Fishing report

Outdoor News

BRAINERD/NISSWA

Gull Lake is producing perch and tullibees in 20 to 28 feet of water in Hole in the Day Bay. Booming Out Bay is a safe bet for good size crappies in 35 to 40 feet of water. Lakes Gladstone, North Long, Hubert and Round are the area's best bets for numbers of sunfish and crappies. Walking or ATVs are recommended.

CROSS LAKE

Anglers have been able to get on most lakes without difficulty and crappies and sunnies have been keeping them busy, hitting minnows and waxies. Fish 16 to 28 feet of water.

GRAND RAPIDS

Splithand Lake is kicking out crappies in 15 to 18 feet of water. Look to Prairie Lake for crappies at the same depths. There are crappie and bluegill being caught in open water at the power plant on the river.

LAKE OF THE WOODS

Ice fishing continues to be the focus here, although travel has switched to lighter vehicles. At the NW Angle/Islands area, ice is in good shape and walleyes are hitting gold jigs. Anglers are fishing at Graceton Beach and the Morris Point area. At Zippel Bay, northern pike have been very active in shallow water. The Rainy River is open from International Falls to Frontier. There is some shoreline ice so small boats are recommended. Water levels are low, so the Manitou Rapids may be difficult to navigate. The walleye bite is considered fair.

LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH

The ice is in good shape and the perch are biting. There are two areas producing fish. The deeper, main lake flats have provided steady action as is the deep water off Stony Point. The other spots have been in shallow water. Look to Plughat Point and Bowens Flat in 8 to 10 feet of water. Jigs and minnows are still working best.

LEECH LAKE

The ice throughout the Leech Lake area is in fine shape. Anglers are hooking tullibees on the big lake's main basin. Areas between Stony and Ottertail are doing well, and the area near Diamond Point has been another hot spot. Look for suspended fish over 30 to 40 feet of water. Sand Point, Sugar Point, Traders Bay and Goose Island are all kicking out numbers of perch in the 9 to 13 inch range. Hardwood Point and Sucker Bay are worth checking out for perch as well. Better depths for perch have been in 10 to 18 feet of water.

RAINY LAKE

Ice fishing on the lake has been good for walleyes. Try American Narrows or Birch Point in 30 to 45 feet of water. Northern pike are hitting well; not big, but very steady. The crappies have not begun to hit yet. The ice is at least two feet thick, but it's starting to honeycomb some.

RED WING

There has been some crappie fishing in the backwaters of the Bay City area on the Mississippi River. The bigger sauger and walleyes are starting to hit in the deeper water in front of the dam. Look to the Head of the Lakes area for steady walleye and sauger action as well. Jigs and minnows are working best but crankbaits on three way rigs have also started producing fish in recent days.

TWIN CITIES

In the central metro, the walleye bite on the Mississippi River has slowed. There are a few fish being caught, but look for the bite to get better as soon as the weather warms up again. The lagoon on Lake Calhoun is producing a few crappies for shore anglers.

In the southwest metro the deeper holes of the Minnesota River have started producing a few catfish. Some of the smaller lakes in the area have started giving up panfish for anglers fishing off shore. Look to the shallows of Stieger and Zumbra lakes for panfish right now.

On Lake Minnetonka, there are a few crappies being caught from shore in Wayzata Bay, although the number of fish being caught has dropped.