Outdoors Weekly Fish Tales Archive

September 14, 2007

ANNANDALE - B.J.'s Bait & Tackle, Bill, west side of Clearwater Lake, between the two public accesses, www.bjsbait.com (320-274-3730) The crappie bite has picked upon the weedlines in about 10 to 12 feet of water with minnows. They’ve been catching sunnies on worms in 10 to 12 feet of water, a lot of nicer sized ones lately. The walleyes are biting out in 20 to 25 feet of water with deep running shads and cranks. The northerns are biting all over from the shallow weeds to deeper water on cranks and spinners.

ANOKA - Action's Fishing, Jack, 809 West Hwy 10, www.actionsfishing.com (763-422-4890) Fishing was once again fantastic last weekend. Smallies on the Rum and Miss. hitting redtails. Sunfish hitting on small crawlers and waxworms on Green, Ann, Peltier and Little Lakes. Crappies still being caught at the Coon Rapids Dam.

BATTLE LAKE - Ben's Bait & Tackle, Josie, Junction of Hwy 78 and 210 (218-864-5596) The walleyes continue to bite well on Ottertail with minnows. Try in 7 to 11 feet of water when window and 16 to 22 feet down when calm. And guys are also having luck with crank baits. On West Battle, look for the walleyes in 17 to 30 feet of water, on Stalker Lake the walleyes are in 18 to 24 feet of water and biting on minnows. The bass continue to hit everything along the weeds; some of the better lakes are Eagle, Clitheral, S. Turtle. The northerns are biting on the weedlines in about 15 to 20 feet of water trolling cranks and minnows on Ottertail, West Battle, Clitheral and Silver. The sunnies are in 6 to 12 feet of water and biting on crawlers and leeches. Try W. Battle, Star, Clitheral and Fiske. For crappies, the only lake we’ve heard of anything happening on is West Battle. They have been getting them in 15 to 25 feet of water and they’ve been suspended about 3 to 4 feet off the bottom.

BEMIDJI - Bluewater Bait & Sports, Mark Cook, 1 mile north of the Hwy 2 & 71 Intersection, www.bluewater-bait.com (218-444-2248) The walleyes are slipping into deeper water, 20 to 40 feet deep. Redtails with live bait rig or jig and a fathead are working. The panfish front has quieted down. Hunters are hitting the bears pretty hard, good numbers so far this year. The grouse numbers are up again this year and the opener should be a good one.

BLACKDUCK - Timberline Sport & Tackle, Carl Adams, Junction of Hwy 71 and Blackduck Lake Rd. (218-835-4636) The walleyes are biting on Blackduck in about 12 feet of water and shallower with a jig and a minnow and some are now having luck trolling with cranks in 10 to 12 feet of water. The area panfish lakes are ok, we have heard of some good reports. The bear numbers registered are very good and the reports of hitting baits are good too.

BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA - S & W Bait and Tackle - Home of Walleye Dans Guide Service 7 1/2 miles North of Brainerd on the East side of Hwy 371 (218) 829-7010 www.sandwbait.com & www.walleyedan.com

CHISAGO CITY - Frankie's Live Bait and Marine, Brad, Corner of Hwy 8 and CR 77, www.frankies.net (651-257-6334) On Chisago between the A-frame and the island there is still a great bite going on. And also off Nelson Bar on N. Center Lake, the sunnies and crappies are biting in the same water and the occasional walleye is being picked up too. In general the overall walleye bite has been tough, but the cooler temps should turn the lake over soon and then the fall bite will get going. The bass bite has been good on all area lakes.

