April 24, 2014

LAKE MINNETONKA As of Tuesday morning, most small bays were ice-free, but three-quarters of the main lake remained covered with ice. A few crappies have been caught on tiny baits in the small, shallow bays with muddy bottoms although no big numbers of panfish are showing up. Wayzata Bait (952) 473-2227 ANNANDALE AREA Ice conditions

LAKE MILLE LACS  The shorelines have started to pull away and even though there’s still a lot of ice on the main lake, it’s black and deteriorating fast. Most flowage areas also have opened, allowing the moving water to open the lake even more in those areas. The feel as the lake looks this week is

ALEXANDRIA AREA The bays and lagoons on many lakes are open, while the ice that remains on most main-lake areas looks black and should be gone by next week. A few anglers have started fishing from shore at those traditional spring crappie spots, but success has been limited. Turkey hunters have fared well during the

FARIBAULT AREA The ice has been gone for a week, but the panfish bite has been slow developing. The only report worth noting is coming off Shields Lake, where a few sunfish are biting in six to eight feet. Turkey reports have been very good – it seems as though everyone with a tag has

DULUTH AREA The rivers and streams have really started flowing and the shorelines are now open on all lakes. Main-lake ice remains, but it appears to be deteriorating fast so ice-out is ahead of last year’s pace. There is some shore fishing taking place for Kamloops and coho salmon along Lake Superior. Crawlers, Looper Bugs

FAIRMONT AREA Anglers fishing from shore on Lake Sissiton are catching crappies during the evening hours on minnows. Budd Lake started kicking out bluegills in four to six feet and nightcrawlers are producing catfish at Amber Lake. Sommer Outdoors (507) 235-5225 MANKATO AREA Crappie action has picked up with minnows or small plastics at the