Outdoors Weekly Fish Tales Archive

July 27, 2007

ANNANDALE - B.J.’s Bait & Tackle, Bill, west side of Clearwater Lake, between the two public accesses (320-274-3730) Fishing action has slowed up a little bit, as the summer patterns set it. The sunfish are still biting good in about 10 feet of water along the weedlines. The walleyes are roaming between 15 to 25 feet of water and are mainly being caught on leeches and crawlers. The northerns are biting great too in 10 to 15 feet of water along the weedlines on suckers under a bobber. The bass are up in the weeds. We’ve been hearing more reports of people catching crappies on a jig and a minnow and throwing amongst the sunnies.

ANOKA – Action’s Fishing, Jack, 809 West Hwy 10 (763-422-4890) Fishing was fair to good this weekend. The river continues to drop, making wading an excellent choice. Walleyes starting to pick up, smallies continue to bite on tubes. Local lakes good for Largemouth. Some nice crappies from Green and Spectacle.

BATTLE LAKE – Ben’s Bait & Tackle, Josie, Junction of Hwy 78 and 210 (218-864-5596) The walleye bite is a little slower now, mostly biting at night. Battle and Ottertail seem to be the best lakes. Lindys with leeches after dark are getting the most hits. The mayfly hatch has really messed up the bite. The northerns are biting on Clitheral and Ottertail trolling the weeds with daredevils or a sucker minnow trolling in 15 to 20 feet. Sunfish are biting on Battle, Sucker and Clitheral in 20 to 23 feet of water using panfish leeches. We haven’t heard much for reports on crappies. The bass are still biting on W. Battle and Fiske Lakes using floating frogs or sucker minnows in the weeds. The bigger bass are in the deeper water. The muskies are more active on Battle Lake now.

BEMIDJI – Bluewater Bait & Sports, Mark Cook, 1 mile north of the Hwy 2 & 71 Intersection (218-444-2248) The muskie bite is heating up on Bemidji mostly and some on Plantagenet. There has also been some good perch action on Plantagenet. Guys who are getting some walleyes are mostly pulling crawlers and have had some success after dark with cranks. The bass are peaking and now is a good time to get out and fish them. We have also heard some good northern reports on Bemidji with suckers under a bobber.

BLACKDUCK - Timberline Sport & Tackle, Carl Adams, Junction of Hwy 71 and Blackduck Lake Rd (218-835-4636) The summer walleye bite has been hit or miss, people are still getting some limits but they are out working for them. Lindy rigs with a minnow and fishing on top of the bars seems to be the best deal. Some nice crappies are being caught out on Gilstad and the sunnies are biting on Pimusche. With Upper Red Lake going to a 4 fish limit, there has been a little more activity up there. The lake got stirred up last week with the storms and the fish are scattered a bit, but things will settle down here for the weekend. Look for the walleyes in 10 to 12 feet of water.

BRAINERD – www.sandwbait.com & www.walleyedan.com - S&W Bait and Tackle - Home of Walleye Dan's Guide Service, 7 1/2 miles North of Brainerd on the East side of Hwy 371 (218-829-7010) The fishing action has been really good, but that doesn't include the walleye "bite". Whitefish and Pelican have been brutal. If you want bass and pike, that's easy. We just had Senator Norm Coleman and his group out last week and they pummeled the bass and some walleyes. Norm was a happy camper! The natural bait supply in the lakes right now is so high, I believe the fish just aren't super hungry. You mix that with high skies and flat calm lakes and you have a tough walleye situation. The past 6 or so years, it seems that the Gull Lake walleye bite has picked up in late July and early August, so that is what we are hoping for pretty quick. I am also starting to think smallmouth bass and muskies.

CHISAGO CITY – Frankie’s Live Bait and Marine, Brad, Corner of Hwy 8 and Co Rd 77 (651-257-6334) The panfish bite has been good on Chisago and Green Lakes. Six to 8 feet of water mainly down to the 10 foot weed edges. The lake of the week this week for crappies has been Kroon Lake, or Sunrise Lake as a close second. The bass have been going well and this is great weather for them. They are hitting everything. The few walleyes that are now being caught are in 20 feet or so and are mainly being caught in the evenings.

