Outdoors Weekly Fish Tales Archive

ANNANDALE 8-2-10
- B.J.'s Bait & Tackle - www.bjsbait.com
Bill, west side of Clearwater Lake, between the two public accesses (320-274-3730)
We are taking applications for BJs 12th Annual Northern Tournament on Clearwater Lake, Sat. Sept 11 2010. Go to www.bjsbait.com for application and rules. Only 100 boats allowed. Usually fills by Labor Day. Fish are in their summer pattern, pretty much everything is weedline edge. Have been seeing more crappies being caught this last week which is rare for Clearwater at this time of year.

7-7-10- Pretty much everything is in their summer pattern. Sunnies: weedlines 6-14 of water, worms. Northerns: 8 -16 feet of water with sucker minnows and bobber fishing. Bass are everywhere and hitting good. Crappies do better at sunrise and sunset along weeds, crappie minnows. Walleyes are hit and miss, been hearing a lot of smaller walleyes being caught. So there is a good crop coming up, the future looks good. The water is up on Clearwater Chain, 1 foot higher than normal at this time of year.

BATTLE LAKE 7-14-10
- Ben's Bait & Tackle
Josie, Junction of Hwy 78 and 210 (218-864-5596)
Walleyes -- Rush Lake, Ottertail, W Battle, Clitherall, Use bottom bouncers with either a nightcrawler or leech in 20-30 feet of water. There has been some reports with rapalas on the flats in the evening hours. Northerns -- Troll the weed lines in 15 feet with spoons or large suckers. Some lakes to try are Clitherall, Ottertail, W Battle, Rush. Sunfish -- sit in the 10-15 foot weedlines using waxies, worms, or leeches. Lakes to try Heidelberger Lake, E Lost, W Battle, Blanche, Clitherall and Fish Lake. Crappies-- these are suspended over the deeper water over the weeds. 10-17 feet, Try W Battle, Heidelberger, Clitherall, E Lost. Bass -- they are still fishing the docks with jigs n pigs, spinnerbaits or tubes. Lakes to try are Fiske, Stalker, E Lost, Clitherall. Muskies -- they are starting to get them on W Battle, a lot of casting in the weeds with cow girls or bulldogs.

BEMIDJI 8-4-10
- Bluewater Bait & Sports - www.bluewater-bait.com
Mark Cook, 136 Peaceful Meadows Ln., Hwy 197 South on the Hwy 2 Junction, (218-444-2248)
Cass Lake best for walleyes pulling crankbaits or Lindy rigs worms in 18-26 feet of water. Leech bite is dying, most are using crawlers and cranks, or minnows - redtails or rainbows. Bemidji also good, same depths, cranks after dark, from Cameron Park to Diamond Point off the weedline. Muskies reported on Big Lake, seeing a lot of fish. Most are throwing bucktails. Slower presentation best. Panfish bite good on Stump Lake and nice perch being caught on Bemidji.

7-7-10 - Walleyes biting on nightcrawlers and leeches in 15-20 feet of water. Topwater for muskie. Cass, Bemidji, Leech are all good. Panfish best on Beltrami, Turtle River, Portage. Anglers are using panfish leeches, waxworms and crappie minnows.

Blackduck Lake has turned over this past week so the fishing has come to a crawl. The weeds are actually up to the to unlike last year so it is easier to go and drop a line in the middle of them and find the huge bluegill. The northern are biting on crankbaits right along the weedlines in 12-14' of water. There are some walleye being caught but you do have to work for them and use everything in your tackle box. This warm up will be over before we know it and the walleye will be back biting like they should in September.

7-7-10 - The water is around 75 degrees right now here on Blackduck so you do have to catch the walleye coming in to eat. I have seen several being caught over 20" over the 4th of July week. The best thing working right now are leeches and trolling along the weed edges. The perch are biting in the reeds right now but you do have to be right in them. I have not seen many plate size bluegill come in off the dock as I have in the past years yet. There are a lot of small northern being caught in the shallow water as well. I look for the water to turn over this week since we have had some warm temperatures.

BLACKDUCK AREA 8-4-10
- Timberline Sport & Tackle
Carl Adams, Junction of Hwy 71 and Blackduck Lake Rd. (218-835-4636)
Blackduck walleyes and pike biting in about 12-14 feet of water. For panfish, try Gull, Gilstead, Twin Lakes. Use small leeches, pieces of nightcrawler on small jigs.

7-7-10 - Decent walleye bite on Blackduck. Try Lindy rigging a leech or crawler in weeds in 10-12 feet of water. Panfish bite best on Gull, Gilstead, Twin Lakes, mainly bluegills. Crappies biting on Pimusche. Use small leeches, pieces of nightcrawler on small jigs. Pike are hitting on some area lakes, including Blackduck.

CHISAGO CITY 8-4-10
- Frankie's Live Bait and Marine - www.frankies.net
Brad, Corner of Hwy 8 and CR 77 (651-257-6334)
Bass are biting great on Chisago and South Lindstrom in deep water. Pike hitting on Green Lake on the edge of the weeds with suckers. South Center also has a good pike bite going. Panfish biting everywhere, try Chisago. Try panfish leeches and worms. Picking up a few walleyes on Green and South Center right at dark in 18-20 feet with fatheads or small suckers.

7-7-10 - Good panfish bite on Chisago and South Lindstrom. Try panfish leeches or crappie minnows. Northern hitting sucker minnows on Green Lake. Bass lakes are all producing some fish. Artificials working, also try jumbo leeches and fatheads. Fish are right on the weed edges, about 10-18 feet of water.

CROSBY 8-2-10
- Oars-N-Mine Bait and Tackle - www.oarsnmine.com
Jesse Williams, 22640 Hwy 6 N (218-546-6912)

The best walleye action is coming from Pelican, Farm Island and Serpent in 22-28 FOW on spinner rigs tipped with crawlers. Look for some fish in 6-8’ deep rocks at night on both Serpent and Pelican as well with small crankbaits or slip bobbers and leeches. The last few days we have seen some very quality pike caught on area lakes, including Emily, Rabbit, Mission, Nokay and some of the mine pits. Although the trout action is slower, there are some nice crappies and smallmouth coming from the mine pits, particularly Pennington and Huntington. The trout that are being caught are down 40-50’ and trolling with cowbells has been the most productive. The Mississippi and Pine rivers have been putting out some great smallmouth throughout the day, many of which are coming on fly rods. Largemouth bass are taking plastics fished along deep weed edges on most lakes during the day, and smashing topwaters such as Scum Frogs fished in the slop during lowlight periods. A good bet for big sunfish would be fishing the bays and backwaters on the Mississippi below Little Rabbit Lake.

