T_boy
05-13-2011, 02:12 PM
LAKE OF THE WOODS
Water temperatures remain relatively cool. Expect the best walleye action this weekend to take place in shallow water on the main-lake shorelines, Rainy River and Lighthouse Gap areas in less than 12 feet of water. A jig and minnow should be the best presentation in each location. The Rainy River is kicking out suckers and there have been quite a few accidental sturgeon catches reported from the river.
DEVILS LAKE
Lake temperatures remain in the 42- to 46-degree range, and boat fishing has been “pretty slow,” according to the latest report from Ed’s Bait Shop. Cool, cloudy, rainy weather has kept the lake from warming up. Walleyes are just about done spawning, the report said, and shore fishing has slowed, but anglers still are catching a few fish around the bridges, coulees and other current areas. Look for shore fishing to remain the best option until walleyes recover from spawning and water temperatures rise.
MAPLE LAKE
Walleyes will take center stage Saturday morning, but don’t overlook the crappie fishing, which has been excellent. Anglers targeting shallow bays have been catching lots of crappies, and the fish are running larger than average. This weekend should offer anglers the best of both worlds.
UPPER RED LAKE
A few slab crappies are being caught in the shallows along the northeast and south shores, and sucker fishing is decent in ditches and creeks. Lake levels are up so access should be good for this weekend’s opener. Some of the best fishing should be near the mouth of the Tamarack River, and anglers likely will have plenty of company.
BEMIDJI AREA
Minnows are producing good-sized perch in 3 to 6 feet of water at Big Lake and Lake Irving. Midge Lake and Wolf Lake are giving up a few crappies on minnows in 6 to 12 feet. On Grant Lake, bluegills and crappies have started hitting in 8 to 10 feet of water.
BLACKDUCK AREA
Crappie and bluegill action continues to be slow in the shallow water of most lakes. A few crappies have been taken with minnows at Gilstead Lake and Pimushe Lake in 8 to 10 feet. Look for other area lakes to start kicking out panfish in shallower water within the next few days.
CASS LAKE AREA
Crappies and sunfish continue to be found over 18 to 20 feet of water in areas adjacent to the traditional spring shallow locations. Allen’s Bay, Dick’s Bay and the Pike Hole on Cass Lake, the northwest end of Kitchi Lake, north end of Lake Andrusia and the southwest corner of Pike Bay Lake are worth noting.
LEECH LAKE AREA
A few crappies have been caught on the smaller lakes, but the bays on Leech haven’t been that productive. With some warm weather, that should change and those traditional, spring panfish locations could be loading up with panfish.
LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
Fishing reports have been nonexistent, but the opener is expected to be good. Concentrate on the shallow drops, points and wind-driven shorelines with a jig and minnow in 6 to 10 feet for walleyes, northern pike and perch.
DETROIT LAKES
Sunfish and crappies remain active in 3 to 7 feet on many lakes. Small jigs tipped with waxworms or minnows are producing fish most consistently on Big Cormorant Lake, Floyd Lake, Lake Sallie, Pelican Lake, Little Detroit Lake, Lake Melissa, Deadshot Bay and Little Cormorant Lake.
PARK RAPIDS AREA
Shallow bays on Fish Hook Lake and the Crow Wing Chain are producing crappies and sunfish in less than 6 feet of water. The shoreline of Long Lake also is providing panfish action in shallow water. Brown trout are hitting spinners or crawlers on the Straight River.
ORTONVILLE AREA
Walleyes are being caught on jigs and minnows along the shoreline of Big Stone Lake in 2 to 6 feet. The most consistent areas this week have been Meadowbrook, Hartford Beach, Mallard Point, and Fish Creek. Crappie action has improved in shallow water at Artichoke Lake with minnows.
Water temperatures remain relatively cool. Expect the best walleye action this weekend to take place in shallow water on the main-lake shorelines, Rainy River and Lighthouse Gap areas in less than 12 feet of water. A jig and minnow should be the best presentation in each location. The Rainy River is kicking out suckers and there have been quite a few accidental sturgeon catches reported from the river.
DEVILS LAKE
Lake temperatures remain in the 42- to 46-degree range, and boat fishing has been “pretty slow,” according to the latest report from Ed’s Bait Shop. Cool, cloudy, rainy weather has kept the lake from warming up. Walleyes are just about done spawning, the report said, and shore fishing has slowed, but anglers still are catching a few fish around the bridges, coulees and other current areas. Look for shore fishing to remain the best option until walleyes recover from spawning and water temperatures rise.
MAPLE LAKE
Walleyes will take center stage Saturday morning, but don’t overlook the crappie fishing, which has been excellent. Anglers targeting shallow bays have been catching lots of crappies, and the fish are running larger than average. This weekend should offer anglers the best of both worlds.
UPPER RED LAKE
A few slab crappies are being caught in the shallows along the northeast and south shores, and sucker fishing is decent in ditches and creeks. Lake levels are up so access should be good for this weekend’s opener. Some of the best fishing should be near the mouth of the Tamarack River, and anglers likely will have plenty of company.
BEMIDJI AREA
Minnows are producing good-sized perch in 3 to 6 feet of water at Big Lake and Lake Irving. Midge Lake and Wolf Lake are giving up a few crappies on minnows in 6 to 12 feet. On Grant Lake, bluegills and crappies have started hitting in 8 to 10 feet of water.
BLACKDUCK AREA
Crappie and bluegill action continues to be slow in the shallow water of most lakes. A few crappies have been taken with minnows at Gilstead Lake and Pimushe Lake in 8 to 10 feet. Look for other area lakes to start kicking out panfish in shallower water within the next few days.
CASS LAKE AREA
Crappies and sunfish continue to be found over 18 to 20 feet of water in areas adjacent to the traditional spring shallow locations. Allen’s Bay, Dick’s Bay and the Pike Hole on Cass Lake, the northwest end of Kitchi Lake, north end of Lake Andrusia and the southwest corner of Pike Bay Lake are worth noting.
LEECH LAKE AREA
A few crappies have been caught on the smaller lakes, but the bays on Leech haven’t been that productive. With some warm weather, that should change and those traditional, spring panfish locations could be loading up with panfish.
LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
Fishing reports have been nonexistent, but the opener is expected to be good. Concentrate on the shallow drops, points and wind-driven shorelines with a jig and minnow in 6 to 10 feet for walleyes, northern pike and perch.
DETROIT LAKES
Sunfish and crappies remain active in 3 to 7 feet on many lakes. Small jigs tipped with waxworms or minnows are producing fish most consistently on Big Cormorant Lake, Floyd Lake, Lake Sallie, Pelican Lake, Little Detroit Lake, Lake Melissa, Deadshot Bay and Little Cormorant Lake.
PARK RAPIDS AREA
Shallow bays on Fish Hook Lake and the Crow Wing Chain are producing crappies and sunfish in less than 6 feet of water. The shoreline of Long Lake also is providing panfish action in shallow water. Brown trout are hitting spinners or crawlers on the Straight River.
ORTONVILLE AREA
Walleyes are being caught on jigs and minnows along the shoreline of Big Stone Lake in 2 to 6 feet. The most consistent areas this week have been Meadowbrook, Hartford Beach, Mallard Point, and Fish Creek. Crappie action has improved in shallow water at Artichoke Lake with minnows.