CROSBY - Oars-N-Mine Bait and Tackle, Jesse Williams, 22640 Hwy 6 N (218-546-6912) Fishing overall has picked up nicely after a little “dog-days lull” and couldn’t have come at a better time. Walleye action on Rabbit and Serpent has started to heat up, and action on the Mississippi has stayed consistent. This has been a jig bite for the most part. Trout action had been extremely slow, but now some reports are starting to make their way back in, with some nice fish being caught by some locals this last week. Panfish have been pretty good for most, with the river still giving up some beauties. Fish a 1/32 oz jig tipped with a grub or a minnow along the rice or logjams for the best action here. Smallmouths are still biting strong on the Mississippi, with topwaters still producing the best bite. Largemouth bass are still being caught over the weeds with spinnerbaits during the daytime hours, and even a few have been caught in deep water with plastics still. Pike action has been OK, with the best bite yet to come in some of the shallow, weedy bays as the lakes start to turn. Musky action has not slowed a bit, with cranks producing more follows and strikes than bucktails as of late. Goose hunters have reported mixed results, with more good shoots than bad and good numbers of birds in the area. We are looking forward to a great grouse season as well! Stop in for the up-to-the-minute report 7 days a week!

CROSSLAKE - Holiday of Cross Lake, 35610 Cty. Rd. 66 Crosslake, Lee (218-692-2708) Held’s Guide Service (218-820-0989) Walleye action has picked up on Whitefish Chain and Crosslake with the colder weather. Anglers are having success using Lindy-rigs with Red-Tails in 24 to 30 feet of water during the early morning or evening hours. Northern Pike action has been great with spinner rigs & large pike minnows or spinner baits worked along outside weed line and out into 30 feet of water Also try Rapala crank baits trolled in 20 to 30 feet of water. Bass are hitting surface baits and plastic worms. The bigger fish seen to be found along the outside weed edge. Spinner baits or worm rigs have been the hot ticket.Crappie and panfish action has been good with fish been taken in 18 to 20 feet of water. Try small jigs and waxworms or minnows.

DULUTH - Fisherman's Corner, Scott, 7 miles north of Miller Mall on Hwy 53, www.fishycorner.com (218-729-5369) Boulder Lake has been a hot bite for crappies and the walleyes are also biting on rainbow chub minnows in 5 to 7 feet of water in rocky areas. Island Lake has also been good in the early morning or late evenings in 16 to 20 feet of water. Lake Superior continues to be good a couple of miles out from the pumping station in about 120 feet of water and the coho are biting up the shore to Two Harbors.

DULUTH - Marine General, 1501 London Road, on the edge of Lake Superior, www.marinegeneral.com (218-724-8833) The lake trout continue to bite well on Lake Superior in about 40 to 80 feet of water from the Lester River to Grand Marias. The salmon are biting out of Two Harbors and north, they are averaging 7 to 10 pounds. On the south shore they are a little bigger, up to 15 pounds. The walleyes on the south shore are biting great and they are in the harbor too. Everything glow, spoons and sticks, are working good.

ELY-Babes 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) Walleyes are beginning to bunch up, and where you find one, there surely are more close at hand. The eyes are moving a bit deeper, a trend that will end in the deepest holes the area lakes have to offer. Right now though the best catch rates are coming from lakes like Shagawa, White Iron, and to a lesser extent Burntside. Try fishing the 12-20 foot breaks, where hard rocky bottoms give way to mud and sand. This transition may be difficult to find if you don't have a good quality bottom machine, but do your homework, check the charts and even ask the locals where these areas are and save yourself a lot of time searching, and a lot of that high priced fuel in the process. We now are getting back to jigs and spinners with a half crawler or minnow trailer. Slow trolled crankbaits are also producing a few nice fish. Slow down your presentation, as the fish tend to prefer this tactic right now. The smallies are dropping down a bit in the water column too, so select baits that will get down to the 8-15 foot range. Big lipped cranks and jig and tube combos really work for those football shaped rocket powered eating machines. The northern pike seem to respond to the cooler temps by putting on the feedbag. They still are in their skinny water haunts, and can't seem to resist BIG shallow running crankbaits, spoons, and the deadliest of all, sucker minnows under a bobber.

FOREST LAKE - Mikes Bait on 8, 1/2 mile east of 35 on Hwy 8, Rich (651-464-5150) The walleyes are starting to pick up, the water temp has dropped about 15 degrees in the last couple of weeks. The walleyes have been biting on Forest, Clear and Green Lakes. The panfish are still biting going, the crappies are suspended in the deeper water and the sunnies are in the shallows. The muskie bite has been the best in the evenings. The bass and northerns are both biting great right now. For northerns guys are bobber fishing with sucker minnows.

