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July 3, 2009 - check back for updates!

ANNANDALE - B.J.'s Bait & Tackle, Bill, west side of Clearwater Lake, between the two public accesses, www.bjsbait.com (320-274-3730) Sunnies best in shallow water using nighcrawlers or waxworms. Pike hitting medium sucker minnows from 10-15 feet. Crappies moved into deeper water. Open 6 am - 9 pm on the 4th of July!

BATTLE LAKE - Ben's Bait & Tackle, Josie, Junction of Hwy 78 and 210 (218-864-5596) Walleyes slowed a little with the mayfly hatch. Anglers are catching them 15-22 feet. A lot of lakes still going on minnows, other days leeches or crawlers working. Better lakes are Battle (leeches), Ottertail, East Battle, Star. Pike anglers are fishing the weedline in 15-16 feet using sucker minnow or daredevils. Lakes to try are Clitheral, Battle, West Battle, Ottertail, South Turtle. Bass being caught in the shallows using buzzbaits or frogs under docks. Try Stalker, Clitheral, Battle. Sunnies hitting on West Battle, Star, Dead, in 10-15 feet using leeches or nightcrawlers. Crappies slowed a little but anglers are catching some in 15 feet, 9-10 feet down suspended. Try West Battle, Dead, Star for crappies.

BEMIDJI - Bluewater Bait & Sports, Mark Cook, 136 Peaceful Meadows Ln., Hwy 197 South on the Hwy 2 Junction, www.bluewater-bait.com (218-444-2248) Walleye action is consistent. Try the Cass Lake Chain, Plantagenette, Bemidji. Best with crawlers or crankbaits. Call us for updates.

BLACKDUCK - Timberline Sport & Tackle, Carl Adams, Junction of Hwy 71 and Blackduck Lake Rd. (218-835-4636) Despite last weekend's windy weather, the bite on Blackduck has been pretty good. Some anglers catching their limits, fish moved into the weeds or on top of the bars in 5-12 feet. Leeches or crawlers working well, cranks in the evenings. Panfish hitting on North and South Twin, Rabideau, Pimusche or Gull. Try waxies, small plastics, small leeches or a piece of a nightcrawler.

BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA - S&W Bait and Tackle - Home of Nisswa Guide League and the S&W Guide Service, Located on Hwy 371, 7 ½ miles north of Brainerd and 7 ½ south of Nisswa, exactly halfway, www.sandwbait.com (218-829-7010) We have finally gotten a day were the wind is not blowing at 20-30 mph. The walleye bite has been tough on area lakes. We have been finding them from right on the edge of the weeds all the way to 20 feet of water. You can pick off a couple here and there but you will work for them. Shiners have been working well and keeping them alive has been a little easier with the cooler water. Look to redtails as the water starts to warm up. The water in the main basins is running about 60 degrees. Look at Gull, North Long or Pelican for the most consistent bite. The crappie bite is still going strong. They are still in the shallows looking for an easy meal. Some of the smaller lakes have water in the 62-66 degree mark making find crappies easy. Look for them to spawn soon if they have not already. Minnows and puddle jumpers seem to work the best.

CHISAGO CITY - Frankie's Live Bait and Marine, Brad, Corner of Hwy 8 and CR 77, www.frankies.net (651-257-6334) Bass are hot this week on all area lakes especially Sunrise. Also try Chisago, the weedline has been best with a jigworm in 8-10 feet. A few walleyes hitting on South Center, early morning and late evenings. They are a little fussy, but try right on the weedline or deep. Panfish action good on all area lakes. Crappies are suspended in 20 feet, only down 4-6 feet.

