Fishing report
BRAINERD/NISSWA
Walleye action has been very good this week in 18 to 24 feet of water on Gull Lake, Round Lake, North Long Lake, and Lake Edwards. Look to these same lakes for numbers of northern pike in six to 14 feet of water. Bass, crappies, and sunfish are hitting near the weed edges in six to 16 feet of water on most area lakes.
CASS LAKE AREA
Summer patterns are in full swing as the walleyes have stacked along the 20- to 30-foot breaks on Cass Lake. The Windigo Break, Pagota Bar, Strawberry Bar, and Turtle River Bar all are producing fish. Muskie action also has turned on at Cass in Allen's Bay and in the Wishbone Bar area. Smaller bucktails have triggered the majority of fish. Perch continue to roam the deep weedlines in eight to 12 feet of water. Northern pike are hitting crankbaits over the weed tops on Cass, Lake Andrusia, and Kitchi Lake.
CROSBY AREA
Upper Mission Lake, Rabbit Lake, and Serpent Lake are producing walleyes during the evening hours in 20 to 24 feet of water. Jigs and live bait rigs tipped with crawlers or minnows are working best. There are a few anglers finding suspended crappies over 15 feet of water on Portage Lake and Hamlett Lake. Big bass still are being found in the shallows on Clinker Lake and Agate Lake is a safe bet for numbers of northern pike. The mine pits are still giving up quite a few trout. Pennington Pit has been producing a few bigger rainbows.
CROSS LAKE
Live bait rigs tipped with leeches or redtail minnows are producing walleyes on Whitefish Lake, Pelican Lake, and Hay Lake. Mitchell Lake and Fox Lake are giving up northern pike on minnows and spinnerbaits. The weedbeds of most area lakes are holding crappies and sunfish.
GRAND RAPIDS
The smallmouth bass bite has been good on Deer Lake, North Star Lake, and Lake Pokegama in shallow water. Walleye action has picked up on Pokegama, Lake Wabana, and Moose Lake in seven to 12 feet during the evening hours, and in 14 to 16 feet during the day. Sunfish are moving up shallow on most area lakes, with Bass Lake providing better numbers of good-sized fish.
HACKENSACK AREA
Birch Lake started giving up a few walleyes on crawlers in 25 feet of water. The panfish also have started to hit here in less than 10 feet of water. Woman Lake is worth noting for an occasional flurry of walleye activity, late in the day, over 20 to 25 feet of water.
LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
Even with all the wind and rain of late, walleyes continue to cooperate. The Highbanks area, Sugar Point and the "Clam Beds" off Raven's Point are your best bets in seven to nine feet of water. Jigs tipped with minnows continue to turn fish in these areas. The main lake bars are producing walleyes on live bait rigs tipped with crawlers.
LEECH LAKE
The evening hours have been the best bet in recent days. Sugar Point, Huddles reef, and Sand Point are producing walleyes on long live bait rigs tipped with minnows, leeches, or crawlers. The key has been to work them very slowly. Numbers of fish in the 17- to 20-inch class are being caught. The best daytime action is coming from eight to 11 feet of water off Stoney Point, Five Mile, Goose Island, and the Grand Vu Flats. Crankbaits or live bait rigs are the best bets because the fish are scattered, which means you need to cover a lot of water. Muskie action remains a bit sluggish, but the bass continue to be active in the emerging rice beds of Steamboat and Boy Bay.
MILLE LACS
East -- It's probably easier listing the spots where the walleyes aren't biting. It continues to be the best walleye action most local anglers remember. Spinners, live bait rigs, jigs, crankbaits, leeches, crawlers, minnows they all seem to be turning fish. The deep gravel is producing fish, as are the shallow rocks, mud flats, and shoreline breaks. Smallmouth bass have been cooperating on the rocks and muskie anglers are reporting better action this week on the north end of the lake.
West -- Many anglers continue to find plenty of walleyes right in St. Alban's Bay. Others have ventured to the mud flats and found a lot of walleyes there as well.