Fishing report

BRAINERD/NISSWA

Gull Lake is putting out walleyes and northerns near the rock pile, Grassy Point, Center Bar, or Holman's Point. Try 13 to 26 feet of water with a golden shiner or rainbow chub on a Buckshot Rattle Spoon. Pike also can be found on Round, Nisswa, Pelican, and North Long lakes. Another option is panfish on Lake Margaret. Use waxies or Eurolarvae.

ALEXANDRIA

Reno and Carlos lakes are putting out some walleyes in 12 to 16 feet of water on Reno and 20-plus on Carlos. Crappies are biting well on most area lakes. Le Homme Dieu and Mary lakes are a couple of the better ones. For walleyes and crappies, try the Jig-a-Whooper jigging spoon. For crappies, you can also use a glow jig.

CROSS LAKE

Jigging spoons and jigs tipped with shiners have been catching lake trout on Trout and Roosevelt lakes. Walleye fishing has slowed, but those biting prefer shiners or rainbows on jigging spoons. Crappies are spotty, but hitting waxies and crappie minnows. Northern action is good with pike hitting large pike minnows on tip-ups.

DETROIT LAKES

Walleye fishing has slowed a little, but the northern pike bite has picked up. The pike are between 8 and 14 feet on Big Detroit. On Little Floyd, walleyes are still active in about 15 feet of water. Use a shiner or fathead on the Buck shot Rattle Spoon. Sunnies are coming from Cotton and Waboose lakes.

GRAND RAPIDS

Pokegama Lake is putting out some northerns and a few walleyes in the evening. Crappie fishing is fair on Split Hand and Prairie lakes. Use crappie minnows with little jigs.

LAKE SUPERIOR

The Kamloop's bite is very good for those fishing from shore. Trolling is productive, but you must leave from Two Harbors. The ice is barely thick enough to support a person in the Duluth area. Walleyes have been good along the St. Louis River. Use a jig and minnow. You must make noise; the river water is very dark.

LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH

Perch fishing is good. Try Three Sisters, Tamarack Point, or Bowen's Flats. The fish are in shallow water near the weeds. The walleye bite has been light, though some have been coming from the north shore. There's plenty of ice, but some pressure ridges are out there, so use care.

LEECH LAKE

The walleye bite has picked up. They're in 16 to 20 feet of water hitting glow tackle or jigging spoons with an attached minnow head. For perch, drop a Swedish Pimple or jig tipped with a minnow in 10 to 12 feet of water.

MILLE LACS

In the east, walleyes have been very spooky in the shallow water and ice traffic has made that problem worse. So, fish deep. Perch and walleyes are coming from water 25 feet or deeper. Perch may be found on the gravel near Hennepin Island or on the mud flats. Walleye fishing was spotty, with best reports coming from the deep-water gravel.

In the west, the fishing has varied. Some anglers are getting lots of walleyes off the mud with Buck-shot spoons tipped with minnow heads. Try 22 to 25 feet of water. Dusk and dawn appeared to be the best times. During the day, you'll catch your perch. Fish a little deeper, maybe 28 to 32 feet. Roads are now plowed out to some of these prime locations.

PARK RAPIDS

Northerns are active in Big Mantrap Lake in about 10 feet of water, hitting sucker minnows. Walleye action is good on the 11th Crow Wing, hitting shiners in about 21 feet of water. Bluegill action is best on Fish Hook Lake.

RAINY LAKE

The best fishing is near Grindstone Island and American Narrows for walleyes. The best bait is minnows on glow jigs. The fish are in 35 to 40 feet of water. A few northerns are active near Rainy Lake City. Crappies have been slow compared to the past couple weeks.

SAUK CENTRE

Crappies are coming from Big Sauk Lake in 27 to 35 feet of water. It's strictly a night-bite and has slowed some. Fish the edges and use your finder to locate fish. Maple Lake is putting out some sunnies and crappies in about 15 feet of water. Pike are doing well in Big Sauk on tip-ups tipped with shiners or sucker minnows. Big and Little Birch lakes are putting out walleyes on rainbows.

STARBUCK

Walleye fishing has slowed on Lake Minnewaska. Crappies are hitting on the Glenwood end of the lake at and after dusk on crappie minnows and Moon Glows. Sunnie activity is happening in Fish Hatchery Bay throughout the day. Perch are coming form Minnewaska on fathead minnows and small jigs.

STILLWATER

Walleyes, sauger and crappies are coming from the St. Croix River. Crappies are in 30 to 40 feet of water, sometimes suspended about halfway up. Walleyes are in 20 to 30 feet of water. Trout are coming from Square Lake in 5 to 20 feet of water.

TWIN CITIES

In the central metro, anglers are fishing Lake Nokomis for crappies and walleyes. Fish the 28-foot hole on the south end of the lake or the 31-foot hole out from the point on the east side of the lake with rainbows or fatheads for the walleyes. Jig smaller jigs with minnows for crappies. Sunnies also are available in Lac Lavon. Northerns are coming from the Fort Snelling gravel pits, or Upper and Lower Gun Club. These are walk-on lakes. Use frozen smelt.

In the northeast metro, crappies and walleyes are coming from Bald Eagle Lake. Try 15 to 20 feet of water for both species. For walleyes, use a fathead minnow on a plain hook. Northerns are active on White Bear, Forest and Big Marine lakes. Sunnies are going in a variety of local lakes.

In the northwest metro, the walleye bite has slowed, as has the crappie bite. Some crappies are coming from Buffalo Lake in about 24 feet of water. Use a plain hook with a crappie minnow. The glow hooks work well. Pelican Lake is putting out some northerns, as is Beebe Lake.

In the southwest metro, Parley Lake is still putting out a few walleyes and northern pike. Crappies are coming from Lake Bavaria and Wasserman Lake. Try about 15 feet of water close to the bottom. Lake Winnewashta is starting to produce some crappies and northerns.

On Lake Waconia, walleyes are beginning to bite once again. Some of the fish are near weeds in about 14 feet of water. Others are in 20-plus feet of water near reefs. Try Kegs Reef, North Reef or Cemetery Reef. Hit the one that's most quiet. The panfish bite is good, but sorting may be needed. Dusk is best for the nicer panfish.

On Lake Minnetonka, walleyes are biting in the deeper water. Try the big bays, such as Browns and Wayzata. Crappies and sunnies are coming from Maxwell and Phelps bays. Northern are hitting and tip-ups with suckers in most bays. There's about 10 to 12 inches of ice covering the lake.

WILLMAR

Crappie fishing has been good on Norway, Games, and Willmar lakes. The fish are in about 20 feet of water and anglers are finding them 2 feet off the bottom. Try small glow hooks with crappie minnows. Northern activity is good on several area lakes. Green, Diamond and Big Kandi are putting out walleyes consistently. Use a golden shiner for best results.