Minnesota Fishing Reports 2-3-06

[Hard Ice]

ALEXANDRIA AREA
Lake Victoria, Lake Geneva, Lake Mina, and Lake Le Homme Dieu are producing sunfish and crappies along the 14- to 20-foot weedlines. The morning and late afternoon hours have provided bigger and more active fish. Northern pike and walleye reports have been nonexistent this week.
Christopherson's Bait and Tackle (320) 763-3255
ANNANDALE AREA
A few walleyes are coming off Cedar Lake in 21 to 24 feet of water. Look for sunfish on Cedar in eight to 15 feet and some crappies on Lake John in 15 feet of water. Lake Sylvia and Sugar Lake are producing sunfish in 12 to 15 feet of water. Granite Lake is worth checking for crappies in 20 to 22 feet of water during the evening hours. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows on Bass Lake, Clearwater Lake, and Pleasant Lake in 12 feet of water.
Little Jim's Bait (320) 274-5297
BATTLE LAKE
Look for panfish on Dead Lake, East Lost Lake, and South Turtle Lake in 10 to 18 feet of water. The crappies are generally running in deeper water. Otter Tail Lake continues to give up a few walleyes and nice perch in 20 to 35 feet of water. On West Battle Lake, you'll find walleyes as deep as 60 feet during the evening hours. Northern pike have started hitting best in less than 12 feet of water on most lakes.
Ben's Bait Shop (218) 864-5596
BEMIDJI AREA
Crappies and sunfish are biting in 12 to 14 feet of water on many lakes. Sucker minnows and tip-ups are safe bets for northern pike in 12 to 14 feet of water. Lakes such as Bemidji, Turtle River, and Irvine are your best bets. Shiner minnows are producing the few walleyes biting. Lake Plantagenette and Lake Bemidji are giving up a few each evening in 20 to 30 feet of water.
Bluewater Bait and Sports
(218) 444-BAIT (2248)
Kobilka's Sporting Goods (218) 751-6000
BLACKDUCK AREA
Perch action remains strong on Blackduck Lake in seven to 22 feet of water. You'll pick off a walleye or two here as well. The bigger perch remain scattered at various depths so it's important to stay on the move. Rabideau Lake is kicking out bluegills in 10 to 20 feet of water and there are crappies biting on Gilstead Lake in 30 to 40 feet of water.
Timberline Sports and Tackle
(218) 835-4636
BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA
Golden shiner minnows continue to produce walleyes on Gull Lake in 17 to 30 feet of water. Glow jigs tipped with Eurolarvae or rosy red minnows have been the ticket for crappies in 12 to 24 feet of water on lakes such as Round and Nisswa. Northern pike have been active in eight to 14 feet of water on Gull, Lake Edward, and North Long Lake. Look for sunfish in the shallow portion of the Highway 371 bay on North Long and on Nisswa Lake.
S & W Bait & Tackle (218) 829-7010
CASS LAKE AREA
Work the sand and weed flats on Cass Lake in six to 12 feet of water for perch. Pike Bay Lake continues to provide a walleye/perch mix in 20 to 30 feet of water early and late in the day. Big Lake is the area's best crappie option in 14 feet of water, while Grace Lake continues to give up sunfish in 20 to 22 feet of water.
Sunset Cove Resort (800) 279-4831
CHISAGO AREA
Look to North Center Lake for sunfish and crappies in 12 to 18 feet of water. Sunrise Lake is a safe bet for northern pike and a few good-sized sunfish in eight to 12 feet of water. The area's best crappie action is taking place during the evening hours in 20 to 30 feet of water on Kroon Lake and Chisago Lake. Glow jigs tipped with small minnows are working best. Walleye activity has slowed quite a bit in the last week.
Frankie's Bait (651) 257-6334
CROSBY AREA
Blackhoof Lake and Perry Lake are producing sunfish along the nine- to 12-foot weedlines. You'll also find crappies on these lakes in slightly deeper water. Big Mahnomen Lake is kicking out a few crappies during the evening hours and numbers of small sunfish during the day in 17 to 22 feet of water. Serpent Lake is the area's best bet for walleyes during lowlight periods in 25 feet.
Oars ‘n Mine Bait and Tackle (218) 546-6912
CROSS LAKE AREA
Walleye anglers are finding fish in 18 to 34 feet of water with jigging spoons. Pelican Lake and the Whitefish Chain are safe bets during the evening hours. Northern activity on Crosslake has been good with tip-ups and bigger minnows in 10 to 15 feet of water. Look to Clamshell Lake and Loon Lake for panfish action early and late in the day.
