North Central Minnesota Fishing Report – September 5th, 2014

LAKE MILLE LACS 

East – Walleyes are hitting spinner rigs during the day on 12- to 18-foot rocks, while slip bobbers and leeches are best on the mud flats in the evenings. Trolling has worked for pike on the 12-foot weedlines, as are sucker minnows in the bays over 8 to 16 feet. Trolling has been best for muskies on the north end and smallmouth bass are hitting on the rock reefs.

Johnson’s Portside (320) 676-3811

West – Fishing pressure has been light, but the walleye bite at night has been strong on the tops and edges of the mud flats. You can throw just about anything at smallmouth bass and catch them on the 18- to 24-foot rocks. Pike action has been consistent in the bays. 

Terry’s Boat Harbor (320) 692-4430

LAKE OF THE WOODS

Walleyes are in 15 to 25 feet and hitting crawlers north of Garden Island. Downrigging crankbaits has produced fish in the main basin over 30 to 34 feet. On the Rainy River, walleyes are hitting a jig and minnow in current seams over 15 to 20 feet, smallmouth bass are active on the rock piles, and sturgeon action is strong. At the Northwest Angle, jigging is producing walleyes in 20 to 25 feet on deep-water points and neck-down current areas. Muskie reports also have been favorable here.

Lake of the Woods Tourism Bureau (800) 382-FISH

LAKE VERMILION

Walleyes, smallmouth bass, and perch are hitting crawlers or minnows on submerged rock piles in 10 to 30 feet. Trolling crankbaits in 20 to 30 feet has also produced walleyes on the flats. Look for muskies, with good numbers of big fish being caught and seen, on the rock points and deep weedlines.

Pike Bay Lodge (218) 753-2430

LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH

Walleyes are hitting crankbaits on the rock points in 5 to 9 feet or along the 9- to 12-foot weedlines. Spoons or sucker minnows have triggered pike on the west- and south-side weedlines in 9 to 13 feet. Look for perch on the 8- to 12-foot weedlines in Sugar Bay or off Big Stoney Point and Sugar Point.

Lake Winnie Resort Association

LEECH LAKE

Trolling crankbaits during the day is producing walleyes on the flats, weedlines, and breaks in 12 to 14 feet. At night, crankbaits also work in 9 to 12 feet from Sand Point to Cedar Point. Perch action has improved in 12 to 14 feet off the points and shorelines. Muskie reports remain favorable on the rocks and weeds with bucktails.

Reed’s Sporting Goods (218) 547-1505

Shriver’s Bait Company (218) 547-2250

RAINY LAKE

Walleye action is best past the Brule with minnows in 18 to 20 feet. You’ll also find walleyes along the shoreline breaks in Black Bay and the weedbeds are holding northern pike and smallmouth bass. Reports from bear hunters indicate that baits are being hit.

Loon’s Nest (218) 286-5850

RED LAKE

Recent cold fronts have slowed walleye action a bit. If the weather improves, trolling crankbaits in 10 to 12 feet or pitching minnows and jigs over the rock humps in 9 to 14 feet will work. There’s some fish being caught in 5 to 8 feet on minnows or crankbaits.

Mort’s Dock (218) 647-8128

BEMIDJI AREA

Hit the weedlines of Balm Lake with leeches for largemouth bass. Crappies are suspended over deep water and sunfish are hitting on the weedlines of Turtle River Lake. Limits of walleyes are being caught with minnows on the 18-foot structure of Lake Plantagenet and from 7 to 33 feet on Lake Bemidji. Bear reports have been minimal.  

Taber’s Bait (218) 751-5781 

BLACKDUCK AREA

A jig and minnow or crankbaits are producing walleyes in 10 to 12 feet on Island Lake and Blackduck Lake. The cabbage on lakes such as Gull, Gilstead, Pimushe, and Rabideau are holding crappies and some bluegills. A few reports of bears being shot have been heard and activity at most baits continues to be good with the cool weather. 

Timberline Sports and Tackle (218) 835-4636

BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA

Creek minnows are turning walleyes, bass, and pike in 14 to 28 feet on Gull Lake, Whitefish Lake, and North Long Lake. Sunfish are being found along the docks and shallow weedlines on Cullen Lake, Upper Gull Lake, and North Long, but crappie action remains slow.  