GREY EAGLE - Nancy's Bait & Tackle, Rex, 4 miles east of the Rock Tavern on Big Birch Lake, 4 miles west of Upsala (320-285-2405) They’ve been starting to catch walleyes on Big and Little Birch again. The bite has shifted to fatheads and shiners. Big Swan has been the best around for sunfish, and some on Mound too. The bass are biting well all over; the smallies are really biting on the Mississippi. On Lake Alexander, the walleyes are going crazy for red tails, there have been many nice limits being caught. Shamineau Lake continues to be the spot for muskies and they are starting to bite on Buckhorn too. The walleye bite is just starting to get going for the fall as the temps continue to cool off.

HACKENSACK - Swanson's Bait & Tackle, Jim Tuller, Hwy 371 on the north end of Hackensack, www.swansonsbait.com (218-675-6176) As the water is cooling down the walleyes are once again getting active. Nightcrawlers have still been doing well and minnows are really starting to pick the Walleyes up. Fatheads have been the most popular choice. Birch Lake and Woman Lake have both produced a few 'eyes the past few days on fatheads. Leech Lake Walleyes are hungry for redtails and still some night crawlers. The main lake has been the most productive. Perch fishing on Leech Lake has heated up as the temps cool. Fatheads and waxworms are the ticket there. Fishing the weedy flats in 10-14 feet of water are where most of the fish are being caught. Muskie are also starting to show up more aggressively. I have heard from a number of people that they are seeing more fish now then they did all summer. The fish that they are seeing are also much more aggressive than before. Boating multiple fish in one day has not been unheard of. Bucktails and large spinerbaits are the lures to throw right now. To get back to our smaller bodies of water, sunfish are biting on waxies and small night crawlers on most lakes. Spend some time at it and don't be afraid to move every 10 minutes if you are not catching big fish, you will find nice sunnies. Enjoy the weekend and Good Luck Fishing!

KABETOGAMA-NAMAKAN - Gateway Store, Phil Hart, US Hwy 53 & Co Rd 122, 30 miles south of Int'l Falls-Canadian border, kabfishingreport.com (218-875-2121) Long awaited rainfall came this last week along with major temperature fluctuations. As per the norm, 50 degree temperature changes in 48 hours slows down the bite. Shallow water fish moved deep challenging anglers for all species. Last weekend anglers reported success again on reef edges or wind blown structure at depths of 26-35' on Kab and similar depths on Namakan. Minnows remain the best bait choice, pick your presentation, slip sinker rig or ball jig, change colors or snell lengths to entice the walleyes and saugers. Northern pike will be roaming the week edges, troll or cast lures at the edges or over the tops of submerged weeds. Another fall favorite for fishing pike is to use sucker minnow with a slip bobber. Shorelines or an opening in weed patches will get you plenty of action. Smallmouth season comes to a close September 10th on Kabetogama, except for catch and release. Anglers are using deeper diving lure to tempt the smallies. Rock structures or rocky shorelines your best choice 12-18 should be a good depth. Namakan bass season remains open year around, understand your regulations when traveling between Kabetogama and Namakan with bass in possession after the September 10th close. The burning ban imposed on St. Louis County and Voyageurs National Pack has been lifted. Campers may now enjoy there evening campfire again. Bear hunting is now in its second week, it appears that the kill ratio for hunter is ahead of last year in this area. Grouse season opens this coming weekend and it looks like all conditions will be favorable for hunters. Grouse counts are up so hunters should meet with success.

