:fishing2: Minnesota Fishing Reports 
10/2/14Metro Area Fishing Report - October 3rd, 2014
Posted on Thu, 02 Oct 2014
LAKE MINNETONKA AREAWalleyes are hitting minnows at night in 24 to 28 feet in Brown’s Bay and Wayzata Bay on Lake Minnetonka. Look to Lake Independence with minnows in 15 feet for walleyes as well. Bass remain scattered along the deep weedlines and hitting spinnerbaits on most lakes. A few crappies are being found suspended over 15 to 18 feet, and you’ll find improved muskie action on the weedy points of Minnetonka. Most people shot a few ducks opening morning, but reports have been limited since.
Wayzata Bait (952) 473-2227
NORTHEAST METROMuskies are hitting spinnerbaits and topwater baits at White Bear Lake, Bald Eagle Lake and the St. Croix River. Northern pike and bass can be had with crankbaits on the weedlines of Green Lake and Lake Phalen. A few walleyes continue to come off the St. Croix in 20 feet or more, while the weedlines of most lakes are holding panfish. Duck and archery hunting reports have been limited.
Blue Ribbon Bait & Tackle (651) 777-2421
WEST METROWalleyes have been hitting minnows around the reefs on Lake Waconia in 18 to 22 feet. Look for northern pike to hit spoons in 10 to 12 feet on Lake Minnewashta, Lake Zumbra and Lake Auburn. Sunfish reports have improved on Minnewashta in 12 feet and Lake Sarah in 10 to 18 feet. The duck opener went well with many limits of teal, mallards and wood ducks shot in a short amount of time.
Cabin Fever Sports (952) 443-2022
ANNANDALE AREAThe waterfowl opener went well for most groups with teal, mallards, wood ducks and geese shot in good numbers. Walleyes are taking minnows on Cedar Lake and Clearwater Lake in 12 to 18 feet. Crappies have started suspending over deep water on Lake Sylvia, Sugar Lake and Clearwater. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits are producing northern pike and bass on the deep weedlines of Clearwater, Cedar, Pleasant Lake and Lake John.
Little Jim’s Bait (320) 274-5297
CHISAGO AREALimits of ducks were shot early on opening weekend, but hunting slowed as the sun got higher. The channel on Chisago Lake is giving up sunfish and crappies in 7 to 10 feet and there’s a midday crappie bite on South Lindstrom Lake and Chisago over 24 feet. Walleyes are hitting minnows in 13 to 16 feet on North Center Lake and in 10 to 12 feet on South Center Lake. Northern pike and bass are an easy catch with spinnerbaits along the weedlines of most lakes.
Frankie’s Bait (651) 257-6334
North West Minnesota Fishing ReportsNorthwest Minnesota Fishing Report - October 3rd, 2014
Posted on Thu, 02 Oct 2014
ALEXANDRIA AREAMuskies are hitting BullDawgs on Lake Miltona and Lobster Lake in 8 to 12 feet. Walleyes are being caught on minnows during the evening hours on the weedlines of Miltona and Lake Ida. Look to Reno Lake for crappies in 10 to 18 feet, and bigger bass are being found on the deep weedlines of most lakes. Waterfowl hunters found more geese than ducks on the opener, and most groups didn’t hunt long with the warm weather.
Christopherson’s Bait and Tackle (320) 763-3255
BATTLE LAKELook for walleyes in 20 to 30 feet to hit sucker minnows or in 5 to 7 feet hitting crankbaits at Otter Tail Lake and West Battle Lake. Sunfish and crappies are being caught in 14 to 18 feet on Clitherall Lake, Silver Lake and Heileburger Lake. Bass fishing has been best in 6 to 10 feet with spinnerbaits at Elbow Lake, West Battle and Silver, while northern pike are biting in 15 to 20 feet on West Battle, Otter Tail and Clitherall. Muskie action is strong in 15 to 20 feet on West Battle with large sucker minnows. Duck reports have been favorable with good numbers of puddle ducks in the area.
Ben’s Bait Shop (218) 864-5596
DETROIT LAKESMuskie action remains strong with large sucker minnows on Big Detroit Lake and Pelican Lake in less than 20 feet. Minnows also are turning walleyes in 15 to 30 feet at Big Detroit, Pelican, Lake Melissa, Big Cormorant Lake and Upper Cormorant Lake. Look to Big Detroit, Floyd Lake, Siverteen Lake and Sour Lake for crappies and sunfish in 10 to 15 feet. The groups that went duck hunting did well, but more people fished instead.
