INFO AS OF 7-2-09

Northeastern Minnesota

International Falls

Changing weather patterns have led to an inconsistent bite on Rainy Lake. Walleye are still being pulled from the shorelines and near the islands, however some are starting to congregate around the submerged reefs in the open water. When crappie are feeding, they are responding to jigs and minnows. Smallmouth bass have been hitting topwater lures on days when temperatures were in the 80s. For large northern pike, work the weedlines around Jackfish, Black, and Cranberry bays. The Rainy River has been somewhat cloudy due to recent heavy rain and runoff, and this led to a decrease in action - expect the action to resume once water clarity improves. Walleye anglers are doing best using shiner minnows, especially above and below the rapids at Manitou and Birchdale. And, for the most smallmouth bass, check out the east end of the river. For more information, dial 1-800-325-5766, or visit www.rainylake.org

Kabetogama

The mayflies came out in force last week and the walleye have been on a feeding frenzy! There haven’t been enough to go around, however, and the fish continue to bite. Many anglers are still fishing the shallows in less than 10 feet of water and having success using small jigs or pitching artificials. Shallow water angling has been very effective during evening hours. Crawlers and leeches with slip sinkers or bottom bouncers have been the most productive. On bright days, consider a colored spinner, and when the skies are overcast switch to a plain rig. Now that the mayfly hatch appears to be over, depths of 18–28 feet should be good considering the current conditions and water temperatures. The northern pike bite is increasing each day, with spoons, jerk baits and large spinners offering the most action. Check the weedy bays and shorelines where these fish are hunting bait fish. Bass anglers are having a blast at the shorelines and rock piles. Plastics and shallow-running artificials should work best, with fish coming from nearly every shoreline. A 55-inch sturgeon was taken last week - please note that Lake Kabetogama does not have an open sturgeon season and these fish must be released immediately. The tip of the week is to use the wind to your advantage, and concentrate on the windblown bays, shores and reef edges. For further information, dial 1-800-524-9085, or check out www.kabetogama.com

Crane Lake

To learn where and when the fish are biting on Crane Lake, dial 1-800-362-7405, or visit www.visitcranelake.com

Cook/Tower - Lake Vermilion

Lake Vermilion anglers report that despite swings in weather patterns, the walleye continue to bite. The crankbait bite has been incredible. For the most fish, try trolling crankbaits through 6-10 feet of water along the rocks. Live bait rigs are also producing fish, and the reef bite improves with each week. Try a leech or crawler on a lindy rig set-up. Bass are very aggressive and can be found protecting their nests. Senkos, small topwaters and soft plastics are all working well when fished in the vicinity of their beds. Crappies are on the move. Sunfish are an easy catch in places such as Larson, Muskego and Ritchie bays. Northern pike are aggressive but losing the battle with white spinnerbaits and #5 mepps. Muskies have been fairly reclusive since their spawn. Expect these fish to be setting up on the rocks and at the deep weedlines in the near future. The best approach is a smaller bait worked at a point near shallow weedy bays. Lake temperatures are in the low 70’s, water clarity is good, and the mayflies are just starting to emerge, with none on the main lake earlier this week. To find out more, dial 1-800-648-5897, or visit www.lakevermilionresorts.com

Ely

Basswood Lake has slowed somewhat, but fish are still being taken from the paddle-only areas. Shagawa Lake continues to produce nice lunker-size walleye. Northern pike remain aggressive, with good numbers being pulled from area lakes, such as Garden, White Iron and Fall. The smallmouth bass are fanning their beds on most area lakes, and fish are now spawning in the shallower lakes. Anglers report that these fish are an easy catch when using a well-placed leech under a bobber. The crappies are in the midst of their spawn, with anglers reporting some large females full of eggs - please handle them gently and return them to the water as soon as possible. For more information, dial 1-800-777-7281, or visit www.ely.org