7-26-10 - There are some walleyes being caught on Serpent on bottom bouncers/spinner rigs in 26-28 FOW with no certain time being better than another. There are also some walleyes coming from weedless jigs worked through weeds with a plastic worm on area lakes. Bass action keeps getting better, with some great action going on Bay, Clearwater, Serpent, Rabbit, Mission and Horseshoe all putting out fish in the weeds and off the edges suspended; best bet is a Texas-rig with a 5-7” plastic worm. The best pike are coming trolling big stickbaits over deep water on area lakes, with Lower Mission, East Rabbit and Nokay all being good bets for some decent fish. Trout action has been slower, with some fish coming in from Manual and Huntington caught near bottom floating Powerbait trout dough or nightcrawlers on long snells. There are some crappies being caught on most lakes in the mid-late afternoons along the weed edges, with Bay Lake being pretty consistent. The best sunfish are coming from the road bed on East Rabbit on nightcrawlers fished deep.

7-12-10 - There are some walleyes being caught around Minister’s Point on Serpent in 18-24 FOW on spinner rigs tipped with crawlers, as well as a few on Farm Island in 16-18 FOW. Pike and bass have been going pretty good all over, with Bay Lake and Mission Lakes producing good numbers of both as well as some size. Casting big spinnerbaits on East Rabbit has also been producing some pike as well with some large fish mixed in. Panfish reports have been good overall with no particular lake producing better than another, just set up along the edge of the greenest cabbage weeds in 11-15 FOW and work a crappie minnow or small plastic 5’ down under a bobber and you will find both crappies and bluegills. There are some rainbows still coming in from Pennington and Huntington pits; trout are suspended around 40’ just vertical jig a small Kastmaster or Swedish Pimple tipped with waxies for the best action.

DULUTH 8-4-10
- Marine General - www.marinegeneral.com
1501 London Road, on the edge of Lake Superior (218-724-8833)
On Lake Superior mostly salmon and lake trout biting in 100 feet of water, fish are suspended from 35-60 feet. Spoons best. Walleye hitting on the south shore in 10-15 feet of water on stickbaits.

7-7-10 - Fishing is excellent on the North Shore from Silver Bay to Duluth. Lots of cohos and lake trout being caught. The South Shore of Lake Superior is pretty good. The St. Louis River area is producing water in 25 feet on mostly minnows, some crawlers. Spoons are working best on the big lake, trolling speed about 3-4 miles per hour.

ELY 8-2-10
- Babe's Bait and Tackle - www.babesbait.com
451 W. Sheridan St., Ely, MN, first business on the left as you are entering town of Ely from the west on Hwy 169 (218-365-6930)

The walleye bite has remained consistant for the past few weeks and anglers are finding them throughout the water column. Where the were primarily in the shallows previously, they now are starting to turn up in the twenty to thirty foot range as well. Crawlers on a harness is still the best search tool. Once located you can take them with a baited jig or a slip bobber set up. Fall, Birch, and Eagles Nest Lakes are current hot spots.

Big pike to twenty pounds are also turning up. Large trolled cranks and spinner baits are working as is the most reliable sucker under a bobber. Weed edges and rocky points are the best bet.

Crappies and sunnies are taking minnows at the weed edges too. Johnson and One Pine Lake anglers are coming in with good totals, as are those heading to Low Lake.

7-26-10 - The walleye bite continues on in the shallow water with most fish coming in from less that ten feet deep. This is not to say that they won't be caught deeper, but the majority of reported catches are shallow. Some fisher folk are saying that they are connecting with the "eyes" while casting spinner baits while targeting smallmouth bass. Fall and Birch Lakes are top spots right now.

Northern pike are being weighed in regularly up to twenty pounds. Sucker minnows or ciscoes are accounting for some of the larger ones. Shagawa, Birch and the Kawishiwi River are recent hot spots.

Crappies are being taken mostly in nine to twelve feet of water, but some right under the lilly pads. Small feathered jigs or bare ones tipped with minnows are working on Twin lakes, Garden and Low.

A few nice Lake Trout are being reported on Burntside Lake where the fish are being caught on deep trolled spoons.

For up to the minute reports, stop in or give us a call. Babe's IS "the best little bait shop in Ely".

7-19-10 - The walleyes have started their summer pattern. Look for them on the reefs in nine to twelve feet of water. The bite is most consistant with a slip bobber setup in the evenings, but many anglers are connecting with them while pulling Rapalas in the target range. Shad Raps and Tail Dancers are working best in both the shad and fire tiger colors, depending on the water clarity. Shagawa, Bear Island and Birch Lakes are tops for active fish.

Bluegills are still pleasing fisherfolk at the weed edges and rock piles while using waxies or small panfish worms under a bobber. Low Lake leads the pack, but nice sunnies are also coming from Twin Lakes and Johnson.

Some lake trout in the seven to nine pound range are falling or spoons presented on Burntside in fifty to sixty feet of water. Snowbank is also giving up a few with a mixed bag of walleyes thrown in for good measure.

Pike are hitting suckers on the points and weed edges on most lakes.

Stop in at Babe's for up to the minute lake info and for all of your bait and tackle needs.

