Crappies, sunnies hitting in shallow bays in area

BRAINERD/NISSWA

Shallow bays and shallow lakes are putting out crappies and sunnies. Try Gull, Green, Upper Gull, Margaret, North Long, Round, Roy, Gladstone, Pelican, and Hubert. Small jigs with minnows, leeches, or crawlers are the ticket. Stoney Brook is producing trout on nightcrawlers or small spinnerbaits.

ALEXANDRIA

The Le Homme Dieu Chain of Lakes is still the best bet for crappies. The majority of fish are hanging around the first sharp break just off the shoreline. Small tube jigs tipped with minnows or wax worms are working best. Oscar, Mill, Red Rock and Lobster lakes also have turned out crappies. There have been some good-sized sunfish caught on Mill Lake as well.

ANNANDALE

Panfish anglers continue to do well in this area. Lakes such as Cedar, Pleasant, Clearwater, Sylvia and Louise have all consistently produced crappies and a few nice sunfish.

BATTLE LAKE

West Battle Lake has produced limits of crappies this week. Look to Wall Lake and Silver Lake for consistent crappie action as well. Sunfish, at least good- sized sunnies, have been tough to find.

CHISAGO

The channel between Chisago and South Lindstrom has provided consistent crappie action this week. The bay below the ''dinner bell'' on South Lindstrom also has kicked out crappies and some real nice sunfish. The north end of North Center is also a safe bet for panfish this week. Hazelton Bay and in front of the boat launch on South Center Lake are key areas that have consistently provided sunfish and crappies as well.

CROSS LAKE

Crappies are hitting in the shallow bays and canals on the west side of Crosslake. There's been some success on Rush Lake also. Small jigs tipped with minnows or wax worms are working best.

DETROIT LAKES

Floyd Lake started producing crappies early this week. Look to Little Detroit and Little Cormorant lakes for crappies as well. These fish just started hitting so expect the bite to really pick up.

DULUTH

The St. Louis River has started kicking out crappies in many of the shallow areas. The panfish bite on most inland lakes hasn't quite started yet. The smelt run has started and is going well. North shore kamlooper action has slowed a bit, although there hasn't been as many anglers after them.

FARIBAULT

Crappies and sunfish are hitting on most area lakes. Small jigs tipped with minnows or wax worms are working best.

GRAND RAPIDS

The channel on Little Sand Lake started giving up crappies this week and the power plant area on the Mississippi River is a good bet for crappies as well. Anglers are finding an excellent crappie bite on Red Lake in recent days.

LAKE OF THE WOODS

About the only thing happening right now is some very good northern pike action in Zippel Bay area. Anglers are using minnows and jigs or crankbaits and finding numbers of good-sized pike.

LAKE OSAKIS

The crappie bite is just getting started. There have been a few reports of some fish being caught in the Battle Point area. Sunfish reports have been nonexistent.

LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH

There have been a few anglers hitting the shallows for crappies and perch but success has been minimal. The shiners are in on shore; panfish won't be far behind.

LEECH LAKE

The crappie bite hasn't really started yet on Leech Lake. There have been some good reports of crappie and sunfish action coming from many of the smaller lakes in the Hackensack area.

MILLE LACS

In the east, there are a few crappies biting in the bays and harbors but it hasn't been extremely productive yet. The bigger perch haven't started either, but things should improve when the weather warms.

In the west, there are a few crappies and perch hitting at the inlet areas. Look for more perch on the shallow rocks. Small jigs tipped with crappie minnows have worked best.

ORTONVILLE

While most anglers are waiting for this weekend's walleye season to get under way on Big Stone Lake, there are a few crappies being caught in the area. Look to the shallow water on the north end of Lake Traverse and on Lake Lac qui Parle.

RAINY LAKE

The crappie bite is just starting to heat up in Black Bay. The fish that are being caught have been good-sized; there just haven't been great numbers showing up yet. Sturgeon continue to hit on the Rainy River.

STARBUCK

There's been some real consistent crappie activity at two locations on Lake Minnewaska. The Fish Hatchery Bay on the Glenwood end and the Starbuck Marina have both produced crappies in recent days. There have been some decent-sized sunfish caught in the marina as well.

ST. CLOUD

Long Lake has started producing crappies near the bridge area. Look to Cedar Island and Schnieders lakes for a mixed bag of crappies and sunfish as well.

TWIN CITIES

In the central metro, the walleye bite continues to improve in the Mississippi River. The fish have moved shallower and begun to feed big time. Jigs tipped with minnows are still producing the majority of fish. Most metro area lakes are providing good crappie and sunfish action as well.

In the northeast metro, White Bear Lake, Bald Eagle, Forest and Olson Lake have all started giving up crappies. There have been a few sunfish mixed in with the crappies. Look shallow with small jigs and minnows or wax worms.

In the northwest metro, numbers of good-sized crappies continue to come from Pelican Lake. You'll find crappies hitting on Buffalo Lake as well, although these fish have been deeper. Little Pulaski is worth checking out for crappies again this week. Sunfish just haven't shown up in any of these shallow water locations yet.