CROSBY - Oars-N-Mine Bait and Tackle, Jesse Williams, 22640 Hwy 6 N (218-546-6912) The recent warm weather has the fish going again! Smallmouth have been slammin' on the rocks on Clearwater and Serpent as well as in the holes on the Pine and Mississippi Rivers. Largemouth bass are picking up plastics fished along the weed edges and spinnerbaits worked over the weeds on Rabbit, Serpent, Upper/Lower Mission and Horseshoe lakes. For pike, try trolling big crankbaits in 16-20 feet on East Rabbit. Walleyes have just been so-so, but your best bet for a good bite would be on Pelican the last 2 hours of daylight fishing Lindy Rigs and crawlers in 24-28 feet. Trout have been most active in the early morning down around 20' over 80-120 feet, try jigging with panfish setups tipped with a chunk of nightcrawler or a couple wax worms. Some musky sightings on Cedar, warmer temps should have them going in the next week or two.

CROSSLAKE - Holiday of Cross Lake, 35610 Cty. Rd. 66 Crosslake, Lee (218-692-2708) Walleye action is changing as fast as the weather each front coming through has had an affect on the bite. Whitefish and Pelican continue to delivery walleyes in 22 to 28 feet of water on leeches and lindy rigs or bobber rigs. Bass action continues to be good with fish hitting spinner baits, plastic frogs and worm rigs fished along the weed lines and docks.  Smallmouth is being found on the rocks on the Whitefish chain. Northern have been hitting spinner baits and spoons worked along the weedlines. Crappie action has been good with fish moving in 8 to 14 feet of water. Try small jigs tipped with minnows, gulp minnows or waxworms. Big sunfish are also being caught in 12 to 14 of water next to and in the weeds.

DULUTH - Marine General, 1501 London Road, on the edge of Lake Superior, www.marinegeneral.com (218-724-8833) Anglers catching walleyes up river and down river, they are pretty spread out. On the big lake, fish are still shallow suspended in 20 feet in 90 feet. Try running spoons in orange or chartreuse off downriggers. Try Boulder for walleyes. Water still cold, fish are still shallow, starting to warm up so fish should be moving deeper soon.

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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, www.babesbait.com (218-365-6930) For those who enjoy fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass, now is the time to score big on these aerial acrobats. The bass are on their beds and as aggressive as they get. Try the shallow gravel beds and transition areas close to shore. Most top water and shallow running baits are being used with good success. Some anglers are also tagging them using live baits put within striking distance of the beds.  The crappie spawn is in full swing as well. Fish small minnows in the shallows near weeds or other brushy cover. Jigs with either minnows or small plastic tubes worked near the spawning areas work well. Big walleyes are still being caught on leeches, crawlers on a harness or slow trolled minnows. They're scattered throughout the water column from six to twenty-six feet of water. Watch your fish finder and make note of the depth that you mark fish and concentrate your efforts there. Pike are readily hitting spinners as well as cranks worked in the five to fifteen foot range. June 29: Basswood has slowed a bit. Some fish still being caught in the paddle-only areas. Shagawa still turning out some nice lunker eyes, but not many eaters. Pike are as aggresive as ever and quite a good number coming out of area lakes, especially Garden, White Iron and Fall. The smallmouths are fanning beds on most lakes and the shallower ones have the spawn going on. Easy marks for a well placed lure or leech under a bobber. Crappie spawn is kicking in with some big females being caught full of eggs. Please let these breeders go. Get a quick photo then gently return them to the water. It's an awesome fishery and we need to protect it. Mention that you read it here and we'll give you a scoop of crappie minnows free with each one you buy. Rapala sale coming soon!

GLENWOOD - Fish On Bait & Sport, Kyle, 201 S Franklin St, 2 blocks south of stoplights in Glenwood, www.habitatnow.com (320-634-3667) Evening and night fishing for walleyes is the best way to go on Minnewaska. They eyes are in shallow feeding on lake shiners and minnows as the shiners move in and up streams to spawn...the walleyes follow the food source. Slow troll with an F11 Vampire or bobber fish with a shiner or fathead should produce some great fishing. During the day it seems like reports are scattered... 8-10 feet and even out to 21-24 feet. Reno has been doing really well on shiners and leeches. Several good reports from Reno. If you are looking for a great fishing and some nice family fun... plan a trip to Lake Minnewaska... it is hard not to catch fish! Fish On has a good supply of crappie minnows, fatheads, shiners, suckers, crawlers, angle worms and waxies on hand.

