Regional fishing reports

[Lee Borgersen]

Lake of the Woods

Fish are on the move and active, with structure areas and reefs in 24 feet to 32 feet of water being most productive near Knight and Bridges islands. There’s a steady sauger bite all day, with walleyes hitting best in the early morning and mid- to late-afternoon hours. Fish are biting light so smaller presentations have produced better success. On the mud, the bite has been more sporadic with some of the biggest walleyes coming through suspended. At the Northwest Angle, walleyes and saugers are biting near Little Oak and Garden islands, while crappies and whitefish are showing up in remote areas in Ontario waters.


Devils Lake

A mix of “pretty good” and “just OK” days has defined fishing the past couple of weeks, according to Mark Bry of Bry’s Guide Service. Anglers have caught some dandy perch and pike, Bry said, but not in huge numbers. “Eater-sized” fish have dominated the walleye catch, Bry said. Guides are marking fish just about everywhere; the challenge is triggering them to bite or being in the right place during that window when fish are feeding. Fishing for pike, perch and walleyes traditionally improves into March, and there’s no reason to expect anything different this year, Bry said.


Lake Winnipeg


Walleyes remain active in shallow water. According to Lake Winnipeg fishing guide Jason Hamilton, the west side of the lake near the mouth of the Red River is producing good numbers of fish, including several trophy-size walleyes. Travel by vehicle is becoming increasingly difficult after last weekend’s blizzard, Hamilton said, and snowmobiles or other tracked vehicles are about the only way to get around right now. Ice is thick, and Hamilton recommends carrying at least an 18-inch auger extension or doubling up on 12-inch extensions. There are several areas where a single 12-inch extension isn’t enough right now. Walleyes are moving into the area near the mouth of the Red River in numbers, and staying mobile will put more fish on the ice; if you’re not marking anything, move, Hamilton said, adding that lipless crankbaits such as Lindy Darters and gold- and orange-colored jigging spoons that rattle are among the most productive lure options.


Upper Red Lake


Walleye fishing remains pretty consistent for late February, with limits and good numbers coming from 12 to 14 feet of water along the south shore and 8 to 13 feet along the northeast shore. Jigging and dead sticks are working during the day, with crappies, perch and northern pike in the mix, as well. The season for walleyes and northern pike on Upper Red Lake and other Minnesota inland waters ends Sunday.


Bemidji area


Anglers are catching walleyes with glow jigs on top of the break lines during low-light periods and at the bottom of the breaks in deeper water during the day on Lake Bemidji. Perch also can be had on Bemidji in 34 to 42 feet of water and on Lake Plantagenet in 13 to 16 feet. Lake Lamond in Bagley, Minn., is a safe bet for crappies in 10 to 15 feet, while Three Island Lake is giving up sunfish in 6 to 12 feet along the south shore and crappies on the north end over 28 to 31 feet.


Leech Lake


Anglers who stay mobile are finding perch in 14 feet of water throughout Sucker Bay and the Big Hardwoods Point area. Walleye action has been best during low-light periods in shallow water, 6 to 12 feet, off Sand Point and in Walker Bay. Tullibee reports have been limited, but there hasn’t been many people chasing them because of deep snow and travel issues on the lake.


Lake Winnibigoshish


Perch and northern pike action has been best along the south shore up to Raven’s Point in 15 to 20 feet of water. Anglers who stay mobile can expect to find pods of bigger perch. If you have a snowmobile, travel to the mid-lake humps for walleyes during low-light periods but watch for pockets of slush.