Crosslake Holiday Sports (218) 692-2708
DETROIT LAKES
Walleye activity has slowed, but with some work you can pick up fish along the deep weedlines and humps at sunset. Look to lakes such as Pelican, Big Cormorant, and Lizzie for walleyes. Lindy Frost jigs are producing sunfish, crappies, and perch in 10 to 24 feet of water on Little Detroit Lake, Prairie Lake, Cotton Lake, Height of Land Lake, Middle Cormorant Lake, Round Lake, Long Lake, and Floyd Lake.
Dick Beardsley's Guide Service www.fishingscene.com
DULUTH AREA
Walleye reports are minimal, but northern pike are hitting shiner minnows on Fish Lake in six feet of water and on Rice Lake in 10 feet of water. Fish Lake started giving up bluegills in 10 feet of water as well. The Kamloops bite along the north shore of Lake Superior has been unusually slow this week. Trout fishing on many of the small lakes along the Gunflint Trail also remains slow.
Chalstrom's Bait (218) 726-0094
EAST-CENTRAL MINN
Crappie action picked up during the evening on Blue Lake and Green Lake in 24 feet of water. Green Lake also is kicking out a few walleyes in 17 to 24 feet of water. East Rush Lake started giving up sunfish and crappies in 17 feet of water throughout the day. The shallow weed edges of Fremont Lake are holding numbers of northern pike.
Tails and Trails Sport Shop (763) 856-3985
FAIRMONT AREA
There's an afternoon crappie bite on South Silver Lake in 16 feet of water. Hall Lake is giving up crappies and a few walleyes in 16 to 18 feet of water. Small jigging Rapalas are best. Clear Lake started kicking out walleyes in six feet of water after dark. Fathead minnows and small jigs have turned the majority of fish.
Master Sport and Bait (507) 235-5225
FARIBAULT AREA
Hunt Lake is producing bluegills and crappies in 17 to 20 feet of water. A few walleyes will it shiner minnows on Cannon Lake in nine to 12 feet of water. Northern pike are cruising the shallow weed edges of French Lake. French Lake also is giving up crappies over 40 to 50 feet of water. Look to Lake Mazaska for suspended crappies in 30 to 35 feet.
Lake's Bait and Tackle (507) 334-2768
GRAND RAPIDS AREA
Look for crappies and perch on the northeast end of Bowstring Lake in 17 feet of water. Poole's Bay on Lake Pokegama is producing crappies in 14 feet of water. Pokegama is giving up a few walleyes in 20 to 22 feet of water. Caribou Lake and Larson Lake are kicking out splake. Ciscoes and jigs seem to be working best. Northern pike continue to be caught on tip-ups on most lakes.
Ben's Bait and Tackle (218) 326-8281
Rapids Tackle (218) 326-9838
LAKE KABETOGAMA
A few walleyes are biting, but consistent action has been tough on Kabetogama and Namakan lakes. Every once in a while the crappies bite and northern pike provide the best action. Lake trout fishing on Mukooda Lake has been spotty, while a handful of small lakes are kicking out panfish.
Gateway Store (218) 875-2121
www.gatewaygeneral.com
LAKE OSAKIS
The walleye bite has held up pretty well with shiner minnows in 17 to 22 feet of water. Better areas this week have been Four Mile Bar, Johnson's Bar, and Battle Point. Crappie action is slow, and catching sunfish involves a lot of work. The fish biting are tight to the bottom in 18 feet of water. Northern pike continue to cruise the shallow weeds throughout the lake.
Fisherman's Corner (320) 859-2181
LAKE VERMILION
During the day, walleyes are hitting large minnows in 27 to 33 feet of water. Lowlight periods are best spent on sharp breaks and flats in 18 to 22 feet of water. Demon jigs or other glow jigs are working best. Tip-ups and sucker minnows will produce northern pike in these areas. Crappie action remains slow, but sunfish can be found in the weeds.
Lake Vermilion Trading Company
(218) 666-6052
lakevermiliontradingco .com
MANKATO AREA
Crappie action remains steady in the narrows of Madison Lake in 25 to 30 feet of water. There's a shallow walleye bite during the evening on Eagle Lake, while Madison Lake continues to give up a few walleyes in 30-plus feet of water. On Lake Washington, 12 to 18 feet of water is key for sunfish.