CROSBY - Oars-N-Mine Bait and Tackle, Jesse Williams, 22640 Hwy 6 N (218-546-6912) Stop in for the up-to-the-minute fishing report 7 days a week!

CROSSLAKE - Holiday of Cross Lake, Lee (218-692-2708) Held’s Guide Service (218-820-0989) Walleye action on Whitefish Chain, Pelican and Crosslake has been good. The early morning and late evening bite is strong. Use Leeches or Night Crawlers on Lindy-rigs plain or with spinners, fished in 22 to 30 feet of water. The warm temperatures are sparking anglers to try trolling crank baits over deeper water both for walleyes and lake trout. Northern action has been hot with fish hitting spinner baits and spoons. Also try trolling crankbaits along the weedline. Bass are active in 4 to 8 feet of water. Try plastic worms or surface baits worked along the weedline. Crappies and panfish are hitting small jigs tipped with worms, waxies, and minnows along the weedline. Look deeper for larger panfish.

DULUTH - Fisherman’s Corner, Scott, 7 miles north of Miller Mall on Hwy 53 (218-729-5369) Fish Lake, working the mid lake structure and the flats, has been good for walleyes still. Leeches and a slip bobber setup or using lindy rigs with a slow troll has been the best. Also try Island Lake in a little deeper water, about 17 to 22 feet. Minnows are still working here. On Boulder Lake, same tactics have been in play all summer, fish in 5 to 8 over the humps using spinners and crawlers. The northerns are also biting well on Fish Lake. The smallie action on the St. Louis River has been awesome. Fish are being caught in the 20 inch plus range. On Lake Superior right out of the entry way, guys are getting some walleyes. The salmon have seemed to mostly move up the shore past Two Harbors. The lake trout are being caught in 80 to 120 feet and we’ve been using dark spoons. And the catfish bite up on the Cloquet River has been going great too.

DULUTH - Marine General, 1501 London Road, on the edge of Lake Superior (218-724-8833) The biggest news is that after the storms moved through last week, the water turned over and we have 42 to 45 degree water temps on the surface and the guys have been out fishing right outside the harbor. The coho are in about 20 feet and the lake trout are about 60 feet down. We have a good mud line to fish out there. Orange, chartreuse, purples and pinks are all working well. The walleyes have really turned on, on the south shore and in the lower basin of the St. Louis River. Raps and stick baits or spoons have been working. It depends on the day what the fish are hungry for, so come prepared and bring both to try.

ELY - Babe's Bait and Tackle, 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 lakes in and around the Ely area continue to wow some of the more persistent anglers as some are reporting catches of 20 to 30 walleyes per day, others aren't fairing as well. We must reiterate that one of the most important stops before heading out should be at a good and reputable bait shop. We get up to the minute reports from area lakes and most fishermen are eager to share their success stories, therefore we can direct you to the hottest lakes and proven tactics to catch fish. This week, the big lakes seem to be outperforming some of the smaller ones for producing the big stringers. Fall Lake, Burntside, and the White Iron Chain, are all giving up some impressive catches of walleyes, smallies, and BIG pike. While leeches are the preferred bait at this time of year, the minnow fishermen are tapping into the best catch rates. Rainbow minnows and chubs drifted or vertically jigged are doing the trick. Fish the drop offs in depths of 16-20 feet during the day, but as the sun sets, the eyes are moving into the shallows chasing the minnow schools that hug the shorelines at night. It's not uncommon to catch fish in 2-8 feet of water late in the evening and in the early morning hours. Crappies are holding at 12-15' feet over 30 foot depths. Crappie minnows, or jig and small tube under a slip bobber are just the ticket for bragging size slabs up to 16 inches. The northern pike are getting more vicious as the summer wears on, with anglers complaining of being robbed of their walleyes either on the way up, or on the stringers hanging over the side of the boat. Big suckers under a float are irresistible to these leviathans.