S & W Bait & Guide Service/Nisswa Guide League      (218) 829-7010

CASS LAKE AREA

Perch action has picked up off Stoney Point, East Cedar Bar, and West Cedar Bar of Cass Lake or the south and west sides of Pike Bay Lake in 8 to 10 feet. Buck’s Bar and North Deadman’s Bar on Cass are holding walleyes in 25 to 35 feet, as is LeRoy’s Bar on Pike Bay in 30 feet during the day. At night, crankbaits are working best for walleyes on top of the bars. The weedlines in Allen’s Bay on Cass are producing a few muskies and crappie action remains strong in the 10- to 12-foot cabbage of Kitchi Lake, Wolf Lake, and Buck Lake.

Sunset Cove Resort (800) 279-4831

CROSBY AREA

Look for walleyes to hit minnows and jigs at Farm Island Lake and Rabbit Lake in 8 to 10 feet or 25 to 30. Rainbow trout action picked up for shore anglers on the west side of Pennington Pit with nightcrawlers or Power Bait. Bay Lake, Serpent Lake, and Rabbit are producing bass and pike, off the weeds, in 18 to 22 feet. The creek mouths and deeper holes on the Mississippi River are producing crappies and sunfish. Bear kills have been limited.

Oars ‘n Mine Bait and Tackle                     (218) 546-6912

EAST CENTRAL MN

Crappies and sunfish are being caught in 7 to 14 feet on Blue Lake and Green Lake. Hit the lily pad edges with topwater baits for bass on Green and the weedlines on most lakes are holding pike. Walleye action has been best with minnows or crawlers on the Rum River.

Tales and Trails Sport Shop (763) 856-3985

EMILY AREA

The east side of Lake Waukenabo started producing walleyes on crawlers in 14 to 16 feet. Hit Upper Dean Lake with spoons along the weedlines for pike. The east side of Ruth Lake is giving up crappies and sunfish in 15 feet. A couple of bears have been registered.

Redding Sports and Spirits                     (218) 763-2191

GRAND RAPIDS AREA

Redtails are producing big walleyes at Lake Pokegama, Trout Lake, and Deer Lake in 25 to 30 feet. You’ll find  eating-sized fish on the weedlines of Lake Wabana and Pokegama. The 13-foot weedlines on Big Splithand Lake and Pokegama are holding crappies and you’ll find sunfish in the cabbage of Trout and Big Splithand. Smallmouth bass action is strong along the shallow rocks.

Ben’s Bait and Tackle (218) 326-8281

GREY EAGLE AREA

The shoreline weeds at the Campground and Bible Camp areas of Cedar Lake are giving up walleyes on rattling crankbaits or slip-bobber rigs. Look to the weedlines of Mound Lake with minnows for pike and bass. Sunfish are hitting on Lady Lake or Long Lake, and Big Swan Lake is producing crappies and sunfish on white jigs. 

Nancy’s Bait & Tackle (320) 285-2405

HACKENSACK AREA

Walleyes are hitting nightcrawlers and minnows in 18 to 22 feet on Birch Lake and Woman Lake. Look for sunfish and crappies in 16 to 20 feet at Pleasant Lake, Webb Lake, and Birch. Smallmouth bass are hitting topwaters on Baby Lake, Stony Lake, and Woman. There were several bears shot last weekend. Most hunters indicate they have at least a bait or two that has remained active.

Swanson’s Bait and Tackle                     (218) 675-6176

McGREGOR AREA

Crappies and sunfish are between 20 to 25 feet on Big Sandy Lake, walleye action is slow, and Big Round Lake is worth hitting for pike with sucker minnows in 10 to 12 feet. There’s been a few bears shot in the area, but activity at most baits has been inconsistent or at night.

Willey’s Sport Shop & Spirits (218) 426-3382

ST. CLOUD/EDEN VALLEY AREA

Walleye action has picked in the shallow weeds of Lake Koronis. Rice Lake and Koronis are giving up pike and sunfish in 8 to 12 feet, while lakes such as Horseshoe, Schnieder, Cedar Island, Pearl, and Becker are giving up sunfish in 4 to 10 feet.  

Mike’s Bait and Tackle (320) 453-2248

SAUK CENTRE AREA

The west side of Lake Osakis is producing sunfish in 5 to 16 and the north end is kicking out crappies in 15 to 20 feet. The north end of Sauk Lake and Guerney Lake are kicking out crappies in 5 to 8 feet, as is Long Bridge Lake in 7 feet. Long Lake, Lilly Lake, and Fairy Lake are producing panfish on the weedlines.  

Fletcher’s Bait Shop (320) 352-2155

STAPLES/LITTLE FALLS AREA

At Fish Trap Lake, walleyes are hitting crankbaits or slip-bobber rigs on the rock bar during the evening. Sunfish action is strong in less than 10 feet.

Da Fishin’ Hole (320) 631-0056