LAKE OF THE WOODS - Area Tourism Bureau, Denelle Hovde , near Junction of Hwy 11 and Hwy 172 in Baudette, www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com (1-800-382-FISH) The fall fishing action at Lake of the Woods is in full swing as the shiners start to run in the Rainy River. There is a nice school of walleye outside the gap, and the walleye have returned to the south shore of the lake. The best action has been in 23-30 feet of water from the Lighthouse Gap to the Morris Point Gap. The shiners are running wild in the Rainy River! Anglers have been catching smaller walleye and sauger but with the shiner activity that will soon change. 12-16 feet of water has been giving up some nice walleye. The Northwest Angle and Islands is still giving up some nice walleye around the reefs and rocks in 28-31 feet. As the temperature cools the Island muskie should become more active.

LEECH LAKE - Anderson's Resorts, Tim, www.andersonsleech-lake.com (1-800-516-0077) Leech Lake has had a great week. Muskies are biting great mostly top water. Walleyes are switching over to a minnow bite - the bigger the better. If big perch get you excited then you're in for a great couple weeks coming up. The numbers are back, pick your favorite bay and start fishing. We also had a Bass tournament last week it turned out great. I heard many times that they were very impressed with the size and numbers that we have to offer. Come enjoy Leech Lake with Us!

METRO AREA EAST - Blue Ribbon Bait & Tackle, Oakdale, Josh, www.blueribbonbait.com (651-777-2421) Pool 2 on the Mississippi has been good for walleyes, sauger and white bass. The muskies are biting on Bald Eagle and Forest Lake. Lake Jane has been good for bass fishing with top water baits. In general, all topwater bass fishing has heated up.

MILLE LACS LAKE – Chris Kuduk’s Guide Service (320-630-1761) The walleyes are biting on the rocks and a bunch of smallies too in Browns. Lots of 2 pound smallies were caught trolling rapalas. Some nice big muskies were caught last week; give me a call to get your trip booked this year still. There is still plenty of good fishing to come.

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

MILLE LACS LAKE – Johnson's Portside, Kelly or Steve, 1 mile north of Isle on Hwy 47 SE side of the lake, www.johnsonsportside.com (320-676-3811) With Labor Day gone and summer behind us, we dwell upon the fall bite. My predictions are that the bite will be great. We still have the slot to deal with, but never the less the fishing must go on. Start looking for a more active bite as the water temps start to fall. As of Sunday the water temp was a chilled 68 degrees. The fish are starting to move in, so start your fishing in the eves on the shallow rocks 12 feet or so pulling some crank baits. Muskies are all over the north end.

LAKE MINNETONKA - Wayzata Bait & Tackle, Tim or Bob, half mile west off I-494 on Hwy 12 (952-473-2227) The recreational boating traffic is way down now as the cool temps have everyone getting their boats out and covered. Now is the time for the fisherman to get out on the lake for some of the best fishing in the metro area. The water temps are down to about 70 and should continue to get lower. The muskie action has been good and the bass action has been great.

LAKE MINNETONKA – Minnetonka Outdoors, Gary or Gregg, south frontage road to Hwy 7 between Vine Hill Rd & Old Market Blvd in Shorewood, www.minnetonkaoutdoors.com (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, www.sportlandbait.com (218-963-2401) Call us for a report!

LAKE OSAKIS – Buck Point Resort on the N.W. corner of the lake, Brad, 115 miles west of Twin Cities on I-94W, take Hwy 3 North out of Osakis to Hwy 10 West, www.lakeosakisresorts.com (320-859-2530) Some sunnies are being caught off Coon Point and the northerns are biting on the weed edges along with a few walleyes. As for crappies, we haven’t heard much on them.

PELICAN RAPIDS - Park Region Sport Shop, Lee Brenna, Intersection of Interstate 59 and 108 in downtown Pelican Rapids (218-863-5701) It was another great week of fishing. Good walleye and crappie bite going on Lida in 15 to 18 feet of water for walleyes and the crappies are in the same water just suspended up about 12 feet down. Also try Pelican and Franklin for walleyes. For muskies, they must be biting out there… we are selling a lot of decoys, they are live baiting on Beers Lake. Fall walleyes are happening; I’ve got some great shore fishing opportunities for you too, stop in and talk to Lee.