FOREST LAKE - Mike's Bait on 8, 1/2 mile east of 35 on Hwy 8, Rich, (651-464-5150) If it sounds like the same thing week after week right now, that’s because things seem to be in the same summer pattern right now. Fishing over all has been pretty good. For panfish, the sunnies are still up fairly shallow and the crappies are out in 15 to 16 feet of water on the weed edge. The muskies are biting well. The northerns are also hitting, try Sunrise Lake for a good bite. The bass are biting all over; Green Lake has been a good spot. For walleyes, the bite has been deep on N. Center and on Clear Lake out in 20 to 25 feet of water.

GREY EAGLE - Nancy’s Bait & Tackle, Rex, on CR 2, four miles east of the Rock Tavern on Big Birch Lake, four miles west of Upsala (320-285-2405) The walleyes have been biting on cranks and rattling raps on Saint Maries Lake. The DNR have also got a nice dock in at the public access on the lake now too. Guys have also been picking up a few walleyes on Big Swan Lake with crawlers and Big and Little Birch Lakes using leeches in about 20 to 30 feet water. The sunfish bite has been phenomenal on Moose Lake and some crappies are being caught too. On the Long Lake north of Bertram’s Supper Club, they have been getting some nice ½ pound sunnies. The northerns are biting on Swan Lake. The bass bite has been good on all area lakes. Mound Lake has been particularly good. On Buckhorn Lake, the muskies have been slowing down. Guys used to be able to go there and catch 10 fish a day, now they are getting 2 or 3.

HACKENSACK - Swanson’s Bait & Tackle, Jim Tuller, Hwy 371 on the north end of Hackensack (218-675-6176) Wear your swimming suit when you go fishing, you may need to jump in occasionally to cool off. Good news is that crappies have been biting pretty well. Five Point Lake, Webb Lake, and Birch Lake have all produced a bunch of crappies the last few evenings. Most of the fish are being caught out of 14-16 feet of water. Look for areas that have cabbage weeds growing 3 or more feet off of the bottom, then fish a crappie minnow on a pink jig 3 or 4 feet above those weeds. If you have a walleye angler in the boat, have them float a minnow or leech closer to the weeds. Evening has been the key, fish the last few hours of daylight. Bass seem to continue to move to deeper water, fish a larger jig with your plastics and look for deep breaks and weedlines. Early in the morning and late evening the Bass will move into the shallow water to feed. A topwater lure or spinnerbait/buzzbait have boated a few Bass the last few days. Birch Lake and Pleasant Lake have been good early morning lakes recently. Walleyes are still biting well enough to make the report today. Leech Lake walleyes are in 12 feet of water, on the weed edge, looking for a nightcralwer to eat. A spinner on the cralwer harness was a must yesterday on Stony Point, try a bright green or gold spinner. The perch are in the same spots as the walleyes... stealing nightcrawlers. There have been a few anglers using Berkley Powerbait 6" Natural Nightcralwers in place of livebait. They say it limits the nuisance perch and still catches walleyes. Good Luck with the fish, try and stay cool.

KABETOGAMA-NAMAKAN – Gateway Store, US Hwy 53 & CO Rd 122, 30 miles south of Int’l Falls-Canadian border, Phil Hart (218-875-2121) Hot weather dominates conversation when talking fishing. Recent weather and the long-term forecast represent pattern changes. Walleyes tend to move deeper as the lake temperatures rise. Generally reef structures near deep water offer the most consistent bite for eyes and sauger. Evening angling for eyes should include windward direction bays and shelves. Crawlers and leeches provide the best bait choice using a slip-sinker rig. Many folks are still with minnows in deeper water, 35’ plus, catching saugers and some harvest-sized walleyes. Smallmouth are on weed edges and upside rock ledges and rock piles. Rock structures offer crayfish for smallies. Northern pike spend most of their time in deeper water adjacent to weedy bays and shorelines that offer forage. Suggestions for the week: Spinner blades and long snells with slip-sinker rigs for walleyes either side of 28’. Pike, lures running 18-25’ outside weedy bays and shorelines; switch up with X-Raps or jerk baits at weed edges or weed tops. Smallmouth, top-water baits near the shorelines, or crayfish lures; and Mepps spinners up next to the rocks. Some early morning angling can be beneficial on hot sunny days. As the day warms up, you might enjoy bobber fishing near the deep weed edges.

