Area fishing reports

[Lee Borgersen]

 Talk about it LAKE OF THE WOODS
Crankbaits or spinner-crawler rigs continue to produce walleyes in 30 to 32 feet of water from the Lighthouse Gap to Morris Point Gap and up to Garden Island. On the main-lake reefs, pink or gold jigs and spinners are a good bet for walleyes as well.

In the Northwest Angle area, Scott Edman of Angling Adventures Guiding Service said fishing continues to be excellent in Ontario waters. The reefs in the deep basin areas north of Skeet Island are giving up numbers of walleyes, while points, dropoffs and shorelines within the shallower basin areas closer to the Angle are producing larger fish but fewer numbers. Expect to find some nice-sized perch and crappies mixed in with the walleyes. As usual, a jig tipped with a minnow or soft plastic is the standard presentation, Edman said.

Muskie fishing remains consistent, Edman said. The late-summer algae bloom has filled in certain areas, making it difficult to spot “follows” and cast to specific rocks. Look for areas where the wind has cleared the algae away or run farther north to find clearer water. Northern pike and muskies have been a common catch for the walleye anglers working shoreline areas, especially spots with weeds. Try using a large swim bait retrieved close to the bottom along shorelines to tap into this bite. Most smallmouth bass are still right along the rocky shorelines and points, Edman said, but anglers can expect to find some nice bass on deeper off-shore structure as well.

In Minnesota waters, Edman said the most consistent action has been along the deep edge of structure pulling bottom bouncers and spinners with live bait. Speed-trolling shallow rock flats with crankbaits also will put fish in the boat. Some of the best spots include Little Oak Island, the Crowduck Island flats and Starren Shoals off Garden Island.

DEVILS LAKE
Fishing is good, and anglers right now have the chance to catch walleyes, pike, white bass and perch, according to Mark Bry of Bry’s Guide Service on Devils Lake. Bry said it’s hard to remember better August fishing than this year has offered. Fish are beginning to move shallower, Bry said, although the best action still is in 12 to 25 feet of water. Anglers are catching numbers of 14- to 17-inch walleyes along with occasional fish in the 18- to 22-inch range, he said. Pick a favorite technique, and it’s probably working right now, Bry said, whether it’s jigging and live-bait rigging with minnows and crawlers or trolling crankbaits. Work the edges of weeds, points and flooded rocks, Bry said, and look for the fishing to get even better with the onset of fall.

RED RIVER
The end of last week saw a big cool-down in water temperatures, making catfish sluggish, according to Grand Forks catfish guide Brad Durick. This week’s warm-up has everything moving back to normal. Catfish are being caught fairly shallow near wood or some other sort of structure out of the main current. Many fish are being caught in as shallow as 2 feet of water. As the water warms up, they will continue to move back to the current edges and holes. Baits of choice have been sucker and goldeye. Frogs also are working, Durick said, but not as well. Whatever the bait, keep it fresh. River levels are getting low so anglers fishing by boat below the Riverside Dam or Drayton Dam should be careful of shallow water and other dangers that may be lurking below the surface. There is still enough water to fish, Durick said, but anglers need to be careful when boating.

BLACKDUCK AREA
Live-bait rigs tipped with leeches and crawlers are producing walleyes on Island Lake and Blackduck Lake in 12 to 18 feet of water. Lakes such as North Twin, South Twin, Gilstead, Gull and Pimushe are producing panfish in 6 to 10 feet and bass along the deeper weeds.

LEECH LAKE
Jigs tipped with minnows or spinners and crawlers are starting to produce walleyes on the points and cabbage weed areas in 9 to 12 feet of water. There have been some decent walleye catches reported during the day on the main-lake reefs in 20 to 25 feet of water and at night with crankbaits around the points in Walker Bay. Muskies are being raised on the rocks around Submarine Island and on the cabbage in Portage Bay.

LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
Slip bobbers and leeches, spinners and crawlers, or jigs and minnows are all producing walleyes on the 12-foot weed edges and points. The tops of the main-lake bars and humps also gave up walleyes on spinners and crawlers in less than 20 feet of water. Look for perch on the 12-foot rocks and northern pike to be mixed with the walleyes.

DETROIT LAKES
Nightcrawlers continue to work best for walleyes in 12 to 21 feet of water on lakes Melissa, Sallie, Big Cormorant, Deadshot Bay, and Big Detroit. Muskies are becoming more active with some fish caught on topwater baits at Big Detroit, Sallie, and Beers Lake. Look for sunfish from the weedlines out to 20 feet on Melissa, Big Detroit, Little Detroit Lake, Floyd Lake and Acorn Lake.

PARK RAPIDS AREA
Minnows are producing a few walleyes during low-light periods on Long Lake in 18 feet of water. At Fish Hook Lake, minnows will produce walleyes and pike in the 7- to 14-foot weeds. Bass are hitting plastics in the 7- to 12-foot weeds of most lakes, and spoons are producing pike on Big Mantrap Lake in 14 to 16 feet of water. Look for bluegills in 12 feet on Fish Hook and the Crow Wing Chain, while rainbows are suspended and active on Bad Medicine Lake.