State fishing report

[Lee Borgersen]

                    :fishing2: STATE FISHING REPORT

White Bear Lake area: Sunnies have been biting on White Bear Lake and Bald Eagle Lake, with anglers finding success in 8-12 feet of water using leeches and worms. Walleye are being caught in 12-18 feet on leeches and fathead minnows, and bass have been pursuing slowly fished artificial lures along the weedlines of both lakes. Northerns and muskies also have been active and are hitting trolled spinners and other blade baits over the weed tops.

Grand Marais area: On Lake Superior between Grand Marais and Five Mile Rock, the charter fishing boats are reeling in large lake trout and Chinook salmon. One angler landed a 12-pound, 33 1/3-inch trout in about 100 feet of water. The waters around Isle Royale are filled with trout, salmon and even large northern pike. Last weekend, a 44- and 36-inch northern were landed by one boat within one hour. On Cascade Lake, walleyes and northerns are biting Rapalas and minnows at 15 feet, and on Leo Lake, rainbow trout are suspended at 25 feet and are taking minnows and nightcrawlers.

Albert Lea area: Fountain Lake has been producing lots of crappies, sunnies and catfish to anglers using jigs, bobbers and minnows. Walleye anglers are also landing a few fish. The best spots include the shoreline and fishing pier at Edgewater Bay Shore and the Cemetery shoreline.

Whitefish chain: The walleye bite continues to improve on the chain of lakes. Anglers are having the most success using crawlers, leeches and minnows on Lindy Rigs in about 18 feet, then moving deeper. Northerns are hitting large minnows on rigs and jigs just outside the weedlines. The large northerns remain deep but are beginning to move into shallower waters. Sunfish are being caught in the weedy mid-lake humps at 14-22 feet.

Bemidji area: In deeper lakes such as Bemidji, Cass and Plantagenet, the best walleye bite has been along bottom structure in 12-18 feet of water. Bass, crappies and sunnies have been active in many lakes. Water levels in Upper Red Lake are extremely low, and anglers with larger boats have had difficulty accessing the lake.