North Central Minnesota Fishing Report – December 12th, 2014

LAKE MILLE LACS 

East – Walleye reports have been limited, but look to the outer edges of the reefs during the day in 16 to 20 feet and in shallower during low-light periods. Perch continue to be caught in the bays over 10 to 15 feet. Some sorting is required, but nice fish are being found. Northern pike are easy to find in the bays or just outside them in 10 to 15 feet for anglers and in shallower water for spearing.

Johnson’s Portside (320) 676-3811

West – Walleye action has been best in Garrison Bay, St. Alban’s Bay, and Wigwam Bay in 12 to 20 feet depending on the time of day. Northern pike also are active in these bays over 12 to 15 feet, while perch reports have been limited. 

Terry’s Boat Harbor (320) 692-4430

LAKE OF THE WOODS

Anglers are weeding through numbers of small fish, but putting together limits of walleyes and sauger in the process. Reports have been best in 25 to 28 feet out from Pine Island or 22 to 26 feet towards Long Point and Zippel Bay – 13 to 17 inches of ice being reported. There’s also been some consistent walleye action in 14 feet after 4 p.m. each day. On the Rainy River, walleyes are hitting best during the morning and evenings in 14 to 17 feet. At the Northwest Angle, you’ll find 12 to 14 inches of ice off Young’s Bay and Angle Inlet and 10 inches near the islands. Resorts have houses out and the bite has been decent.   

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

LAKE VERMILION

Walleyes and perch are hitting in 26 to 28 feet throughout Big Bay and the Ely Island area is producing walleyes in 25 feet. Crappie action has been slow, but northern pike spearing has been excellent in Greenwood Bay, Larson Bay, and Stuntz Bay.

Pike Bay Lodge (218) 753-2430

LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH

Perch action has been best at the mouth of the river towards Sugar Bay on the west side in 6 to 9 feet. This area has provided consistent northern pike action as well. Walleye reports also have been favorable during the evening hours in 20 to 25 feet of water. 

Lake Winnie Resort Association

LEECH LAKE

Look for walleyes on the humps in Walker Bay over 20 to 30 feet, but watch the ice due to varying depths. The Pine Point area has more consistent ice and walleyes are being caught in 10 to 14 feet of water. A few perch are being caught in the Sand Point area; you have to do some sorting in order to put together a mess of bigger fish.

Reed’s Sporting Goods (218) 547-1505

Shriver’s Bait Company (218) 547-2250

RAINY LAKE

The Birch Point area is producing walleyes and northern pike in 20 to 25 feet. The Rainy Lake City area is giving up a few walleyes and northern pike in 10 to 15 feet. Ice depths vary from 7 to 14 inches throughout the lake. 

Loon’s Nest (218) 286-5850

RED LAKE

Walleyes continue to hit spoons during the day and setlines and shiners at night in 8 to 10 feet or 12 to 14 feet. Reports have been consistent off the south, east, and north ends of the lake; there’s been a few good-sized pike in the mix as well.

Mort’s Dock (218) 647-8128

BEMIDJI AREA

Walleyes are hitting best during the morning and evening hours in 12 to 18 feet on Lake Plantagenet or 18 to 21 feet on Lake Bemidji. You’ll find suspended crappies over 25 to 32 feet on Medicine Lake and sunfish in 20 to 24 feet on Turtle River Lake.

Taber’s Bait (218) 751-5781 

BLACKDUCK AREA

A few walleyes can be had on Blackduck Lake during the evening hours in 18 feet and Island Lake in 14 to 18 feet. Perch reports in the area have been limited, but bluegill and crappie action has improved on Gull Lake and Pimushe Lake in 18 to 22 feet of water.

Timberline Sports and Tackle

(218) 835-4636

BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA

Look for walleyes on the Highway 371 end of North Long Lake in 18 to 20 feet, Round Lake in 14 to 24 feet, or Gull Lake in 18 to 28 feet. Sunfish action has been best in 10 to 14 feet on Round and Nisswa Lake and a few crappies are being caught during low-light periods in 12 to 28 feet on North Long, Round, and south end of Gull.