Quality Bait and Tackle (218) 844-2248
PARK RAPIDS AREALook for walleyes to hit minnows during low-light periods on Fish Hook Lake and Long Lake in 27 to 30 feet, and northern pike are hitting sucker minnows on Fish Hook in 14 feet. Waterfowl hunters shot more geese than ducks on opening weekend, while grouse continue to be seen in better-than-expected numbers.
Delaney’s (218) 732-4281
Smokey Hills Outdoors (218) 237-5099
PERHAM AREAWaterfowl hunters found plenty of birds on opening weekend with wood ducks, teal, mallards, ringnecks and a few redheads in bags. Crappies continue to be found suspended over 35 feet on Big Pine Lake and Little Pine Lake, while Rush Lake is producing northern pike in 10 to 14 feet. A jig and a fathead minnow is producing walleyes in 18 to 40 feet, as are crankbaits in 4 to 8 feet on Big Pine and Little Pine.
Gene’s Sport Shop (218) 346-3355
North East Minnesota Fishing ReportsNortheast Minnesota Fishing Report - October 3rd, 2014
Posted on Thu, 02 Oct 2014
DULUTH AREALook for walleyes and crappies to hit minnows at Island Lake in 12 to 15 feet, and sucker minnows are turning northern pike on Rice Lake in 5 feet. Walleyes are being found in 9 feet and northern pike in 4 feet at Boulder Lake. Grouse hunters are seeing more birds as the leaves begin to drop, and opening day produced a few local ducks but no big numbers.
Chalstrom’s Bait (218) 726-0094
ELY AREARainbow minnows are turning walleyes at White Iron Lake in 27 feet, Shagawa Lake in 23 feet, Big Lake in 8 to 10 feet, and at the power dam on Fall Lake. Smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing has been very good on most lakes, and crappies have been hitting on White Iron over 26 to 28 feet. Grouse hunting reports have been poor, but should improve as more leaves drop.
The Great Outdoors
(218) 365-4744
GRAND MARAIS AREALake trout action has picked up on Lake Superior over 60 to 100 feet or in front of the river mouths. Walleyes are hitting minnows and jigs on Crescent Lake in 12 to 16 feet, Lichen Lake in 15 to 20 feet, Saganaga Lake in 18 to 25 feet, and Elbow Lake in 4 to 8 feet. Grouse hunting has been good for those willing to get off the main paths.
Buck’s Hardware (218) 387-2280
LAKE KABETOGAMAWalleyes have been on the move as water temperatures change with 28 to 35 feet producing most fish via minnows. Northern pike are hitting minnows and crankbaits along the shorelines and weed edges in 12 to 18 feet and although limits aren’t being caught, crappies are showing up with the walleyes. Grouse hunting continues to improve as more leaves make their way to the ground.
Gateway Store (218) 875-2121
MORA AREACrappie action has been strong with minnows in 7 to 9 feet on Ann Lake, Knife Lake, Mud Lake and Fish Lake. A few walleyes are being caught with Jigging Rapalas in the current areas of Knife and Fish, while pike and bass reports have been limited. The waterfowl opener went well with wood ducks providing the most targets, and grouse action remains a bit slow.
Jerry’s Sport & Bait Shop (320) 679-2151
VIRGINIA AREACrappies have started hitting minnows and jigs on most small lakes including Pleasant Lake and West Two Lake. Little Silver Lake is giving up largemouth bass on topwater baits and the pits are producing rainbow trout. Look to the humps of Embarras Lake with minnows for walleyes. There wasn’t much reported from the duck opener, and grouse hunting is improving as the cover thins.
Lucky Seven General Store (218) 741-3617
North Central Minnesota Fishing Report - October 3rd, 2014
Posted on Thu, 02 Oct 2014
LAKE MILLE LACS East - Anglers are finding numbers of small walleyes on the 16- to 22-foot sand during the day. Look for the trolling bite at night to start picking up on the rock reefs and points with the next full moon. Muskie activity has improved on the shallow rocks, smallmouth bass remain an easy catch, and there are some good-sized perch being caught on the 16- to 18-foot rocks.
