, Garrison Bay, St. Alban’s Bay, and MyrMar.
Terry’s Boat Harbor (320) 692-4430
LAKE OF THE WOODS
Limits of walleyes are being caught with jigs and frozen shiners on the Rainy River, Four Mile Bay, in front of both gaps, Zippel Bay, Twin Islands, Stony Point, Knight and Bridges in 25 to 30 feet. Jumbo perch and sauger are being caught along with walleyes. At the Northwest Angle, walleyes are being caught from 10 feet in the bays to the 40-foot structure. Current and necked-down areas are good places to start. Muskie, crappie, jumbo perch, and northern pike reports have all been strong from the Angle.
Lake of the Woods Tourism Bureau (800) 382-FISH
LEECH LAKE
The best walleye action is with crankbaits at night on West Goose Flats, Pine Point, and Templar area of Walker Bay in seven to 10 feet. Perch are hitting minnows or small jigs and crayfish-colored plastics in five to seven feet on the northeast side of Bear Island, south of Fisher’s Point, the Narrows, GrandVu Flats, and Sand Point. Muskie action has been best with Jakes or Grandmas on the points, around Pelican Island, Mokie Reef and the Annex. Grouse hunters report good hunting.
Reed’s Sporting Goods (218) 547-1505
RAINY LAKE
Walleye action has been slow on the main lake, but the Rainy River is giving up ‘eyes on minnows. Crawlers drifted across the shallow to mid-depth rocks on the main lake have enticed plenty of smallmouth bass. Grouse hunting has been excellent, but duck reports have been limited since opening weekend.
Loon’s Nest (218) 286-5850
LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
Walleyes are hitting a jig and minnow on Center Bar and Little Muskie Bar in 18 to 20 feet, but the shallow bite has slowed. Perch action has improved on the west-side points and breaks in six to eight feet with a jig and minnow, while pike action has been limited.
Nodak Lodge (218) 665-2226
BEMIDJI AREA
A jig and minnow is producing walleyes at Lake Bemidji in 16 feet and on Lake Plantagenet in four to eight feet. Muskie anglers are seeing fish on both lakes, but having difficulty getting them to commit. Look for crappies on Big Lake in 10 to 12 feet and bluegills on Grace Lake in eight to 12 feet. Duck hunters are shooting local birds with no divers in the area at this point. Grouse hunting has been exceptional.
Bluewater Outdoors (218) 444-BAIT (2248)
BLACKDUCK AREA
Walleyes are hitting crawlers on Blackduck Lake in eight to 10 feet or jigs and minnows at Island Lake in 16 to 20 feet. You’ll find bluegills and crappies over 20 feet at Gull Lake, Pimushe Lake, Gilstead Lake, and Lake Rabideau. Duck hunters are finding a few divers and plenty of puddle ducks. Grouse hunters are seeing more birds than expected.
Timberline Sports and Tackle (218) 835-4636
CASS LAKE AREA
A jig and minnow is producing walleyes in Allen’s Bay on Cass Lake in 20 to 25 feet. Look for bluegills in the eight-foot cabbage of Allen’s Bay, the north end of Wolf Lake, and southwest corner of Kitchi Lake or crappies over 28 to 30 feet on Kitchi. Perch action has been best in the six-foot reeds of Cass. Duck hunting has been best in the rivers between the lakes. Grouse reports have been excellent.
Sunset Cove Resort (800) 279-4831
CROSBY AREA
Redtail minnows are producing walleyes during low-light periods in 24 to 35 feet at Pelican Lake. The deep holes of the Mississippi River are holding good walleye numbers as well. Crankbaits or plastics are triggering bass on the shorelines of Rabbit Lake and Serpent Lake. Trout fishing has picked up with Trout Dough on Section Six Pit and Pennington Pit. The flooded timber throughout the Pennington Chain is holding bluegills and crappies and Bay Lake is kicking out crappies too.
Oars ‘n Mine Bait and Tackle (218) 546-6912
EMILY AREA
Grouse hunting has improved, while wood ducks and mallards are keeping duck hunters busy. Lake Emily is producing sunfish and crappies in eight to 12 feet and plastics are turning bass at East Fox Lake. Trolling spoons during the evening in six to eight feet has triggered northern pike at Ruth Lake.
Redding Sports and Spirits (218) 763-2191
GRAND RAPIDS AREA
Walleyes are hitting a jig and minnow in 15 to 30 feet at lakes Pokegama, Wabana, Deer, and Trout or in nine to 13 feet on Sand Lake. Look for suspended crappies over 18 to 22 feet on Big and Little Splithand lakes, Pokegema, or Big and Little Cutfoot Sioux lakes. Smallmouth bass action is strong on most lakes and muskies are being taken with big sucker minnows at North Star Lake and the Blandan Reservoir. Puddle ducks remain in good numbers and grouse hunting has been very good for most groups.
Ben’s Bait and Tackle (218) 326-8281
HACKENSACK AREA
Bucktails are raising muskies on the four- to eight-foot cabbage areas of Little Boy Lake and Baby Lake. Look for suspended crappies over the deep cabbage of Birch Lake, Webb Lake, and Ten Mile Lake. Walleyes are hitting minnows on the weedlines out to 20 feet on Woman Lake or #6 Rapalas during low-light periods on Ten Mile in shallow water. Duck hunters continue to find a good supply of mallards, wood ducks, and geese. Grouse and woodcock numbers also appear to be better than expected.
Swanson’s Bait and Tackle (218) 675-6176
ST. CLOUD/EDEN VALLEY AREA
Lake Koronis is producing walleyes during the day in 25 to 30 feet or at night with crankbaits in four to six feet. On Rice Lake, spinners and crawlers are turning walleyes in less than 10 feet. Sunfish are hitting in two to six feet on Koronis and Rice or in six to eight feet at Schneider Lake and Zumwalde Lake. Crappies are suspended and hitting minnows over 15 to 18 feet at Koronis and Rice. Duck hunters are having success and goose numbers seem to have built up over the past week.
Mike’s Bait and Tackle (320) 453-2248
SAUK CENTRE AREA
The north end of Lake Osakis continues to produce crappies and sunfish in 12 to 18 feet. The 12- to 18-foot weedlines of Big Birch Lake are giving up sunfish as well. For walleyes, minnows are turning fish during the day on the bars of Osakis in 24 to 32 feet as are crankbaits at night on the east end in eight to 12 feet. There are good numbers of ducks in the area.
Fletcher’s Bait (320) 352-2155