Fishing report
BRAINERD/NISSWA
Walleye and northern pike are hitting in 30 to 40 feet of water on Gull Lake, North Long, Pelican Lake, and Round. Golden shiners or rainbow minnows have worked on jigging spoons or colored hooks. Lakes such as Upper Cullen, North Long, Round, and Nisswa are safe bets for panfish. Look for bigger crappies in 25 to 30 feet of water.
ALEXANDRIA
Walleye action has slowed a bit, but lakes such as Big Chippewa, Le Homme Dieu, and Reno are still safe bets in 15 to 20 feet of water. Jigs tipped with shiners or fatheads have worked best. Look to Little Mary Lake for crappies in 10 to 12 feet of water. Anglers have started driving on most lakes in this area, but know where you're going on the bigger lakes.
ANNANDALE
Anglers are finding walleyes on Clearwater Lake in 15 to 21 feet of water. Crappie action has picked up on Limestone Lake and Lake Francis in 18 to 21 feet, and look for suspended crappies on Clearwater over 50 feet of water. Pleasant Lake and Lake John are producing northern pike. Look for bigger fish in 15 to 18 feet of water.
BATTLE LAKE
Stalker Lake is producing walleyes in 10 to 20 feet of water. Dead Lake and West Battle Lake are safe bets for walleyes and northern pike in 18 to 20 feet of water. Look to Clitherall Lake for walleyes as well. Dead Lake is the area's best bet for panfish.
BEMIDJI
Walleyes have been active in 15 to 28 feet of water on several lakes. Leading the way are Lake Bemidji and Grace Lake. There are some bigger northern pike, 13 to 16 pounds, coming from shallow water on Lake Bemidji and Big Turtle Lake.
CHISAGO
The south end of Chisago Lake is producing walleyes, crappies, and northern pike in 8 to 12 feet of water. South Lindstrom Lake is also producing walleyes and crappies. Hit North Center Lake for walleyes just off the island from Nelson's Landing. On Kroon Lake, anglers just starting hitting crappies in 22 to 24 feet of water. Look to Sunset Point on South Center for crappies and walleyes as well.
CROSS LAKE
Whitefish Lake is kicking out walleyes in 22 to 26 feet of water. Most lakes are giving up northern pike along the 10-to-12-foot weed edges. Crappie action has heated up on several area lakes in 14 to 18 feet of water.
DULUTH
Island Lake, Rice Lake, and Fish Lake are safe bets for walleyes in 6 to 15 feet of water. Look to Wolf Lake for crappies suspended over deeper water. Most lakes in this area have 10 to 12 inches of ice on them. Chalstrom's Bait (218) 726-0094 ELY AREA Shagawa Lake and Burntside Lake are producing walleyes in 20 feet of water. Bear Head Island Lake is a safe bet for big northern pike in shallow water. Fish as big as 20 pounds were taken here again this week.
FARIBAULT
Crappie action has picked up on French Lake, Shields Lake, and Fox Lake. For the most part, you'll find suspended fish over 15 to 30 feet of water. Look to Cannon Lake, Fox Lake, French, and Shields Lake for walleyes. Small shiner minnows have worked best. Lake Mazaska and Shields Lake are producing some good-sized northern pike.
LAKE OF THE WOODS
On the south shore, numbers of walleyes, sauger, and perch are being caught in the Gull Rock Reef area. You'll find some exceptional northern pike action in the bays on this end as well. Near Pine Island, walleyes are being caught in 22 to 28 feet of water. Limits of eating size walleyes and sauger are also being caught with regularity at The NW Angle/Islands area.
LAKE OSAKIS
Look to the Battle Point area for suspended crappies in 35 feet of water. Schultz's Bay has been producing walleyes in 25 to 27 feet of water on shiner or fathead minnows. On the south end of the lake, you'll find walleyes, perch, and northern pike very active in 18 to 22 feet of water. Sunfish reports have been very limited.
LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
Numbers of perch continue to hit in 8 to 10 feet of water. Small jigs tipped with minnows are taking the bigger fish. Look to areas such as Haubrich Bay and off Bowen's Flat. There are a few walleyes starting to hit on the main lake humps. Northern pike are running well in the shallow water. It seems as though 12 to 15 inches of ice seems to be the norm.
LEECH LAKE
Walleye fishing has been nothing short of spectacular here. The Walker Bay Humps have produced consistent action during twilight hours in 22 to 30 feet of water. The big story here has been the shallow bite off Sand Point and in Sucker Bay in 7 to 13 feet of water where limits of walleyes in the 17 to 20 inch class have been common. Perch anglers are finding plenty of fish in Sucker Bay and off Pine Point in 8 to 15 feet of water. Look to Steamboat Bay for bigger northern pike.
MANKATO
Loon Lake and Crystal Lake continue to give up a few walleyes in less than 6 feet of water. Lake Washington is kicking out crappies in 20 feet of water, and look for the bigger fish to be suspended. Duck Lake has provided crappies as well.
MILLE LACS
In the east, the walleye bite has been very good early and late in the day. You'll find better numbers of fish in that 8- to 15-foot range. Perch have also been very active in 10 to 17 feet of water. Look for areas with rock to be holding bigger perch. Jigging spoons have provided the best action. You'll find as much as 18 inches of ice in the bays, while the main lake has 8 to 12 inches on it. ATV's have been the main means of travel on the main lake.
In the west, walleye and perch action has been very consistent close to shore. Look for that first shoreline break to hold numbers of fish in 15 to 20 feet of water. Anglers traveling to the flats on ATV's have also found active fish in 24 to 26 feet of water. Closer to shore, you can expect 12 to 16 inches of ice, while 10 inches is the norm further out, where it froze last.
ORTONVILLE
There are a few walleyes coming off the Peninsula area and Shady Beach area of Big Stone Lake. These fish have been hanging around 10 feet of water. Look to the Claybanks area on Lake Lac Qui Parle for walleyes and crappies. Lynn Lake in South Dakota is kicking out numbers of saugeye.
PARK RAPIDS
Potato Lake and Fish Hook Lake are producing walleyes in 18 to 22 feet of water. The better action has taken place early and late in the day. Look to Big Mantrap Lake for some good-sized northern pike in 10 to 12 feet of water.
PERHAM
There are a few walleyes coming off Big Pine and Little Pine Lake in 12 to 20 feet of water. Shiner minnows have been the hot bait. Northern pike have been very active on most lakes in this area. Rush Lake is kicking out crappies in 12 feet of water.
RAINY LAKE
The walleye bite has been very consistent off Birch Point in 28 to 33 feet of water. Numbers of good-sized northern pike are being taken in shallower water and there are some nice crappies coming from the Northwest Bay on the Canadian side of the lake.
RED LAKE
The crappie bite has been a hit and miss situation, but that 14 foot range has produced enough fish to keep things interesting. Small crappie minnows and jigs have worked best and the evening hours have been most productive.
SAUK CENTRE
The north end of Sauk Lake is kicking out crappies in 32 to 36 feet of water. Limits have been common during the evening hours. Look to Big Birch Lake for walleyes in 19 to 22 feet of water. This bite has been best during the evening hours as well.
ST. CLOUD
Rice Lake is the best bet for walleyes and crappies in this area. There have been a few crappies coming from Schnieder Lake and Grand Lake as well. These fish have been suspended over 20 to 30 feet of water. Northern pike are an easy catch on most area lakes with Grand and Pearl Lake providing numbers of smaller fish in 12 to 17 feet of water.
STARBUCK
Look for walleyes just off the points of Lake Minnewaska in 15 to 17 feet of water. The deep hole in front of the high school has kicked out walleyes in 25 to 32 feet of water after dark. The Glenwood end of Minnewaska is a safe bet for suspended crappies in 15 to 17 feet of water. This area has been the best spot for sunfish as well. Lake Emily is giving up numbers of 6 to 8 pound northern pike. The west side of Lake Reno continues to produce walleyes and perch in 12 to 15 feet.