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

CASS LAKE AREA

Northern pike continue to be active in less than 12 feet throughout Allen’s Bay on Cass Lake. At Pike Bay Lake, walleyes and perch can be had during the day in 18 to 20 feet or in 8 to 10 feet during the evening hours. Hit Middle Sucker Lake for bluegills and Lower Sucker Lake for crappies.

Sunset Cove Resort (800) 279-4831

CROSBY AREA

Crappie reports have been favorable on  Nokay Lake in 27 feet, Little Rabbit Lake in 25 to 28 feet, and Perry Lake in 16 feet. Look for a few sunfish off Mahnomen Lake in 10 to 12 feet, while walleyes are hitting during low-light periods on Serpent Lake in 18 to 22 feet. Northern pike action has been consistent on the weed edges of most lakes.  

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

EAST CENTRAL MN

Crappie action has improved in 24 to 26 feet on Blue Lake and Green Lake or in 16 feet at Eagle Lake. Baxter Lake is giving up panfish and northern pike in 8 to 10 feet, while northern pike are an easy catch with sucker minnows on the 7- to 14-foot weedlines of most lakes.

Tales and Trails Sport Shop 

(763) 856-3985

EMILY AREA

Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows on Upper Dean Lake in 12 feet and Goodrich Lake is producing crappies in 12 to 14 feet during the evening hours. Look for sunfish on the north end of Lawrence Lake in 15 feet and a few walleyes can be had on the east side of Roosevelt Lake in 18 feet.

Redding Sports and Spirits                     (218) 763-2191

GRAND RAPIDS AREA

Crappie action has been consistent during the evening hours over 20 to 27 feet on Bowstring Lake, Big Cutfoot Sioux Lake, Big and Little Splithand lakes, and in the bays of Lake Pokegama. Walleyes also are hitting during low-light periods in 12 to 30 feet on lakes Wabana, Pokegama, and Big Splithand. Angling and spearing for northern pike has been very good on most lakes in less than 12 feet.

Ben’s Bait and Tackle (218) 326-8281

HACKENSACK AREA

Jigging spoons or shiner minnows are turning walleyes during low-light periods in 16 to 22 feet on Birch Lake, Woman Lake, and Pleasant Lake. Crappies are being found suspended over 16 to 23 feet on Pleasant and Webb Lake, while sunfish are being taken out of 10 to 15 feet on Birch and Broadwater Bay on Woman.  

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

GREY EAGLE AREA

Walleyes continue to hit shiner minnows in 18 to 20 feet on Mound Lake, while Maple Lake is giving up sunfish and crappies in 8 to 12 feet. Kings Lake is a safe bet for crappies and walleyes during the evening hours and St. Mary’s Lake is giving up crappies over 25 feet. Tip-ups and sucker minnows are producing northern pike at Swan Lake in 10 to 12 feet and Bass Lake is giving up panfish and a few walleyes early and late each day.

Nancy’s Bait & Tackle (320) 285-2405

McGREGOR AREA

Crappies are hitting on Lake Minnewawa during the evening hours, while Big Sandy Lake is producing walleyes and crappies during the morning hours in less than 14 feet. On Rat Lake, a few sunfish and northern pike can be had in 8 to 12 feet. 

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

ST. CLOUD/EDEN VALLEY AREA

Crappies are being caught in 15 to 20 feet on Lake Koronis and Rice Lake, 10 to 12 feet on Pearl Lake, and 15 to 17 feet on Horseshoe Lake. A few walleyes can be had during the evening hours on Rice and Koronis in 15 to 25 feet, while northern pike have been active in shallow water on most lakes. 

Mike’s Bait and Tackle (320) 453-2248

SAUK CENTRE AREA

Crappies continue to hit on the north end of Lake Osakis in 28 to 40 feet, the Hooper’s Hill area of Sauk Lake in 22 feet, Long Bridge Lake in 12 to 17 feet, and Guerney Lake in 12 to 15 feet. A few walleyes can be had on the south side of Big Birch Lake in 20 to 24 feet and south end of Sauk in 18 to 22 feet during low-light periods. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows on Long Bridge and Smith Lake in 10 to 12 feet. Look for sunfish on Lady Lake over 20 to 24 feet. 

Fletcher’s Bait Shop (320) 352-2155