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) Panfish bite is excellent on Little Birch, Swan, Moose. Walleye bite best on Long up by the Hub Supper Club with crawlers and leeches. Fair walleye bite on Big and Little Birch, biting 3-4 days a week, using jigs with rainbows and river chubs or shiners and redtails and also leeches. Walleyes also hitting on Cedar Lake by Upsala and also some big pike. Try bobber fishing with suckers. Muskies hitting on Buckhorn, need to have a boat to carry in, poor access, call or stop in the store for directions from Rex. The bass bite has been phenomenal! Try Birch, Swan, Mound, Cedar. Largemouth best on Little Birch Lake. We have a fishing contest this weekend! Fish any lake in the area, stop in to get bait and register! We will be giving out $25 for biggest sunfish, bass, and crappie!

HACKENSACK - Swanson's Bait & Tackle, Jim Tuller, Hwy 371 on the north end of Hackensack, www.swansonsbait.com (218-675-6176) The wind has been howling the last three days making it tough to get out and fish.  It is supposed to lay down either this evening or tomorrow.  The fish will be hungry and waiting.  The anglers that did go out in the wind have done well.  The Walleyes went on a active feeding session as the wind picked up and are doing quite well still.  Leech Lake, Ten Mile, and Woman Lakes are the ones that I have been hearing about.  The depth has ranged from 10-40 feet of water depending on the spot and the time of day.  Daytime depths range between 18 and 30 or 40 feet, evening and night bites have been in 10-20 feet of water.  Trolling in the evenings and into the night is productive, crappie reports have also been good.  Fishing with a slip bobber over the cabbage weed beds in12-18 feet has been productive.  Crappie minnows and a small jig is the best presentation.  Bass are also hitting hard.  Birch Lake, Pleasant Lake, and Ten Mile Lake just to name a few.  The water has warmed, averaging in the low to mid 70's but the bass can still be found in the shallow weeds and slop as well as on the deeper water edges and breaks.  Jig worm combos or spinnerbaits have been working well.  Northland Slurpies Dipstick Worm and Ring Worm are luring the Big Bass to bite when fished on a jig, there are several different types of jigs and weedless hooks that will work for the worms, if you are unsure of what to use, stop in and we will show you how to rig the different jigs. The spinnerbait approach has required a fairly neutral color, mostly natural with a little bit of bright colors on it, cast into the reeds and retrieved quickly.  Heavy Superlines such as Stren Spiderwire or Berkley Fireline is a good choice for the Bass set-ups, it will allow you to cast into the weeds with out getting the nicks in your line like you would with mon lines.  Also, due to the thinner diameters you can use a heavier line without the bulk making it easier to horse the bass out of the weeds once they have hit.  Good Luck! Have A Safe and Happy Fourth of July!!

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) 6-29-09 - Over the past ten days the mayflies have let us know they enjoy sacrificing themselves to walleyes. Apparently there weren’t enough to go around, so anglers still had some success. Many folks still fishing shallow water, less than 10’ using small jigs or pitching artificials. This shallow bite is very effective in the evenings. Surprisingly a good percentage of the catch are keepers, along with of course, many fun to catch big fish. Anglers are for the most part fishing with slip sinkers or bottom bouncers using crawlers and leeches as the number one bait choice. Colored spinners good on bright days and plain rig on overcast skies. Now that the mayfly hatch appears to be over, depths of 18’ – 28’ should be good to straddle with the current conditions and water temperatures. The pike bite is increasing everyday, spoons, jerk baits and big spinners garner the most action. Find pike now in the weedy bays and shorelines where they are seeking bait fish. Bass fishermen are in their glory, shorelines and rock piles are holding bass. They may still be chasing mayflies, but now bait fish and crayfish are favored. Plastics and shallow running artificials should prove to be successful, nearly all shorelines hold some of these predators. A reminder to Kabetogama anglers, now that Sturgeon are being caught on an occasional basis, including a 55” this last week, remember there is no open season for them on Kabetogama, and they must be released immediately. Summer’s here and we expect fishing to hold up. As of now choose whatever bait choice, including artificials, you prefer and are proficient with and head out to the lake. Best tip of all is to use the wind to your advantage, windblown bays, shores and reef edges is where your odds increase.