Duluth/Lake Superior & inland lakes

To find out where the fish are biting and techniques are working best, dial 1-800-4-duluth, or check out www.visitduluth.com

Northwest Minnesota

Baudette/Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River

Fishing remains excellent on Lake of the Woods, with anglers and guides reporting lots of success in 12-32 feet of water. For the most fish, use a crawler or frozen shiner when anchored and jigging or drifting. The hot spots remain the Morris Point Gap, Zippel Bay, and the Lighthouse Gap. Anglers that venture farther north are being rewarded with good numbers of fish at Garden Island and Little Oak Island. To learn more, dial 1-800-382-FISH, or visit www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com

Bemidji

The hottest lakes for walleye remain the large shallow lakes such as Winnibigoshish and Upper Red lakes. Walleye can still be found in the shallows at the rocks and cabbage weed beds. Lake Winnibigoshish is best when there’s a slight wind. Upper Red produces best when conditions are relatively calm. On most area lakes, fish can be found at both the deep and shallow structure. When fishing the deeper waters use live bait rigs with leeches, nightcrawlers or larger minnows. Shallow water anglers are having the most success using jigs and minnows, crankbaits, and slip-bobber rigs. Bass fishing has been good in the extreme shallows with the heaviest cover. Muskie action should improve as water temperatures rise and the algae blooms increase. Perch fishing is improving in the shallows of most of the larger area lakes. Crappies can be found at the edges of the structure during lowlight hours. Sunfish are active on the deep edge of the weeds. For more information, dial 1-800-458-2223, or check out www.visitbemidji.com

Cass Lake

Walleye can be found both deep and shallow depending on the current weather conditions. When fishing the shallows, hit depths of 7 feet using #5 shad raps or a jig and minnow combination. Anglers are also taking lots of crappies and large bluegills from the shallows. For more information, dial 1-800-356-8615, or visit www.casslake.com

Walker/Leech Lake

On Leech Lake, walleye action has been good when pulling shad raps. The Goose Island Flats are good place to start, with active fish being taken during the day from Sucker Bay and Portage Bay. During evening hours, hit Pine Point, Grand Vu Flats, and Northland Reef to Spirit Reef using a perch- or crayfish-colored shad rap. The Little Hardwood area produced limits of walleye last Sunday. For the most fish, use a lindy rig and leech, with some nice 27-inch walleye being reported. To learn more, dial 1-800-833-1118, or visit www.leech-lake.com

Park Rapids

For information on what species of fish are biting and techniques are working best, dial 1-800-247-0054, or check out www.parkrapids.com

Central Minnesota

Pine River Area Lakes

Last weekend’s windy conditions made it difficult to fish the larger area lakes. Anglers that fished the quiet bays and sheltered areas found lots of largemouth bass when using plastics, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. One angler from South Dakota reported catching and releasing over fifty bass from each of two smaller lakes located northeast of Pine River. Walleye anglers are still having trouble locating concentrated schools of fish on most lakes, but some anglers report that schools are beginning to develop in depths of 20-30 feet. Leeches and inflated nightcrawlers are quickly becoming the bait of choice, especially when fished plain or on a floating jig. Northern pike have been very active at the deep edge of the weedlines in 15-20 feet of water. Any artificial or spinner and minnow combination has worked well. Crappies have established their summer patterns and are active early in the morning and late in the evening along the weedlines. Sunfish are completing their spawn and can be found just off their shallow spawning beds. Try a small jig tipped with a waxworm or angle worm for lots of fish. With stable weather patterns in the forecast, the Fourth of July weekend could be one of the best of the year! The tip of the week is to use two or three small florescent red beads and a small spinner in front of your hook tipped with a leech or nightcrawler when the walleye turn finicky! To find out more, dial 1-800-728-6926, or check out www.pinerivermn.com

Brainerd/Nisswa Area Lakes

To find what is biting and where, dial 1-800-450-2838, or visit www.explorebrainerdlakes.com

