T_boy
06-27-2008, 04:08 PM
Lake of the woods
Jigs, Lindy Rigs, spinners, minnows and leeches are producing limits of walleyes in no time. Work the Lighthouse Gap and Pine Island areas in 14 to 32 feet. Walleyes also are beginning to make the transition to shoreline sand and rock or rubble areas near Graceton Beach, Zippel Bay and Long Point. In the Morris Point area, spinners and leeches are working best in 12 to 14 feet. The Clementson Rapids area of the Rainy River is a safe bet for smallmouth bass and pike. At the Northwest Angle, walleyes are hitting in 8 to 17 feet of water around Oak Island and Flag Island.
Devils lake
Fishing has been nothing short of fantastic, according to Devils Lake fishing guide Mark Bry of Bry’s Guide Service. With the warm weather, the water temperature has jumped, triggering algae growth and reducing the clarity that had been a bane to fishing success until recently.
According to Bry, walleyes, white bass and northerns are all biting, and it’s common to catch all three species while working shallow bays. The key is to fish bays that are stirred up a bit and work flooded timber, weeds and gradual drop-offs. Pitching jigs and crankbaits up into the shallows and slowly retrieving them back to the boat has worked well. Using bobbers in the trees tipped with leeches also has been good, Bry said. The key with bobber fishing is to move until you locate fish, sometimes only moving a small distance or adjusting a few feet in depth will make all the difference. Don’t be afraid to pull bottom bouncers and spinners, either. Best depths for all techniques have been shallow — between 2 and 12 feet, Bry said.
Red river
The Red River is in perfect condition right now, according to local fishing guide Brad Durick. Water levels are stable and high enough to make boating easy about anywhere you want to go. Catfish are starting to spawn, so anglers can expect action to be a bit on the slower side, but those who put in their time will catch fish. During the day, look for cats on the shallow shelves near snags or deeper water. Cut sucker is still the top producing bait. Larger baits are producing better than smaller baits for bigger fish. With the warmer temperatures of the past week, catfish are moving to more of a low-light feeding pattern. That means night fishing could be a great option to catch aggressive fish. Work the flat, faster-water areas at night and keep the baits fresh.
Ramps are open and cleaned off, and fishing is pretty good so take advantage of the nice weather and enjoy the river.
Crookston area
Fishing continues to be good on area lakes such as Maple, Union and Sarah, reports Stuart Bensen, conservation officer for the Department of Natural Resources in Erskine, Minn. Rivers remain a bit high after heavy rains earlier in June, but conditions should continue to improve if the weather cooperates.
Upper red lake
Jigs and minnows or spinners and leeches are now producing consistent walleye action in 5 to 8 feet of water. The “Popples” area has been the most consistent. The south shore humps and rocks are giving up crappies on small jigs and minnows. The Tamarack River area seems to give up a few big pike every week, though action was spotty over the weekend after strong winds last week stirred up the water.
Bemidji area
During the day, live bait rigs and shiners are producing walleyes in 8 to 16 feet on Lake Bemidji and Lake Plantagenet. Shad Raps trolled in 4 to 8 feet at night have produced walleyes on both lakes. Muskies are chasing small baits on Bemidji, but few have committed. Throw spinnerbaits or top waters for bass on area lakes, and Grace Lake is kicking out panfish in shallow water.
Blackduck area
Live bait rigs and leeches are fooling walleyes on the 10-foot weedlines or 10- to 14-foot humps of Blackduck Lake. Work the 10- to 15-foot humps and bars on Gull Lake and Island Lake during the evening hours for walleyes. Gilstead Lake and Rabideau Lake continue to produce panfish in shallow water.
Cass lake area
During the day, you’ll find walleyes and perch in 12 to 14 feet or 30 to 35 feet on Cass Lake. Rapalas are a good bet for walleyes at night on Cass in 4 to 6 feet at O’Neal’s Point, Turtle River Bar and North Cedar Bar. Look to Tom’s Bar on Cass with a jig and minnow for pike. Panfish have moved to 12 to 18 feet on area lakes.
Detroit lakes
Walleyes are hitting minnows and leeches on the 11- to 16-foot weedlines of Big Detroit Lake. The 11- to 20-foot weed edges of lakes Sallie, Melissa, Big Cormorant, and Middle Cormorant also have produced walleyes. Sunfish have moved to the weedlines at Big Detroit, Melissa, Buck and Little Cormorant. Look for suspended crappies over 18 feet at Big Cormorant, Little Cormorant, Big Detroit and Sallie. Bass and pike remain active on most lakes, while Cowgirls have raised muskies on Big Detroit.
Leech lake area
Shiners and leeches are producing walleyes in 15 to 20 feet on most main-lake structure. Crankbaits also have triggered walleyes during the evening hours off the points. Look for panfish to be moving along the weedlines in most bays; muskie action remains spotty.
Lake kabetogama
During the evening hours, walleyes, saugers, pike and bass are hitting in shallow water with slip bobbers and minnows. Midday action has been best in 22 to 28 feet with a jig and minnow or leech and live-bait rig. Better areas this week have been Center Reef and the wind-driven sides of Harris, Ram and Sheep islands. Some of the best pike reports are coming out of Mud, Daily and Nebraska bays.