GLENWOOD 7-7-10
- Fish On Bait & Sport www.habitatnow.com
Kyle, 201 S Franklin St, 2 blocks south of stoplights in Glenwood (320-634-3667)

HARD NOT TO CATCH FISH!!! Got out a few times over the holiday...lots and lots and lots of bass and pike! Plenty of action and kept the kids and wife entertained. Went out for a couple hours Sunday and she beat me 13 to 9...mostly pike but a few bass in there as well. We just pulled Reef Runners in 12 to 14 fow in some traditional spots just for fun and to spend some time on the lake...nothing serious. Did not pick up any walleyes this time...not sure if we need to go deeper water or change up the technique...just not enough time to check all the options. Night bite is still my preference for walleyes and that is where I have done the best...floating rapala in 5 to 6 feet of water. Some walleyes being caught during the day, mostly in 16 to 20 feet of water with jig and shiner, leach or minnow as well as some on crawlers. Sunfish bite is the big attraction...still consistently nice big sunnies with many in the 1/2 lb or larger range. They are getting them anywhere from 6 fow out to 16 fow. We picked up some dandies trolling with Reef Runners as well. A lot of action, good sized and good eat'in! Pretty easy to get a limit and I think everyone ate pretty good over the holiday weekend! Probably better lakes to catch walleyes in but hard to beat Waska for great sunfish and just numbers of fish the family can catch. Just have not had any good reports from Reno. Heard of some crappies being caught but that is it. Still several boats out trying their luck there however.

GREY EAGLE 8-4-10
- Nancy's Bait & Tackle
Rex, 4 mile of the Rock Tavern on Big Birch Lake, 4 miles west of Upsala (320-285-2405)
Big Birch and Cedar producing a lot of walleyes. Limits of huge sunfish and crappies on Big Birch. Tube jig/crappie minnow best. On Cedar Lake by Upsala, nice walleyes being caught in 30 feet during the day, 15 feet at night. Best time on Cedar is 9 pm until 2 am. Good panfish bite, sunnies and crappies, on Long Lake by Hub Supper Club. Big Swan producing big sunnies, crappies, and big pike. Good catfish bite reported on the Mississippi River. Anglers are using sucker minnows and crawlers. Muskies hitting on Buckhead (Buckhorn). Topwater lures and big sucker minnows working well. For up to the minute reports, call or stop in!

7-7-10 - Panfish bite is excellent on area lakes. Sunnies in 10-12 feet. Crappies in the weeds close to shore. Try Swan, Pine, St. Anna (Rooney's). For bigger fish try Big or Little Birch. You'll have to work harder for them, but crappies up to 2 pounds, 1-pound sunfish being caught. Angle worms, waxworms, leeches working for panfish. Walleye bite average on Big and Little Birch and Swan. Mostly leeches and crawlers. On Cedar Lake they are using crankbaits for walleyes. Buckhorn has a great muskie bite using suckers. Carry-in access there. Stop in and talk to Rex for details. Bass being caught on all area lakes, leeches and crawlers. Plastics and artificials also. River chubs working well on the smallmouth bass.

HACKENSACK 8-2-10
Swanson's Bait & Tackle - www.swansonsbait.com
Jim Tuller, Hwy 371 on the north end of Hackensack (218-675-6176)

There are big fish anglers that wait all year for this report...the Muskies are going. There continues to be good reports of Muskie action this week. Good numbers of fish being caught and numerous follows. Natural color Bucktails have been producing fish as well as the Musky Innovations Bull Dog lures. The water temps are still in the mid to upper 70's on most lakes. These warm temps are keeping the Walleyes deep and scattered on most lakes, do not be afraid to fish depths to 40 feet or more looking for Walleyes during the day. Once the sun sets look in the shallower water along rocky shorelines for feeding Walleyes. Leech Lake Walleyes are keying on the rocks and weeds. The north end of Walker Bay has been producing Walleyes as it is getting dark on Slip Bobbers with a leech or minnow. During the day, look to the mid-lake rock structure and the deeper water around them with a nightcrawler. Bass and Northerns are still very active in the warm water. Bass are covering a lot of water this time of the year, you will find them in shallow pads or along deeper water weed edges and drop-offs. I have also caught Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth in 30+ feet of water Walleye fishing in the past few weeks. I prefer to fish with plastic worms along the weed edges and drop-offs this time of the year, Berkley Powerbait Hand Poured Series of Worms work well, they have a slow, finese action that works well along the breaks. Northerns are hungry as always, lurking in the weeds waiting for an easy meal. Trolling is a great way to cover water and find active fish. Start in 14-20 feet of water pulling a size 7 or 8 Rapala Shad Rap. If your lure is hitting weeds, either move out to a deeper water until you are not hitting weeds or reel in some line. For the most part, a Shad Rap will run its deepest with 100 feet of line out, the more or less line the shallower it will run. Throwing spinnerbaits through the cabbage beds is another great way to target Pike this time of the year, you can alos pick up Bass and an occasional Walleye this way.

7-17-10 - The water temps have dropped a few degrees from their high of cost to 80 on most lakes back into the mid 70's. That has helped the fishing. Bass, Northern, and Crappie continue to be the most active. Walleyes have been biting early in the morning on the local lakes on Leeches in 20-24 feet of water. Leech Lake Walleyes have also turned on again, hearing more and more reports of limits of Walleyes. Leeches and Nightcrawlers are the hot bait there. Still in a little deeper water than usual, most fish have been caught in 14-17 feet of water. Rocks are holding good numbers of Walleyes right now. Submarine Island and Mokey Reef would be good starting points. Crappies are hangin out in the cabbage beds in 12-14 feet of water. A Johnson Beetle Spin tipped with a Crappie Minnow trolled really slowly over the weeds is a great approach. Otherwise a small jig and Crappie Minnow under a Bobber will put some fish in the boat. Most Bass have moved into the depper water, at least during the day, due to the warm water. Look for shallow weed beds near a steep break or weed edges in 10-16 feet of water. A jig and a plastic worm or a plastic bait Texas Rigged will get the Bass out of the weeds. Spinnerbaits thrown over the deeper weed beds will also land a few fish. As warm as the water got I have not heard too much for Muskie reports, now is the time of year to get out after them though. The best bet to catch a fish is a natural colored bucktail.

