May 2, 2013

LAKE MINNETONKA AREA The small lakes are mostly open and the bays on many bigger lakes are open as well. As of Tuesday morning, there was still half of Lake Minnetonka with floating ice. With some wind, rain, or warm weather the lake should be ice-free within a few days. Wayzata Bait (952) 473-2227 NORTHEAST

BATTLE LAKE There was still a fair amount of ice fishing taking place last weekend, although the warm weather took its toll on the shorelines early this week. Despite the fact that main-lake ice remains thick, getting on it is no longer an option and this area needs additional rain and warm weather for open

LAKE MILLE LACS The ice has started to deteriorate along the shorelines and on the main lake. Reports indicate that main-lake ice depths went from 33 inches down to 19 inches in a few days with last weekend’s warm up. The best guess by most locals as far as ice-out is that it will be off

DULUTH AREA There’s still plenty of ice on all lakes, but it’s getting soft and the shorelines slightly pulled away early this week. The creeks and rivers also busted loose on Monday so the current flow is chewing away at the ice at a good pace and local anglers anticipate open water for the fishing opener.

ALBERT LEA AREA The ice is gone and anglers are finding panfish in shallow water. Look for crappies near Hatch Bridge on Fountain Lake. Small jigs and minnows are working best in four feet throughout the day. Albert Lea Convention & Visitors Bureau       (800) 345-8414 ELBA AREA The trout bite on the local rivers has

FAIRMONT AREA The east and west forks of the Des Moines River continue to produce walleyes and northern pike on jigs tipped with minnows or soft plastics. Crappies are being found shallow in the channels between lakes Amber, Hall, Budd, Sissiton, and George. Perch have started hitting minnows in three feet at North Silver Lake.