Northwest Minnesota Fishing Report – November 1st, 2013

ALEXANDRIA AREA

Large sucker minnows are becoming tough to find, but if you can, they are producing muskies on Lake Miltona in 10 to 14 feet. Minnows and jigs are turning walleyes in 15 to 45 feet at Lake Ida and Lake Miltona or in 16 to 24 feet on lakes Carlos, Le Homme Dieu, and Darling. Pheasant hunting remains poor, but there are divers and geese in the area for duck hunters.
Christopherson’s Bait and Tackle       (320) 763-3255

BATTLE LAKE

A jig and minnow combination is producing walleyes in the 12- to 20-foot weeds or in 30 to 40 feet at Otter Tail Lake and West Battle Lake. Panfish anglers continue to find bluegills in 10 to 14 feet at Stalker Lake, Star Lake, and Fish Lake or crappies in 12 to 16 feet at West Battle, Fish, and Clitherall Lake. Muskies are taking sucker minnows in 16 to 22 feet at West Battle. Waterfowl hunters are seeing a few ducks and geese, but no big numbers of northern ducks.
Ben’s Bait Shop (218) 864-5596

DETROIT LAKES

Muskies are hitting large sucker minnows in four to 12 feet of water on Big Detroit Lake and Pelican Lake. Walleye action remains strong, but few people are fishing for them. Work 18 to 24 feet of water with a jig and minnow combination at Big Detroit, Pelican, Lake Melissa, and Big Cormorant Lake. Waterfowl hunters are shooting geese and mallards in harvested fields, and a few divers on the bigger bodies of water.
Quality Bait and Tackle (218) 844-2248

PARK RAPIDS AREA

A few muskie anglers continue to hook fish at Big Mantrap Lake in six to 10 feet of water. The only walleye bite worth noting is coming off Fish Hook Lake with minnows in 15 to 20 feet, but there hasn’t been many people going. Grouse hunting has been OK north of the immediate area through some consistently windy days this week. Duck numbers have dwindled and there hasn’t been many new birds moving through.
Delaney’s (218) 732-4281

PERHAM AREA

Fishing pressure has been minimal with just a few guys working Big Pine Lake with a vertically-presented jig and minnow over 40 feet or more. Hunting action also has been limited; the ducks are gone and archery hunters aren’t seeing much for increased deer movement.
Gene’s Sport Shop (218) 346-3355