LAKE OF THE WOODS – Area Tourism Bureau, Denelle, near junction of Hwy 11 and Hwy 172 in Baudette (1-800-382-FISH) July and August are trophy walleye months here at Lake of the Woods, and anglers have not been disappointed. Walleye are being found in 28-32 feet of water while jigging, many are also having luck down rigging. The hot spots have been the west side of Big Island, west side of Garden Island, and all around Stony Point. The south shore is coming alive again with walleye being found in the Gap as well. The weather has been hot and dry, with more of the same in the forecast it’s sure to be a great trophy season. The Rainy River has also been producing some nice numbers of walleye, sauger, and sturgeon. The fish are biting in 18-20 feet of water around the Clementson Rapids, and Silver Creek areas. Sturgeon season is now open; don’t miss your chance to net one of these prehistoric monsters. The Northwest Angle and Islands has been giving up some beautiful limits of fish. The reefs surrounding Oak Island have been particularly generous with the walleye. Muskie season is also in full swing at the Angle, and the fishing has been phenomenal! Many muskie over 50 inches have been caught, what a sight to see when one of those monsters breech the water.

LEECH LAKE – Anderson’s Resorts, Tim (1-800-516-0077) Leech Lake has been very active this past week with many people saying it's the best they have ever seen. Pike and pan fish are going great small jigs tipped with a worm or a leech works for the little ones. Pike are either soaking sucker minnows or casting big spoons. Surface temps are right around 80 degrees. Bass have been real active in Headquarters bay. Plastics are the key there. Muskie action is also picking up with Pelican and Sub Island areas being real good. Lots of tubers and water skiing going on so going out early and late are the best bets.

METRO AREA EAST – Blue Ribbon Bait & Tackle, Josh, Oakdale (651-777-2421) The bass and northern bite continues to be good. Try Big Carnelian, Big Marine and Forest Lake. The crappies are biting on Bald Eagle Lake in the evening and also on Centerville. The sunnies are biting all over, finding the bigger ones seem to be the challenge. The muskies are biting fairly well; guys are starting to pick up more. Josh has caught a few in the 40 inch range on some are lakes. Stop in and set up a trip with him to find the great metro muskie spots.

MILLE LACS LAKE – Chris Kuduk's Guide Service, Chris Kuduk (320-630-1761) The night time walleye bite has still been good. Fishing from about 9 pm to about 1:30 in the morning. And we are still getting some fish during the day, but not a lot of eaters now that the slot has been changed. But despite the slot change, some nice fish are still being caught and if you want to get out and catch fish and have a chance at that elusive 30-incher/10-pounder, there is still plenty of time to get a trip setup and come up here.

MILLE LACS LAKE – Malmo Market, Lynwood Elliott, State Hwy 47 and 18 East, NE corner of Mille Lacs (320-684-2295) Call us for a report!

MILLE LACS LAKE – Johnson's Portside, Kelly or Steve, 1 mile north of Isle on Hwy 47 SE side of the lake (320-676-3811) Call us for a report!

LAKE MINNETONKA - Wayzata Bait & Tackle, Tim or Bob, half mile west off I-494 on Hwy 12 (952-473-2227) The water is pretty warm. Use spinners and live bait combo and fish in the weeds. The fish are hanging around the weed edges because that’s were the oxygen is right now. With the exception of northern and muskie fishing, fish very early or late in the day. And if you can avoid the crazy boaters, the muskie action is getting pretty good.

LAKE MINNETONKA – Minnetonka Outdoors, Gary or Gregg, south frontage road to Hwy 7 between Vine Hill Rd & Old Market Blvd in Shorewood (952-470-8800) Call us for a report!

