Area fishing & hunting report

[Lee Borgersen]

  ...Area fishing & hunting report and

Lake of the woods: Walleye action is slowly picking up on the Rainy River but is not near its peak, as shiner minnows are taking their time migrating upstream from the lake.



Lake of the woods

Walleye action is slowly picking up on the Rainy River but is not near its peak, as shiner minnows are taking their time migrating upstream from the lake. Areas worth trying once the shiner run improves include stretches of river near Baudette, Clementson, Frontier and Birchdale, Minn. On the main lake, hit Pine Island in 16 to 19 feet of water, Archie’s (16-Mile) in 26 to 33 feet, Long Point, Twin Rocks, west of Garden Island, Knight, Bridges and the area from Morris Point Gap to the “pine tree.” At the Northwest Angle, anglers are finding walleyes on the points in 24 to 40 feet of water, muskie trolling has been productive, and crappies are hitting on the 30-foot mud-bottom areas.


Devils Lake

There haven’t been many people fishing, of late, but when the wind and weather cooperate, anglers have been doing well, Devils Lake fishing guide Mark Bry reported. The pattern is the same as it was a month ago: Work current areas near any of the bridges or deeper rock piles with a jig and a minnow or live bait rig. Look for depths ranging from 18 to 30 feet to provide the most consistent action, Bry said.


Upper Red Lake


Wind and low water continue to keep most anglers off the lake. But with a few consecutive days of nice weather, walleyes are hitting minnows along the shorelines in 5 to 8 feet of water. Grouse hunters are doing best along the less traveled forest roads and walking trails.


Bemidji area


Walleyes are hitting a jig and minnow in 15 to 18 feet of water on Lake Plantagenet and Lake Bemidji. Work the rock points with large sucker minnows for muskies on Bemidji, Plantagenet and Cass Lake. Grouse reports are favorable, although hunters will do best getting off the main trails. A few more ducks and geese have moved into the area.


Leech Lake


Work the wind-driven points and flats with a jig and minnow in 6 to 10 feet of water for walleyes during the day. The same areas also produce fish at night for anglers trolling crankbaits. Perch are being found in their usual fall spots, including the Narrows, Sand Point, and Cedar Point in less than 8 feet. Muskie reports have been spotty with the best activity taking place on the rocks. A few more northern ducks have shown up on the lake, and grouse hunting has been best for those willing to get off the main trails.


Lake Winnibigoshish


Look to the points and shoreline breaks on the west side in 6 to 12 feet of water for walleyes and perch. You’ll also find pods of perch on the mid-depth rocks; a jig and minnow is working best in both locations.


Park Rapids area


Look for walleyes to hit rainbow minnows on Fish Hook Lake in 18 feet of water. Large sucker minnows are producing muskies and bigger pike in less than 10 feet on Big Mantrap Lake. Waterfowl hunters are finding a lot of geese, a few puddle ducks and better numbers of divers this week. Grouse reports have varied.


Area waterfowl update


• Devils Lake region: “It’s go time,” is the word from Mark Fisher, district wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Devils Lake. There are lots of migrant birds, including mallards, snow geese and swans in the area, Fisher said, and little to no ice. Hunters and guides are reporting great success, and hunting pressure has been heavy, Fisher said.


• Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area near Middle River, Minn.: Access remains challenging, but precipitation has raised the lake level by several inches. There hasn’t been a recent aerial survey but managers report seeing some scaup.


• Roseau River WMA north of Badger, Minn.: Water levels in the pools have increased 6 to 12 inches after the early October snowstorm and recent rains, and hunters now can use boats to access hunting spots on the Roseau River. Cold fronts have moved ducks and geese through the area over the past week, and mallards have overtaken ring-necked ducks as the most common duck on the marsh. An influx of Canada geese was observed over the weekend, but numbers remain relatively light.