KABETOGAMA-NAMAKAN 8-2-10
- Gateway Store kabfishingreport.com - gatewaygeneral.com
Phil & Ellen Hart, US Hwy 53 & Co Rd 122, 30 miles south of Int'l Falls-Canadian border (218-875-2121)

Summer weather continues to amaze us here. The recent cold front did not cool us down much; however, the fish did react. Lake levels continue to stay on the upper end of the curve due to consistent rainfalls. Water temperatures remain in the mid 70’s towards 80’s in the sun. Fishing remains enjoyable with catching a bit more difficult. Early in the week anglers found the walleyes weren’t cooperating as before, but on the flipside pike and bass became more active. We were pleasantly surprised with the numbers of 38-42” pike caught, as well as 20” smallies. There were a few reports and photos sent in of the bigger walleyes, but their numbers were down. Live bait the best offering for walleyes, night crawlers on slip sinker rigs now working, and of course the unforgettable jig and minnow mainstay. Walleyes holding in the 28’-32’ range near the bottom, rock-piles and reefs are the most consistent catching locations. Pike coming out of the weed-beds and weed-lines chasing husky jerks, suicks and big spoons. Smallies finally grabbing at artificials, both top water and sub-surface crankbaits. Shorelines out to 12’ is the best producing depth. This week will be interesting to see if the action picks up. For walleyes, structure around Sugarbush Island is a good start as you do East and North from there on Kabetogama. Pike and bass roaming in their normal summer haunts, both looking for the right artificial at the right time. Enjoy this incredible Summer, it’s definitely time for a family vacation.

7-28-10 - Another great summer week, lots of warmth, a little rain and mild winds. Water temperatures settling into the mid-70s, reaching 80 degrees surface temperatures in the bright sun. Walleye bite remains middle of the road to good and occasionally Great! Minnows, leeches and crawlers all seem to please the walleye population, although their cravings are not consistent. This past week, depths on either side of 30’ seem to be the only consistent denominator for successful anglers. Slip sinker rigs, or jig heads kept near the bottom using live bait moving very slowly is a great presentation. Early evening hours are a good time to use your artificial, use deep runners or bottom bouncers to get your lure near the bottom. Northern pike are again active, live bait, or jerk baits along deep weed edges is producing. Smallmouth action heating up, shorelines and rock-piles are recent hangouts. Walleye hunters, it’s time to study your map, look for 30-40’ structure near rock reefs or sandbars that hold baitfish. Sugarbush Island is a good start on Kabetogama as is the Martin Islands, Chase Island and the Ash River area you find Green and Larkin Islands that have good structure for warm water. Pike really favor those deep weed edges found in Lost Bay, Nebraska Bay and Blind Ash Bay. Troll lures, toss jerk baits or big spinners for some great action. Lots of sunshine, warm water and great fishing invite you to the Kabetogama/Ash River, it’s been a great year, don’t miss out!!

LAKE OF THE WOODS 8-2-10
- Lake of the Woods Area Tourism Bureau - www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com
Jenna, near Junction of Hwy 11 and Hwy 172 in Baudette, (1-800-382-FISH)

Whether you are an experienced fisherman hoping for a trophy catch of a lifetime or a “newbie” looking for a days limit, NOW is the time to visit Lake of the Woods, MN.

Still fishing walleye in the mud just off of the shore line in about 30-31 feet of water and drifting pulling spinners with crawlers.

Walleyes, Muskies, Pike and Bass…OH MY! Just another day up at Lake of the Woods Northwest Angle. Walleye fishing continues to stay strong in areas such as Little Traverse and Sturgeon Channel jigging. Best depths to try your luck are 18-25 feet of water. Weedy and Rocky shorelines are best when searching for Muskies and Northern Pike. If you are after bass try using spinner bait in roughly 10 feet of water!

7-26-10 - THIS IS THE BEST SUMMER WE HAVE SEEN FOR BIG FISH IN YEARS!! This is the comment made by one resort at Lake of the Woods. No matter what presentation you use, walleyes are biting. They are just very hungry this year. Limits are being caught and adventure has been had in all areas of the lake. One angler headed far out into the lake to Sisters Reefs where the catch came in on spinners, crawlers, leeches or minnows. Walleyes measuring 15-16 inches was the norm. Closer to the south shore, walleyes are biting in 30-32 feet of water using the famous downriggers of these waters. The three most common techniques are: #1 – Use 3/8 oz gold, orange or pink jigs tipped with a minnow or leech or combination of both and lightly jig. #2 Use a hammered gold spinner and sinker tipped with a minnow or leech or a crawler harness tipped with a worm and lightly jig. Or #3 troll with a shad rap shiny in color weighted to the bottom. It has been reported that trolling has been the most successful for the big fish but for a nice cooler of good eaters choose from any technique. The best areas to try lure in some walleyes have been outside of Lighthouse Gap, Morris Point, Long Point and areas around Garden Island. Oak Island is seeing great success for walleyes while jigging with 3/8 oz gold, orange or pink jigs tipped with. The best areas to find some good fishing have been around Johnston Passage, Skeet and Little Oak Island in a few different depths, 10'-12', 18'-22' and 29'-33'. Sturgeon jumping and biting in the Rainy River. Two 49” sturgeons were pulled in this past week. It is an angler's paradise on Lake of the Woods…nearly 1 million acres to explore, so come for an experience of a lifetime

7-19-10 - Good weather and great fishing, what more could you ask for! The nice weather looks as though it may continue with just a few showers here and there. Lake of the Woods also has many great events coming up in the near future; make sure to check them out on our website!

An abundance of large fish are still being caught on Lake of the Woods. Fishing in 30-32 feet of water outside of Pine Island and Morris Point in muddy areas is where most of the action is at. Using minnows, leaches, or crawlers on a gold, orange, or pink 3/8 oz jig has worked well!

Up at the Angle a jig of the same type tipped with a minnow is doing well in a variety of depths. Johnston Passage, Skeet, and Little traverse are great areas to try and 10’-12’, 18-22’, and 29’-33’ are depths to stay in.

We all know how beautiful Lake of the Woods truly is, now we’re asking you to help us show it! With entering your photo you are given the chance to appear in the Lake of the Woods Get Away Guide and to appear in Lake of the Woods ads nationwide. ENTER TODAY for a shot at being one of the faces of Lake of the Woods, The Walleye Capital of the World!

For more information see our website at www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com

LAKE BENTON 8-4-10
- Veire's Mini-Mart - Visit our Facebook Page
Dave, 117 E Benton St, corner of Hwy 75 and 14 (507-368-4204)
Lake Benton producing some walleyes trolling in 7 feet of water with a #5 or #7 shallow rap. Anglers are long-lining, calm weather. Pike mixed in. Other area lakes have been slow, Lake Benton will be your best bet for some action.