NISSWA - Dave’s Sportland Bait & Tackle, Jason, 2 miles south of Nisswa at the Intersection of Hwy 371 and Cty Rd 77, next to Schaefer’s Foods (218-963-2401) Fishing just keeps going and going. It has been awesome for the largemouth bass. Gull, Hubert, Whitefish, and North Long have all produced some great trips for our guides. Pitching jigs tipped with plastics or minnows has been working. Weedlines are holding the largest concentrations of fish. We had a trip earlier this week where the guide and customers started the morning by catching about 60 bass and then switched lakes and went chasing pike. After another 40 fish they called it a day. They slept good that night, a 100 fish day can really where out the cranking arms. The pike fishing continues to go pretty good on Gull, Whitefish, and Lake Edwards. Lindy rigs or spinner rigs have produced along the deep weedlines. We've found pike from the weed edges out to 32 feet. You can also catch them with a bobber rig and a big sucker minnow. Coming up are the dog days of summer. Look for the big pike to get very active. The walleye fishing is still a little spotty. Seems like we are still catching a few here and there along with the other species. But it seems a little tougher to go out and target just walleyes. Mostly we have found them hanging along the weedlines. Redtail chubs or leeches have been working best. The evening bite has been a little better than the day bite. We did have one lucky customer hook a dandy 27-incher the other day out on a trip with Todd. Catch and release is a big reason why our fishing continues to be the best in the nation. Let them go so they can grow. The big sunfish have been tearing up leeches and worms. Many lakes are going good for panfish. Some of the best are North Long, Gull, Hubert, Cullen, and Whitefish. You can find sunnies on the weed edge in 12-16 feet.Crappies are starting bite in the evenings in 12 feet of water. Northland Thumper jigs are the ticket.

LAKE OSAKIS - Holiday Resort, Adam, 115 miles west of Twin Cities on I-94W, take 71N to Co Rd 10W to Falcon Dr in Osakis (320-859-4360) Guys are picking up a few walleyes in 12 to 14 feet on the bars. The sunnies are everywhere, mainly in 12 to 16 feet of water. The crappies have been hard to find on the north end. And a few nice northerns have been picked up trolling.

PARK RAPIDS – Delaney’s Sport Center, Kevin, East 1st St (218-732-4281) The walleye bite has still been the best on Long Lake on the deep weed edges. The Crow Wing Chain has been good for northerns in 14 to 16 feet of water and switching between spoons and cranks. For bass, it’s been good action everywhere. Fishhook and Big Man Trap are a few lakes to try. Jig worms and spinner baits are working well. For panfish action, look to Long Lake. Some nice gills are coming out from 14 to 16 feet of water. And the trout lakes are producing a good bite.

PELICAN RAPIDS – Park Region Sport Shop, Lee Brenna, Intersection of Interstate 59 and 108 in downtown Pelican Rapids (800-962-8553) There was a good walleye bite last weekend on Lida, and it’s still going strong. Lots of fish are being caught and it’s an all leech bite. The bluegills are biting well too; they are in the deeper cabbage weeds. Guys are using small leeches or waxies for them. The smallmouth bass bite has been good on Lizzie and Lida. Haven’t heard any muskie reports really yet. The northerns are biting everywhere and everything. Work the tops of the weeds.

RAINY LAKE – Rainy Lake Tourism (1-800-FALLS-MN) Walleye have transitioned to the deeper waters and can be found on submerged reefs and structure somewhere between 30 and 36 feet of water. There are some great spots on the east end of the lake such as Blueberry or Big Island, Saginaw Bay or the reefs near Kettle Falls. Areas to try in the west end of the lake would include Community Reef, Olson’s Reef or the Fox Islands. Some walleye have also been caught on the weedy edges near the mouths of Cranberry and Lost Bay. Smallmouth are biting both above and below the dam at International Falls and walleye fishing in the river has been best in 12-to-14 feet of water, especially where there’s current, such as near the dam, the Manitou or Long Sault Rapids and the confluences of the Big Fork and Littlefork Rivers. Sturgeon season is also open, and the fishing has been good with large sucker minnows in about 15 feet of water. There are special regulations and tags necessary, please take time to review the rules.