Isle/Onamia/Lake Mille Lacs

The forecast for this weekend is excellent and the fishing should be equally as good! Walleye continue to bite during evening hours on the shallow rocks, with leeches and slip-floats producing the most fish. Hit depths of 6-12 feet at the shallow water reefs between 6:00 p.m. and dark for lots of action. If the reef is crowded, try trolling shad-raps. During the day, walleye can be found on the deeper flats and on the gravel bars. Look for an active school of fish, and then drop a lindy rig and crawler using a slower presentation. Smallmouth bass action was great all last week, and a couple of anglers reported boating over 30 fish a day, with the fish averaging 18-inches long! Muskie reports have been few, which is usually the case even when anglers are having success! For more information, dial 1-888-350-2692, or check out www.millelacs.com

Miltona

To find out what anglers are catching on Lake Miltona, dial 1-877-833-2350, or visit www.VisitLakeMiltona.com

Willmar Lakes Area

Warmer temperatures brought some excellent fishing to the Willmar area lakes. Panfish are active and biting on Florida, Andrew, Nest, and North Long lakes. Walleye are being pulled from depths of 25-40 feet on Green Lake. Nest Lake anglers are doing well with the panfish and walleye. For good numbers of panfish, hit the shallow waters near the shorelines and docks. Bass action has been good in 10 feet of water or less. For further information, dial 1-800-845-8747, or visit www.seeyouinwillmar.com

Twin Cities vicinity

White Bear Lake

To obtain information on where the fish are biting and which techniques are currently working best, visit www.ExploreWhiteBear.org, or dial 651/653-5122

Southern Minnesota

Cannon Falls

On the Cannon River, anglers are taking lots of catfish on stink baits, cut bait, and crawlers, especially late in the evening. Smallmouth bass anglers are having success during morning and evening hours when using spinners and tails tipped with crawlers. On Lake Byllesby, crappie anglers are doing well using minnows during lowlight hours. For walleye, head out on Lake Byllesby from evening until dusk using fathead minnows. To learn more, dial 507/263-2289, or visit www.cannonfalls.org

Lake City

The walleye and sauger bite remains as strong as ever on Lake Pepin. Lots of nice-sized fish continue to be taken by those trolling crankbaits and using leeches or crawlers on a live bait rig. The cooler temperatures late this week should help to prolong this phenomenal bite, with water temperatures currently in the low 70’s. Bass and catfish anglers are having a blast in the many backwater and side channel areas of the river system. To find out more, dial 1-877-525-3248, or check out www.lakecitymn.org

Albert Lea

To learn where the fish are biting and what techniques are working best, visit www.albertleatourism.org, or dial 507/373-2316

Fairmont Area Chain Of Lakes

The crappie bite remains great throughout the chain of lakes, but anglers are having to work a bit harder for them. Most of these fish have finished spawning and are moving to deeper waters. For the most fish, hit 15-17 feet of water on Budd Lake, behind the filtration plant on Sisseston, off the public docks, at the George Lake public docks, and near the Hobo Trail. Amber lake is also producing lots of crappies, along with some nice catfish. Use a crappie minnow for the crappies, and try dough bait for the catfish. Bluegill and sunfish action has been best during morning hours and towards evening. Try waxworms in the Wards Park area of Lake Sisseton for lots of bluegills. Walleye anglers are reporting some nice fish on Hall Lake, especially on cloudy days and during lowlight hours. Shad raps are working best, however one nice fish recently came in on a nightcrawler. A few walleye are also coming out of Amber Lake. Outside of town, Fox Lake has been good for a few walleye and muskie. Imogene and Okamanpedon lakes are also producing fish. Conservation Club members are reporting 1- to 2-pound crappies coming from North Silver lake. Bass are active on most area waters, and especially on Budd and Sisseston lakes. For further information, dial 1-800-657-3280, or visit www.visitfairmontmn.com

The information in this report is provided courtesy Outdoor News, and Explore Minnesota Tourism.