7-7-10 - Lake Benton - Walleyes are biting, especially for those casting shallow running Rapalas, in 2-5 ft of water, off rocky points. Slip Bobbers with leeches, off rocky points, have also been a real good Walleye producer. A few Crappies have been showing up from shoreline in the 1lb – 1-1/2 pound range, using bobber and minnows.
Rock Lake - Crappie bite has been good in shallow water casting Twister Tails.

LEECH LAKE 8-2-10
- Anderson's Resorts - www.andersonsleech-lake.com
Tim, (1-800-516-0077) (1-800-516-0077)
Leech Lake is still the the lake to come visit and enjoy. Walleyes are spread out on the big lake reefs. Lindy with Leeches are the ticket. Walker Bay area has also going strong. Cedar and Sand points, slip bobbers in the evenings. Muskies are kicking it into high gear right now. We have had many released in the last couple days. Also talked to local guide and he said he had more muskies caught this year the all of last year and the good fishing is just arriving. Panfish are also going good so the kid in all of us can have fun too. Fall has some of the best fishing so grab your rods/shotgun and come enjoy Leech Lake with us!

7-7-10 - Leech lake is going great. Walleyes are still the story on Leech Lake, with many being caught on the main lake bars and reefs with live bait rigs, also trolling shadraps in the evenings. There was a 56-inch muskie released up by Minnesota Island A COUPLE days ago. Very nice one! They were using yellow bucktails. Perch and pike are also going strong in most of the bays, so if you can get away, come play with us on Leech Lake!

METRO AREA EAST 8-4-10
- Blue Ribbon Bait & Tackle - www.blueribbonbait.com
Oakdale, Josh, (651-777-2421)
Walleyes are being caught on the St Croix, try trolling Rapalas, nightcrawlers and spinners in deeper water, 30 feet. Smallmouth bass hitting there too, casting rocks in shallow water. For muskies, Bald Eagle and White Bear Lake are your best options. Peltier producing panfish on worms and hair jigs. Channel catfish hitting on the Mississippi and on Beaver Lake.

St Croix is producing bass, and walleyes on nightcrawlers in 20 feet. Or 30-35 feet with a jig and minnow, saugers mixed in deeper water. Walleyes also hitting on White Bear Lake in 20-25 feet. Leeches work best there. For smallmouth bass cast a jig/minnow. Try DeMontreville, C&R for bass. Muskies reported caught on Forest, White Bear and Bald Eagle. Use soft plastics, smaller jerkbaits. Cast to the edge of weeds. Peltier is producing bigger sunfish.

Fishing on Mille Lacs is still going great guns. The mud flats pulling three way spinners and lead core line on top of the mud flats using Salmo hornets. The night fishing bite in the rocks is doing well. Try the edge of the mud flats at night with a lighted bobber, jig head and leeches. The bass are still biting in the deeper rock piles in 9-13 feet of water. Up to minute reports call Chris Kuduk at 320-630-1761.

7-26-10 - The walleye bite is still going great guns on Mille Lacs. Try the mud flats pulling lead core with Salmo hornet crankbaits across the top of the flats. Try three way spinner rigs with night crawlers along the edge of the flat. Flats to try are: Seven Mile, Eight Mile, Nine Mile and the East flat. For the bass fishermen, tube jigs on the rock reefs on the south end and under the docks. The night fishing on Mille Lacs on the edge of the flats using leeches and crawlers on a jig head.

For up to the minute reports call Chris Kuduk @ 320-630-1761.

7-12-10 - Pulling three way spinners on the mud flats with crawlers and leeches is producing good walleye catching. Pulling lead core across the top of the flats with using salmo hornets. Bobber fishing on the rock piles is also producing fish. Bass fishing is going strong on the south end using jiggs and rubber worms. For an up to date report drop Chris a line.... At Kuduk's Guide Service... 320-630-1761

P.S. Ann Lake and Platte and Sullivan are getting a killing in panfish! Sounds like a good time!!

MILLE LACS 8-4-10
- Jeff Hanson's Guide Service - www.hansonguideservice.com (763-477-8553) McQuoid's Inn/Lindy Tackle Fishing Report

The deep basin areas have been producing fish for us all over the lake. Off the gravel, off the mud flats, off shoreline transition areas and even out in the middle of nowhere. We've been using leadcore with Shad Raps and Lindy Shadlings. A lot of these are bigger 21-27" fish with some keepers mixed in. We've also been getting a lot of keepers 15-20" in mid-range depth rocks using slip bobbers and leeches. A little wind has helped the bite in both areas but we are getting fish even on the calm days.

We are still cleaning a lot of fish everyday. Today I had 14 keepers in my boat. The rocks should only get better as we get later in August and the basin bite will continue through fall.

7-27-10 -The last week has been a little more hit and miss than we have had earlier this month. Some days are still very good. Some days are slower. Fish are still just stacked in certain areas on the mud flats, in basin areas and on deep rock and gravel. In the next week I am expecting the shallows to really turn on, we just need a couple days of strong wind to stir up that water and get some current going on those reefs. Those fish are already there, we just need the conditions to catch them. By shallow, I am talking 3-8 feet on the tops of rock reefs. These spots are typically key "spot on the spot" areas where you can't mark the fish due to the depth. You just need to know the spots ahead of time and then go in there and fish them when conditions are right.

The deep bite will continue and it seems that some days they want a lindy rig with either a leech or crawler and then the next day crankbaits work better. I've been doing a little of both each day, based on fish location on the flats and what they show for preference.

We've still been getting some jumbo perch mixed in with the walleyes everyday also.

7-20-10 - Fishing picked back up again over the weekend. Saturday was good, sunday was better and monday was really good. We are still getting fish out on the mud. It seems like each day is a little different. Some days they are spread out and cranking them w/ leadcore and shad raps is the best method. Then, the next day they'll be just stacked on the edges and Lindy rigging them is the best w/ leeches and crawlers... With the new slot of 20", it's been pretty easy to get a limit or very close to it everyday. There's a lot of meat on those 19.5 inchers! It's pretty awesome how well the rigging bite is staying strong well into July like this. I am starting to think we'll be able to keep rigging well into August as well.