Jigs, Lindy Rigs, spinners, minnows and leeches are producing limits of walleyes in no time. Work the Lighthouse Gap and Pine Island areas in 14 to 32 feet. Walleyes also are beginning to make the transition to shoreline sand and rock or rubble areas near Graceton Beach, Zippel Bay and Long Point. In the Morris Point area, spinners and leeches are working best in 12 to 14 feet. The Clementson Rapids area of the Rainy River is a safe bet for smallmouth bass and pike. At the Northwest Angle, walleyes are hitting in 8 to 17 feet of water around Oak Island and Flag Island.
Devils lake
Fishing has been nothing short of fantastic, according to Devils Lake fishing guide Mark Bry of Bry’s Guide Service. With the warm weather, the water temperature has jumped, triggering algae growth and reducing the clarity that had been a bane to fishing success until recently.
According to Bry, walleyes, white bass and northerns are all biting, and it’s common to catch all three species while working shallow bays. The key is to fish bays that are stirred up a bit and work flooded timber, weeds and gradual drop-offs. Pitching jigs and crankbaits up into the shallows and slowly retrieving them back to the boat has worked well. Using bobbers in the trees tipped with leeches also has been good, Bry said. The key with bobber fishing is to move until you locate fish, sometimes only moving a small distance or adjusting a few feet in depth will make all the difference. Don’t be afraid to pull bottom bouncers and spinners, either. Best depths for all techniques have been shallow — between 2 and 12 feet, Bry said.
Red river
The Red River is in perfect condition right now, according to local fishing guide Brad Durick. Water levels are stable and high enough to make boating easy about anywhere you want to go. Catfish are starting to spawn, so anglers can expect action to be a bit on the slower side, but those who put in their time will catch fish. During the day, look for cats on the shallow shelves near snags or deeper water. Cut sucker is still the top producing bait. Larger baits are producing better than smaller baits for bigger fish. With the warmer temperatures of the past week, catfish are moving to more of a low-light feeding pattern. That means night fishing could be a great option to catch aggressive fish. Work the flat, faster-water areas at night and keep the baits fresh.
Ramps are open and cleaned off, and fishing is pretty good so take advantage of the nice weather and enjoy the river.
Crookston area
Fishing continues to be good on area lakes such as Maple, Union and Sarah, reports Stuart Bensen, conservation officer for the Department of Natural Resources in Erskine, Minn. Rivers remain a bit high after heavy rains earlier in June, but conditions should continue to improve if the weather cooperates.
Upper red lake
Jigs and minnows or spinners and leeches are now producing consistent walleye action in 5 to 8 feet of water. The “Popples” area has been the most consistent. The south shore humps and rocks are giving up crappies on small jigs and minnows. The Tamarack River area seems to give up a few big pike every week, though action was spotty over the weekend after strong winds last week stirred up the water.
Bemidji area
During the day, live bait rigs and shiners are producing walleyes in 8 to 16 feet on Lake Bemidji and Lake Plantagenet. Shad Raps trolled in 4 to 8 feet at night have produced walleyes on both lakes. Muskies are chasing small baits on Bemidji, but few have committed. Throw spinnerbaits or top waters for bass on area lakes, and Grace Lake is kicking out panfish in shallow water.
Blackduck area
Live bait rigs and leeches are fooling walleyes on the 10-foot weedlines or 10- to 14-foot humps of Blackduck Lake. Work the 10- to 15-foot humps and bars on Gull Lake and Island Lake during the evening hours for walleyes. Gilstead Lake and Rabideau Lake continue to produce panfish in shallow water.
Cass lake area
During the day, you’ll find walleyes and perch in 12 to 14 feet or 30 to 35 feet on Cass Lake. Rapalas are a good bet for walleyes at night on Cass in 4 to 6 feet at O’Neal’s Point, Turtle River Bar and North Cedar Bar. Look to Tom’s Bar on Cass with a jig and minnow for pike. Panfish have moved to 12 to 18 feet on area lakes.
Detroit lakes
Walleyes are hitting minnows and leeches on the 11- to 16-foot weedlines of Big Detroit Lake. The 11- to 20-foot weed edges of lakes Sallie, Melissa, Big Cormorant, and Middle Cormorant also have produced walleyes. Sunfish have moved to the weedlines at Big Detroit, Melissa, Buck and Little Cormorant. Look for suspended crappies over 18 feet at Big Cormorant, Little Cormorant, Big Detroit and Sallie. Bass and pike remain active on most lakes, while Cowgirls have raised muskies on Big Detroit.
Leech lake area
Shiners and leeches are producing walleyes in 15 to 20 feet on most main-lake structure. Crankbaits also have triggered walleyes during the evening hours off the points. Look for panfish to be moving along the weedlines in most bays; muskie action remains spotty.
Lake kabetogama
During the evening hours, walleyes, saugers, pike and bass are hitting in shallow water with slip bobbers and minnows. Midday action has been best in 22 to 28 feet with a jig and minnow or leech and live-bait rig. Better areas this week have been Center Reef and the wind-driven sides of Harris, Ram and Sheep islands. Some of the best pike reports are coming out of Mud, Daily and Nebraska bays.