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) 6-29-09 - Fishing continues to be hot here at Lake of the Woods. Anglers are having huge success, both numbers and size, in anywhere from 12-32 feet of water. Anchored and jigging or drifting, depending on the wind, is showing great results using either crawlers or frozen shiners. Morris Point Gap, Zippel Bay, and the Lighthouse Gap are still the hot spots. Anglers that venture farther north are being rewarded with great numbers of fish by Garden Island and Little Oak Island. The weather looks great for the next week, so pack up the family and head to the lake!

LEECH LAKE - Anderson's Resorts, Tim, www.andersonsleech-lake.com (1-800-516-0077) Leech lake is hot. The fish are moving out to the bars and reefs, jig and minnows are still the best tactic, but as the water warms leeches and crawler will pick up. Pike and bass are also falling in line with aggressive bites.

METRO AREA EAST - Blue Ribbon Bait & Tackle, Oakdale, Josh, www.blueribbonbait.com (651-777-2421) St. Croix River has been good for walleyes. Some hot spots have been DeMontreville for crappies and bass in pretty shallow water. Anglers are catching a lot of fish at Silver, also in pretty shallow water.

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, www.johnsonsportside.com (320-676-3811) Looks like a good 4th!! The forecast for this weekend looks like a good one, I'm talking weather. The fishing forecast looks even better. Walleyes continue to bite in the evening on the shallow rocks, leeches and slip-floats are the ticket. Look to get in the shallow water reefs (6'-12') at 6 p.m. and the bite will go until dark. Trolling shad-raps can be another good tactic if the reef is crowded. The daytime bite for walleyes will find you on the deeper flats or the gravel bars. A slower presentation of lindy rigs and crawlers can put fish in the box, be willing to look for the active school of walleyes before wetting the line. Smallmouth action was great last week, a couple anglers reported boating over 30 fish for the day averaging around 18". Muskie action was quiet, but that is par for muskie anglers, even if it's a good day on the water they keep quiet. HAVE A SAFE 4TH OF JULY!!

LAKE MINNETONKA - Wayzata Bait & Tackle, Tim or Bob, half mile west off I-494 on Hwy 12 (952-473-2227) Live bait rigs working on walleyes, leeches/floaters in 18-20 feet. Anglers are catching a few bass and pike in shallow water. Try working the weed flats with a spinner/sucker in 15-28 feet. Bass hitting jig-n-pig combos in black and brown up in the weed flats. Panfish are shallow, making beds. Use waxworms and Gulp! Alive. Crappies suspended in 20 feet. Look for the big schools. Walleye anglers report catching crappies. Muskie action is really picking up. Anglers are throwing everything at them, try working the big points with a bull dawg or a cowgirl.

PARK RAPIDS – Delaney’s Sports Center, Kevin, 1100 First St. E. Park Rapids, MN 56470 (218-732-4281) Walleyes hitting best on Fish Hook in 24 feet of water on a leech or a nightcrawler. Pike best on Big Mantrap in 12 feet with sucker minnows. Panfish biting on the Crow Wing Chain of Lakes. Try 5-14 feet of water for bluegills. Crappie action best on Spider Lake in shallow water. Use crappie jigs and minnows.

RAINY LAKE - Rainy Lake Tourism, www.rainylake.org (1-800-FALLS-MN) 6-29-09 - Changing weather patterns have been turning the bite on and off on Rainy Lake. Walleye are still being caught along shorelines and near islands, but are starting to congregate around submerged reefs in the open water. When crappie are ready to feed, they have been responding to jigs and minnows. Smallmouth bass were hitting hard on top water lures when we had a few days of 80-degree weather. Work the weedlines around Jackfish Bay, Black Bay and Cranberry Bay for big pike. Rainy River has been a bit murky with the recent heavy rain and runoff. That has slowed the river fishing a bit, but it will improve as the clarity returns. Shiner minnows are the preferred bait for walleye. Above and below the rapids at Manitou and Birchdale have been pretty good spots. Look for smallmouth bass more on the east end of the river.