7/16/10
Fishing was tougher today. I think the wind that has been so strong the last couple days has messed them up a bit. I'm sure it will pick back up in the next couple days, but today they were just not cooperating like they have been. We starting out trolling and had a decent morning, then the afternoon got tough. We finally tried rigging when I found some fish stacked along the edge of a flat and got into some again that way.

7/15/10
Today was the first day of the new slot! We did really well today trolling Rapala Shad Raps and leadcore. Fish have been kind of spread out the last couple days and trolling seems to be kicking in bigtime! Everyday seems like a different flat is hot and you just have to hunt them out everyday and keep rifling through baits until you find the hot color and the hot flat and then it is on!

LAKE MINNETONKA 8-4-10
- Wayzata Bait & Tackle
Tim or Bob, half mile west off I-494 on Hwy 12 (952-473-2227)
Sunnies scattered from shore to 20 feet of water. Waxworms, small leeches on ice flies best. Bass biting artificials in the milfoil, use heavy jigs. Anglers are running in clean water, 18-20 feet, with floaters and leeches. Try the bigger bays with the cooler water. Pike hitting spinnerbaits and small suckers, trolling on the edge of the outside weedline. An occassional walleye biting in 26-28 feet of water using live bait rigs, crawlers.

7-7-10- Walleyes, muskies and pike biting on metro area lakes, 15-20 feet of water or the deep side of the weeds with live bait. Fish are using weeds for cover and food. Try Tonka, Independence, Waconia, Sarah. Bass being caught on jigworms, 8-10 feet of water. Lots of sunfish everywhere biting on baby leeches and waxies. Mornings and evening best bet for bites.

MISSISSIPPI - ST. CROIX 8-3-10
- Turk Gierke, Croixsippi Guide Service www.croixsippi.com (1-800-929-1801)
Despite the heat and humidity the walleye and sauger bite is pretty good. The fish are always cool and swimming in their pool so what do they care? It is us anglers above the surface sweating our shirts off! When I mentioned the fish are biting, I refer to an anglers bait or lure, because fish always feed in the summer and feed heavy they do. In the river their main forage base is shad. Finding the shad bait balls on the graph is paramount to catching eyes and saugs. Top fishing presentation/technique summary: Troll well tuned cranks in 18 to 29 feet of water. Rapala tail dancers, shad raps and RS, Storm Thundersticks – colors to use: , flash perch, crawfish, bleeding olive, chartreuse, and blue combinations. Rigging crawlers in the same depth with ½ to 1 ounce weights at .5 to .7mph. Key is finding bait balls on graph. Trip story: Yesterday I guided Cay Hellervik and her grandson Malcolm Martin, he was in town from California. My plan was to troll Rapalas until we found fish and then rig them up. The trip started out well with Malcolm hooking nice fish on the second pass in a warm up spot I like to fish to get guests used to trolling, it is an area with nice clean sand bottom and no weeds. This fishing rod pumped like a sheepshead but dug down like a cat, he had a tough time reeling it in. We were all pleased to see a 19” walleye come to the net. We went through the warm up spot two more times with nothing tugging and then moved. It must have been the salads or the fact that this group was the first to wear my lucky type I lifejackets blaze orange and all, but either way the fish were snapping. First trolling pass through the next spot, Malcolm hooked a sauger just too short to keep. The States of MN and WI give the saugers no rights, but I make them be 14 inches to keep (fyi- eyes must be 15inches minimum and I do a voluntary release over 20 inches). Then we doubled up on keeper walleye and saugers or combinations of saugers and walleye too short to keep for an hour straight. Really fun stuff with synchronized hooksets as Malcolm would say -got one!- and then so would Cay. Cay would later put the rod down, and just shoot pics of him enjoying catching fish. The trolling died down as the baitfish left the spot, and I wanted to switch gears and crawler fish with heavy split shots. We did this for the last part of the trip and caught sheeps and saugers. It was a great trip in the middle of the afternoon in hot July. Thank-you. More trips in the heat went well this week, even on Tuesday when it was equatorial Africa hot and humid, Nick and Jeff Milleson hooked sauger and walleye, plus cats. That day they brought in 2 walleye, 6 saugers, 4 large crappies, and 6 good sunfish. Jeff had on another big cat from the same spot Tim Carter had caught his 35 inch channel cat. There is a lot going on the St. Croix River from saugers to catfish to muskie (even though I have not been able to fish them much with booked walleye trips, I know were those big toothy suckers are! ha.) Have fun enjoy the summer because in a blink its going to be September.

7-26-10 - Summer patterns have become established for walleye and sauger fishing now that the water levels are normal for late July. Walleye and sauger are set up on off shore structure in 24 to 29 feet of water. The summer patterns are also in play as the baitfish are showing up in these off shore locations. Same fishing presentations are catching fish as last week where rigging with bait crawlers, leeches, and minnows are catching fish. Also trolling with Shad Raps and SRRS is working well. It is hard to use a bad color; I do like firetiger, perch, and shad. The bite does seem to change from day to day and so mornings are better and some afternoons are better, so the bite is can be spotty, but last Wednesday we had a big basket and had fourteen keepers (mainly saugers, and many of these were nice fish in the 15 to 18 inch range, with a 20” sauger as well). Gulls! Saturday morning was the first time this season I have seen a good number of gulls on the water, which signals that the white bass are pushing the shad to the surface. The gulls then dive into the water for a shad as the white bass are pushing the shad up to the top. Crankbaits, twister tails, and spinners all catch white bass. I have even caught a white bass on a popper! Channel cats are very active right now and are being caught by walleye anglers. Cat anglers are reporting good catch rates as well. We had a 35” channel cat hit a jig and minnow and scream off peeling line off so fast I had to pull anchor and follow the fish with the boat. This fish was a super fighter, and on 6lb test line a real challenge to even get off of the bottom. I would guess that cat was 20lbs. Tim Carter caught that fish while his two sons sat and watched in amazement. Muskie. I am not hearing a lot of muskie news lately and have been booked with walleye anglers, so I am not fishing them much to speak of yet. I can say traditionally this is the time of year to get hooked. Throw double bucktails, bulldawgs, and top water prop baits for muskie in 3 to 8 fow.