RED WING – Ike's Bait & Tackle, Ken, 2109 Old W Main St, Red Wing (651- 388-2111) The northerns at the Rush and Pine River mouths continue to bite well. They are hanging out in that shallow cooler spring water where the rivers dump into the Mississippi. Large red eyes and sucker minnows seem to be working the best. The sauger and walleyes are biting in the deeper 18 to 22 foot holes out in Pepin. Guys are pulling plugs through them and picking up some nice 10 pound plus walleyes. The crappie bite has been good in the backwaters and the smallies are on the rock piles in 10 to 18 feet of water.

SAINT CLOUD – Stop Light Bait, 8th Avenue SE, St. Cloud (320-255-9689) Fish in the Mississippi River are still biting. The lower river levels are pulling a lot of the fish into the deeper holes. Smallmouth bass, walleyes and catfish are providing most of the action. Sunfish are still biting on Clearwater, Sugar and Cedar lakes. Bass and northerns are biting on Pearl and Clearwater lakes. We still have bulk leeches in stock, available by the dozen, half pound or one pound quantities. Also stop by Big Sandy Sports and Pizza on Hwy 65 at Big Sandy Lake. On Big Sandy Lake, the walleyes are biting in the early morning and late evenings. Try 13 to 15 feet of water. Crappies and bass fishermen have been working the docks lately with nice fish being caught. Bass have been also biting well in Browns Bay.

SAINT PETER – Hermie's Bait, Brad, 43539 French Hill Rd. St.Peter MN 56082 (507-931-6875) The cats are biting on the Minnesota River on cut bait and big suckers. We had some nice ones caught out here in the past few days, a 40# and a 36#. The sunnies are biting on German Lake; they are about 3 to the pound. On East Jefferson, the northerns are biting on spoons and plugs. The walleyes are biting on Washington Lake on the 2nd point casting stick baits early in the morning or late at night.

SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA – Axel's Tackle Box, Axel, 2 blocks north of Hwy 60 on Hwy 13, next to Casey’s, on Lake Sakatah in Waterville (507-362-4444) Lake Tetonka has been doing well, crappies near the beach, northerns in the bay near the DNR and walleye near the rock pile close to the buoys. German and Jefferson are doing well at giving up sunnies and let’s not forget the good old bullhead, oh by the way; my daughter does the bullhead cleaning for us and will even bag and chill them until you are ready to go home. Clear Lake in Waseca is doing well with crappies and sunnies.

WACONIA - Mase’s In Towne Marine, Cindy, corner of Lake and Elm (952-442-2096) The northerns are a little slower. The sunnies are in 5 to 10 feet of water and some are our on the reefs too. The bass are in the shallows along the docks and out in the deeper water on the reefs. For muskie action, there is not too much to report. Guys are working the weed beds, but we are not hearing anything of any fish being caught. The walleyes are biting right at dark and into the night in about 15 to 18 feet of water on the reef weedlines.

WINNIBIGOSHISH – Walleye Visions, Tom Neustrom, 21622 Airport Rd, Grand Rapids (218-327-2312) The weather has finally settled down and getting to the walleyes on Big Winnie this last week was better. We have had good deep water fishing on the humps and bars and there seems to be a shoreline bite that is appearing on a day to day basis. The deep bite has been a tale of finding spots with little or no bait and believe me there is an abundance of small perch minnows out in the deep water that is huge. Many of the walleyes that we are catching are coughing up numbers of these small minnows when they are brought to the surface. The best key to success has been to find fish on your depthfinder and then fish them very patiently. Crawlers this past week outfished leeches, and in the shallow water there has been several nice keeper walleyes taken on jig and minnow on the North Shore. Slip Bobber fishing with a leech did well this last weekend in the MTT Walleye Tournament, especially up on Raven's Point. My guide partner Charlie Worrath and myself were fortunate to win the Tamarac Walleye Classic this past weekend, with 54 teams in attendance. We caught all our fish deep in 20-23 feet on very small humps on the North end. The northern pike fishing has been very good with nice pike showing up on the west side of the Lake around Sugar Lake, Mallard, and Third River Bay. Spoons have done the most damage, Husky Jerks also, a soaking Sucker Minnows under a bobber has also done well. The weather is warm and the fishing continues to be good.