RAINY LAKE - Rainy Lake Tourism, www.rainylake.org (1-800-FALLS-MN) Cooler, windier weather had made fishing Rainy Lake a bit more challenging. However, crappie is biting in Sand Bay and Black Bay and walleye are being caught on the east end reefs. Blueberry Island and the Fox Islands have also been popular spots. The best bet seems to be a jig and minnow combination. Smallmouth bass are being caught near weedy edges in the lake and in areas of swifter current in the river. Rainy River is also showing some good walleye fishing near any of the rapids and the confluences of the Big Fork and Littlefork Rivers. For river walleyes, try a shiner minnow on a spinner rig. Bear hunters have been doing well in the area, and grouse hunters are looking forward to the start of the small game season. Drumming counts for grouse are up. Grouse populations follow a boom and bust cycle, and this year’s anticipated increases should signal the start of a population boom.

RED WING - Ike's Bait & Tackle, Ken, 2109 Old W Main St, Red Wing (651- 388-2111) The walleyes and sauger are moving up into rocky areas near Maple Springs, catching fish on hair jig and a minnow. Bass are still down in the rocks by Pine Creek. And the northerns are biting by the mouth of the Rush and Pine Rivers, catching them on large redeye spoons and daredevils and large sucker minnows. Panfish are still biting good in Baypoint park, in about two weeks as the water temp keeps going down, it will be really good.

SAINT CLOUD ¬ Stop Light Bait, 45 8th Avenue SE, St. Cloud (320-255-9689) Stoplight bait is under new ownership. We will be selling hunting and fishing licenses again soon. We are re-stocking and improving our entire store and we will again be taking deer hides this fall. The sunfish have been biting on Briggs and Pearl Lakes and the Horseshoe chain. Panfish leeches and wax worms have been catching a lot of fish lately. The crappie bite on the Mississippi River has slowed a little with our latest weather change. Fathead and crappie minnows and tube jigs are catching the fish. Look for submerged vegetation and rocks. The walleye bite on the river was not as strong as it was, try vertical jigging with fatheads. Smallmouth bass fishing closed on Sept 10th, but you can still catch and release the fish. We are hoping for a steady weather pattern to improve the upcoming fall fishing bite even more. We still have panfish, medium and jumbo leeches in stock and available in any quantity you’d like.

SAINT PETER - Hermies Bait, Brad, 43539 French Hill Rd. St.Peter MN 56082 (507-931-6875) Some eyes are biting on Madison in the narrows at night casting cranks in rocks. Sunnies are biting at Clear Lake at Lexington and a few crappies on 3rd point on Lake Washington.

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, www.axelstacklebox.com (507-362-4444) This past week on Tetonka has been dynamite, crappies and sunnies some quite large have been taken by waxies and minnows. A few walleye have been taken in the deeper water by using floating jigs. Sakatah has started to pick up some action under the Hwy 13 bridge. Bass, both large and smallmouth are being reported daily hitting on worms and spinners. Northern action has slowed a bit but still are hitting spoons and buzz baits.

WACONIA - Mase's In Towne Marine, Cindy, corner of Lake and Elm (952-442-2096) We had a good bass weekend, they were biting in Waconia bay along the weedline on jigs and plastics and spinners. As for muskies, we had a 46 and a 44 incher come through... one caught on a bucktail in Waconia Bay and the other on a top water lure on the south side off the island. The sunnies are shallow up by Pillsbury and West Center Reefs in 10 to 14 feet of water. Some walleyes are being caught off the reefs, not much on numbers though.

WINNIBIGOSHISH – Walleye Visions, Tom Neustrom, 21622 Airport Rd, Grand Rapids www.mnfishingpros.com (218-327-2312) The fish on Winnie are still shallow, most often in 6 to 8 feet of water in weeds. They’ve been catching them on green or watermelon fireball jigs tipped with chubs. Best luck has come working the north shore and east on the highbanks. The walleyes have also started to filter into Cutfoot. The best depths are 12 to 14 feet on any of the gravel humps and points. Some anglers are using crawlers and rigs, and some are using jig and minnow. The crappies have started to move a little deeper and have been more cooperative and will get better with the cooler weather.