7-19-10 - Lower St. Croix River fishing report July 19, 2010. Saugers are biting well and are mixed in with the walleye in deeper depths than previous weeks. As the river is dropping, it is just about a foot above normal pool elevation, and walleye and sauger are in their mid summer depths and found from 19 to 27 feet of water. Many of the sauger are from 13 to 16 inches, with 14 inch fish and larger being nice to keep for a fry. The walleye are larger and run from mostly 15 to 18 inches and much thicker fish. Crankbaits, crawlers, and leeches have been the top walleye and sauger catchers. Lindy rigging bait and spinners with bait are catching fish. Trolling Rapala crankbaits are just as effective. I personally like to troll and find fish then rig or spinner them up. Effective crankbaits are still the same as previous weeks, shad raps and shad rap RS. Soon wide wobblers with more action should become the go to option. The muskie reports are up and down but I am hearing of very nice fish being caught. I have not had much time to go for muskie as all my trips have been walleye/sauger trips. Trolling cranks and casting bucktails/topwaters work well. White bass are active for short periods of time during dawn and dusk. Maybe with the lowering water levels the typical summer patterns of great white bass fishing might start.

WABASHA 8-4-10
- River Valley Outfitters, Lake Pepin, Mississippi River, 1023 Hiawatha Dr W, Wabasha, MN (651-565-2326) See our Facebook page!
River levels are back to normal. Walleyes are being caught on the wingdams using leeches, willow cats and crawlers. Northern pike, Small and largemouth bass are plentiful near the weedbeds and rock structures. Perch and sunfish are being caught near any rocks or downfalls in about 10 - 12 feet of water. Striped bass are boiling up in Lake Pepin and above many of the wingdams in the river.

7-7-10 - Walleyes are being caught around the Camp Lacupolis area and in the back waters using leeches, crankbaits and willow cats. Northern and bass fishing is great in the backwaters with the high river level. Sunfish have started biting on redworms and waxies. Striped bass are hitting in the evenings on Lake Pepin in 8-10 ft of water, using small sonars and medium silver spinners. We have willow cats for sale! Stop in!

WACONIA 8-4-10
- Mase's In Towne Marine - www.intownemarina.com
Cindy, corner of Lake and Elm (952-442-2096)
Can you believe it is already August? As we start to prepare for the fall season there are some new changes and events we would like you to know about. We will be shortening our shop hours later this month. Check next weeks report;our home page or after hours answering machine for new hours to be announced. Remember, after the Carver County Fair, Waconia's September celebration, Nickle Dickle Day is soon approaching. Lots of great sales, music, events and fun take place all day long! Among the fun activities for the kids will be our 3rd Annual FREE old-fashioned "Fish Pond for Prizes", for kids 10 & under. Watch Ads coming out soon! Check out our rental promotions good through August 19th at intownemarina.com Fishing has been pretty consistent with the bite, this time of year. Bass and Sunfish remain the staple species. Bass can be found on the outside weed edges in 8-14 feet and also on the inside edges in 3-6 feet of water. The best methods are Texas rigged worms and bass jigs. Some areas to fish are Cemetery and Anderson's Reef. Sunfish can be found on top of the reefs and also off of the breaks. Best approaches are a bobber and a tiny jig or just a jig over the side of the boat. Wax worms and panfish leeches have been working on Kegs reef. The water temp is still in the low 80's, so don't forget- keep your bait cool in the water the bait shop gives you, & out of the lake. This will not only help you keep it alive to use another day but, also to comply with MN's new law prohibiting transport of lake water from place to place. If releasing fish, try to keep them submerged while you gently coax them back to swimming, after unhooked.

7-27-10 - This last week brought out Summer's true colors..."red hot"! The lake has been busy with recreational traffic during the nice weekends but the fishermen haven't been slacking either! To start last weekend right, the In Towne hosted & provided live bait & jig rods for the Waconia Lion's Take a Kid Fishing Day. The children showed up bright and early, were treated to breakfast and sent out on the water with their guides. Around 40 children were in attendance, making the marina a happening place. They had a blast out fishing (and catching). When they were done the kids had lunch, & all were handed prizes & could take home their filleted Sunfish. It was a success to say the least. To see more about the event-check out the following site : Trophyencounters.com/Travs-fishing-update. Thanks Lions, volunteers & fellow donors that make this event possible for Waconia area kids, each year!

The fishing has been pretty good, with Bass and Sunfish the best producing species, lately.

The Bass have been excellent on the deeper weed edges. Find a weed edge on any reef or shoreline and you are sure to get into some Bass. The go-to tactic is fishing plastic worms with a bullet weight or a bass jig. Key in on areas from 10-16 feet, right in or on the edges of the weeds.

Judging by the success of the Take a Kid Fishing outing the Sunfishing has been great. You might need to sort, but they're worth the wait. Kegs reef was the top producer on top of the reef in 9-15 feet of water. You can either fish with a slip bobber or even toss out a flu-flu with a wax worm right over the side if the boat. Center reef in the same depth will work too. Remember to move if action is slow- predators in your area, may be affecting the bite.

Walleyes have been slower, but people are still finding some fish deep. The best approach is to use a LindyRig with a crawler or a large leech. The more productive areas are the south side of Kegs' Reef in 20ft or more of water and Red's reef in similar depths. The time to be on the water for Walleye, is under the cover of darkness.

We're joining other area Muskie anglers to urge each other to put down their muskie rods for a while longer while water temps are in the 80's. Extreme heat is especially rough on Muskies. They have a difficult time recovering from the fight in "hot" water conditions. It shouldn't be too long before the water temps return to the 70's.

This is a good time to get caught up on other multi-species angling. Catch & release anglers can save a few $$'s this year in license fees. The DNR now offers an annual Individual Conservation Fishing License for only $12 if you choose to release all your catch. Those out for a meal- don't forget to keep your bait in a cooler right now, and add fish as you catch them to an ice chest. They will be nice & firm when you get home to clean them-& safer and more delicious to eat!!