RED WING - Ike's Bait & Tackle, Ken, 2109 Old W Main St, Red Wing (651-388-2111) Bass are hitting in the back channel. Plugs and harnesses are working well near Lake City for walleyes. Catching 20-pound catfish in Hanson's Harbor on sucker minnows and large crawlers. Panfish are almost done spawning, moved to the marina. Crappies are in 10 feet of water.

SAINT CLOUD - Stop Light Bait, 45 8th Avenue SE, St. Cloud (320-255-9689) Sunfish are biting on Pearl, Grand, Clearwater and many other local lakes in the area. Sunfish action farther north is also good, some lakes have fish in shallow waters. The 4th of July weekend bring great fishin, timing couldn't be better. Anglers are catching crappies on Clearwater Lake, the Mississippi River and Pearl Lake. Walleye bite on the Mississippi is best late evenings and early mornings. Try Lake Reno, Alexander and Big Birch for walleyes. We continue to offer leeches in bulk quantities. Currently we have jumbo, lake run, and panfish leeches in stock. Our leeches are fresh and healthy! Pike are biting on Clearwater and Big Birch Lake. Smallmouth bass are biting like crazy on the Mississippi, many different presentations will work. Try fly fishing for smallies on the Mississippi. Clouser minnows, weighted, wooly buggers, weighted, muddler minnows and any sculpin patterns should work wonderfully. Also watch the insect hatches and find some great smallie fishing. Try some emerging patterns during this faze or work deeper runs with some larger nymphs. Visit Monticello Bait and Tackle (763-295-1187) this weekend! They have a special archery sale this weekend! Buy a new bow and get a free treestand. Fred Bear, PSE, Diamond and Parson Compound Bows. Try fishing Pelican Lake for sunfish and pike. Lake Pulasky best for walleyes. Sunfish and pike best on Little Maple Lake. Mississippi River is great for catfish, pike, walleyes, smallies. We have the freshest  bait you will need. Come in and visit!

UPPER RED LAKE - White Birch Resort, Monte Sharbono, vacation@whitebirchresort.net (218-835-4552) Fishing slowed a little with big winds last week and the cool weather. Big sunfish are starting to bite like crazy now on nightcralwers. Limits of walleyes are being caught by anglers trolling around the lake in 15 feet of water. Perch are also biting.

WACONIA - Mase's In Towne Marine, Cindy, corner of Lake and Elm, www.intownemarina.com (952-442-2096) Some huge 30-inch pike reported caught and also some big muskies starting to hit! Bass are doing well in deep water off drop offs. Weighed in a 29-inch walleye, best at night from dusk throughout the night. Sunnies are in shallows, some spawning still. There will be fireworks on the island on Sat, July 4,- watch by boat or at one of the public parks!

WINNIBIGOSHISH – Walleye Visions, Tom Neustrom, 21622 Airport Rd, Grand Rapids, tom@mnfishingconnections.com, www.mnfishingconnections.com (218-327-2312) The warm weather is finally here and all the lakes in the area will soon be effected by the warm-up. Big Winnie has been going through a later than normal transition from shallow to deep. Without a major hatch of bug life, things seem to be on track for a late jig and minnow bite, as opposed to an all crawler, leech and rig bite. I talked to a couple anglers yesterday that had a limit of walleyes for each on rigs and leeches and that was promising news for the walleyes starting to bite on their summer locations. There have also been some good reports coming from the Tamarac Flats in the evening trolling shad raps in 7-11 feet of water. The northern pike action is starting to improve with the increased weed growth and that also will be getting better as the weeks go by. The crappies and bluegills have moved out deeper after a later spawning process and look for them on the deeper weed lines in this next couple of weeks. Remember the Women on Water tournament coming to Winnie on Sunday, July 12th. It's in it's 12th year, and what a great event for the ladies. Call the Gosh Dam Place at 218-246-8202 for more information and sign up early. See you on the water.

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