The Bobber Shop (507) 625-8228
McGREGOR AREA
Northern pike are hitting along the weed edges of Lake Minnewawa and Big Sandy Lake. Look for bluegills on Aitkin Lake in 12 to 14 feet of water. Bellhorn Bay on Big Sandy Lake is producing crappies in 14 feet as is Lake Minnewawa in 12 feet of water. Tullibee action remains strong on Big Sandy Lake in 20 to 25 feet of water.
Willey's Sport Shop (218) 426-3382
MONTICELLO AREA
Open water anglers are finding walleyes, smallmouth bass, and catfish on the Mississippi River. Shiner minnows on a plain hook are working best. Northern pike are hitting on Lake Ida, Big Lake, and Mitchell Lake in 10 to 12 feet of water. Lake Constance is kicking out sunfish and crappies in 14 to 16 feet of water.
Shuman's Outdoor Sports (763) 295-3222
ORTONVILLE AREA
Walleyes are hitting in the Meadowbrook area of Big Stone Lake in 10 to 13 feet of water. The Twin Silos area of Big Stone is producing perch in 14 feet of water. Look to Long Tom Lake for crappies in the evening in 10 feet of water. The Highway 75 dam on the Minnesota River is notable for walleyes.
Bud's Bait (320) 839-2480
PARK RAPIDS AREA
Upper Twin Lake and the Crow Wing Chain are safe bets for sunfish in 10 to 12 feet of water. Northern pike continue to be caught on Fish Hook Lake and Big Mantrap Lake in eight to 12 feet of water.
Delaney's (218) 732-4281
RED LAKE
A few limits of crappies are being caught. You have to be in the right place at the right time, which means not everyone is catching them. Even so, the bite is better than in recent weeks. Northern pike and keeping-sized perch are caught with the crappies.
Rogers Campground (218) 647-8262
RED WING AREA
The dam and high bridge areas are producing good-sized saugers and walleyes. Hair jigs and a minnow are turning fish, but there are signs of an improved bite with plastics. Blue and white grub jigs and ringworms have produced fish in 13 to 15 feet.
Ike's Bait and Tackle (651) 388-2111
ST. CLOUD AREA
Grand Lake, Pearl Lake, and Goodner Lake are producing panfish in eight to 12 feet of water. Grand has produced a few slab crappies in 20 feet of water. Northern pike are hitting tip-ups and sucker minnows on Pleasant Lake and Pearl in 14 feet of water. Crappies can be had in the deep holes of Rice Lake and Horseshoe Lake.
Corky's Gas & Bait (320) 251-1567
SAUK CENTRE AREA
Numbers of sunfish are an easy catch on Maple Lake, the north end of Sauk Lake, and Lake Villard in eight to 10 feet of water. The area west of Diamond Point on Sauk Lake is producing crappies in the evening in 38 to 42 feet of water. A few walleyes are caught each night here as well. The weedlines of Fairy Lake, Long Bridge Lake, Sauk, and Villard are holding northern pike.
Fletcher's Bait (320) 352-2155
STARBUCK AREA
The Glenwood end of Lake Minnewaska is producing sunfish in 16 to 18 feet of water. Small jigs and waxworms have been the ticket. This area is producing northern pike on tip-ups and sucker minnows. Fish Hatchery Bay on the Glenwood end is producing crappies at night in 15 feet of water.
Minnewaska Bait and Tackle (320) 239-2239
STILLWATER AREA
Sunfish and crappies are biting in eight to 15 feet of water on Boot Lake, Little Carnelian Lake, and School Section Lake. On Big Carnelian Lake, anglers are pulling crappies, sunfish, and northern pike from 20 to 25 feet of water. Crappies are biting across from Bayport Beach on the St. Croix River in 30 to 32 feet of water. Minnows are turning rainbow trout in 30 feet on Square Lake.
Jimmy's Bait and Tackle (651) 430-2554
WILLMAR AREA
Long Lake is giving up perch and walleyes in 10 to 15 feet. The 30- to 40-foot flats on Green Lake are giving up walleyes in the evening. Lake Lillian and Diamond Lake kicked out a few walleyes. Look to Eagle Lake for hand-sized crappies in 40 feet. Other panfish reports are scattered with lakes like Willmar, Foot, Nest, Norway, and Games in 20 to 25 feet producing a few fish.
Brad's 71 Bait and Sports (320) 235-4097