Any way you want to enjoy the lake- swimming, skiing, cruising or fishing- we hope to see you at the In Towne. Our business is making your trip here, a pleasure! Happy Summer Boating!

7-19-10 - The fishing has finally started to settle into its normal summer patterns, and fish are becoming more predictable. The water temperatures are in the upper 70s and the low 80s. The trend with most species is to start looking deeper.

For all of the boaters out and about, there is not a better time to be on the water, low winds, and high temps make for a great trip. If anyone is looking to rent a boat and motor or pontoon, we have a special that runs on Tuesday's and Thursday's for 10% off of a rental. Check the promotions page for more information.

The bass have been biting very well shallow and deep water. Many of the larger fish are coming off of the deeper cabbage and weed beds. Some of the better areas are Reinke's bay, Anderson's reef and Cemetary reef. Anglers are utilizing Texas rigged worms and bass jigs to hook up with monster bass. If you prefer to stay in the shallows, top water and spinner baits are producing on the north side of the lake in the pencil grass and reeds.

The larger sunfish are becoming a little more difficult to find as they are in the 16' range and starting to scatter across the weeds. The best bet is using a slip bobber with either a panfish leech or a wax worm. Also people are finding fish in the 5 to 6' cabbage beds in Reinke's bay and the southern shoreline.

Walleyes are being caught mostly during the cover of darkness and low light periods. The tactics that seem to work the best are rigging or slip bobber fishing in the 17-22' range off of weed lines. The best baits seem to be crawlers and leeches. Some more popular spots are Keg's reef, and Anderson's reef.

The water temps are in the 80s which put muskies at high risk for exhaustion. Fishing has slowed down but people are still raising a few fish here and there. Taking a break for a couple of weeks would be a great idea for the fish's sake. If you do feel the need to scratch to the itch try to target cooler nights and mornings. A rule of thumb is if the water temp is over 80 degrees, put down the stick and try to target other species.

WATERVILLE AREA 8-3-10
- Axel's Tackle Box - www.axelstacklebox.blogspot.com
Axel, 101 North Hwy 13, next to Casey's (507-362-4444)
Sunnies and crappies are doing well on Lake Mazaska, as well is the walleye bite. Lake Elysian giving up many, many nice northerns using mainly spoons and spoon plugs. Lake Francis still has a nice bite going on for your panfish in 7 to 10 feet of water.

7-18-10 - Tetonka is still doing well with panfish. Walleyes are biting near evening and early morning. Madison Lake seems to be a real good choice right now for sunfish, as is Lake Francis. Use waxies for best bet.

7-5-10 - Walleyes are being caught by the beach by leech and lindy rig, moving very slowly. Some nice crappies have been caught by Best Point. Walleyes still hitting lindy rigs and leeches/crawlers. Many 17 and 18 inchers were brought in. Panfish seem to abundant also.

WINNIBIGOSHISH 8-3-10
- Walleye Visions - www.mnfishingconnections.com
Tom Neustrom, 21622 Airport Rd, Grand Rapids, tom@mnfishingconnections.com, (218-327-2312)
Summer keeps rolling along and the warm water temperatures of the last few weeks is starting to re-position the walleyes on Big Winnie and other area lakes. Since Winnie doesn't thermocline, many of the deep water areas of the lake will be somewhat oxygen depleted and the majority of bait and fish will tend to move shallower into the weeds and rocks. Northland Gumball jigs and a minnow, leech or half a crawler will definitely start to put walleyes in the boat. Another good method is to pull spinners at 1.0-1.5 mph with a half crawler, chub, or a leech. Most of us prefer size #2 or #3 gold or copper blades on our spinner rigs. The bluegill and crappie fishing has been okay but we expect that also to pick up in the weeks ahead as the water begins to cool. Northern pike are pretty active throughout the lake. Nearly all the weedbeds surrounding Winnie and pike available. Spoons trolled at about 2.5-3.0 mph, Shad Raps, Husky Jerks, and #11 Flat Raps have all been producing fish. We're on the final doorsteps of summer, so get out and enjoy some great late summer opportunities. Start thinking about fall fishing and book a guided fishing trip for one of the most beautiful times of the year and the fishing is awesome.

7-26-10 - Summer continues to bring weather that can effect the fishing as it does everywhere. Compared to last season, when the water was un-seasonably cooler than normal, this season things have a sense of normality. The surface temperature on Big Winnie is hovering around the mid to upper seventies and things are somewhat different. The walleyes are spread everywhere in the lake from shallow to deep which makes finding them consistently difficult from day to day. Pulling spinners and covering ground has been good, whether shallow or deeper. Trolling #5 & #7 Shad Raps in Perch or Silver have been also catching walleyes when trying to cover extended areas. Raven's, Stony, Little Stony, Sugar Points and Musky Bay have been great shallow water areas that have lots of walleyes, jumbo perch, and northerns. Rigs and leeches are also the bait of choice when fishing deep off shore structures. The perch fishing has been good on several of the rock spots around the lake. A Northland Gumball jig and chub do a nice job and there seems to be a few walleyes mixed into the bag. McAvity Bay in Cutfoot has been producing nice bluegills on the outside weed edges. Fishing is still good on the big lake and contact a guide for a trip that will make your stay even better. Good luck.

7-7-10 - The walleye fishing on Big Winnie continues to be good and it doesn't appear to be slowing way down. Leeches and crawlers fished on a slip sinker rig or spinner seems to be working the best during the day. All of the humps and bars seem to have some fish available. The evening bite has some great Shad Rap opportunities of late and there have been several limits caught in the area of Raven's Point pulling #7 Shad Raps and Minnow Raps in 5-8 feet of water. The Northern Pike have been a little scarce but look for the action to pick up in the next couple weeks. The jumbo perch have began to show up on several of the rocky humps in the entire lake with the new emerging crayfish from this year's hatch. A Northland Gumball Jig and chub will provide some great action and great eating. The panfish bite has been off and especially with all of the big wind we have been experiencing of late. Look for that to improve also. This coming Sunday will be the 13th Annual Women on Water Fishing Tournament on Big Winnie held at Northland Lodge. Information provided by calling 218-246-8202. We'll see you there.