Johnson’s Portside (320) 676-3811
West - The tops and sides of the mud flats continue to give up walleyes at night on slip bobbers and leeches. During the day, a jig and minnow is producing a few walleyes on the shoreline rocks and weedlines. Look for perch close to shore or on the flats, smallmouth bass in 10 to 16 feet, and northern pike in 9 to 13 feet in most bays.
Terry’s Boat Harbor (320) 692-4430
LAKE OF THE WOODSLimits of walleye and sauger are being caught with hammered-gold spinners and crawlers at Little Oak and Garden Island in 14 to 24 feet. Fish also are hitting jigs and frozen shiners in 20 to 28 feet in front of Lighthouse Gap, Pine Island, and west towards Zippel Bay or off Long Point in 20 to 24 feet. On the Rainy River, jigging is producing walleyes in 14 to 20 feet and sturgeon are hitting crawlers on circle hooks from Birchdale to the mouth of the river. At the Northwest Angle, jigging with frozen shiners has worked best for walleyes in 18 to 24 feet at Oak Island. On the Ontario side, walleyes are going in 24 to 28 feet, crappie action has picked up, and muskies are going on the rocks.
Lake of the Woods Tourism Bureau (800) 382-FISH
LAKE VERMILIONSucker minnows are producing walleyes and good-sized smallmouth bass on the rock inclines and reef transition areas in 18 to 30 feet. The morning hours have been best for crappies in 16 to 18 feet, and muskies have been active on the submerged reefs, rock points and shorelines.
Pike Bay Lodge (218) 753-2430
LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISHNorthern pike and perch are being caught along the 8- to 12-foot weedlines off Mallard Point, Raven’s Point, Rich’s Townsite, and the mouth of the river. Walleyes can be had with a jig and minnow or crankbaits on the 6- to 12-foot breaks along the shorelines and points. Duck hunters have done well in the river and bays off the main lake.
Lake Winnie Resort Association
LEECH LAKEPerch action has picked up in 6 to 9 feet in front of GrandVu, Sand Point and the Narrows. Walleyes are hitting a jig and minnow in 6 to 12 feet at Goose Island, the Hardwoods, Duck Points and Meadows. The humps in Walker Bay and Cedar Point also are producing walleyes in deeper water. Duck reports have been good with teal, mallards and ringnecks in most bags, while grouse hunting continues to improve as the leaves drop.
Reed’s Sporting Goods (218) 547-1505
Shriver’s Bait Company (218) 547-2250
RAINY LAKEThe mouth of the Rat Root River, where it meets the lake, started giving up crappies over 10 to 15 feet. Walleyes and smallmouth bass are hitting minnows at the mouth of Gold Portage and the Reinier area continues to give up walleyes as well. Duck hunters did best in the Black Bay area shooting good numbers of mallards on opening day, but grouse reports have been poor.
Loon’s Nest (218) 286-5850
RED LAKEMinnows and crankbaits are producing walleyes along most shorelines in 4 to 7 feet. Grouse hunting has been good despite thick cover, and waterfowl hunters are shooting mostly local birds.
Mort’s Dock (218) 647-8128
BLACKDUCK AREALook for suspended crappies over 20 to 30 feet on Turtle River Lake, Gilstead Lake and Medicine Lake. Walleyes are hitting minnows and jigs in less than 10 feet on Blackduck Lake and in 6 to 10 feet or 20 feet or more on Island Lake. Duck hunters shot mostly wood ducks on the opener with a few mallards and teal mixed in, while grouse hunting improves daily as the leaves drop.
Timberline Sports and Tackle (218) 835-4636
BRAINERD/NISSWA AREAWalleyes continue to be scattered with fish being caught periodically on minnows at Gull Lake in 15 to 40 feet, Whitefish Lake in 20 to 32 feet, and Round Lake in 20 to 24 feet. Sunfish remain weed-orientated on Cullen Lake, the Highway 371 Bay on North Long Lake and Round. Most reports from the duck opener were good with wood ducks and teal in most bags.
S & W Bait & Guide Service/Nisswa Guide League (218) 829-7010
CASS LAKE AREAA jig and minnow is producing walleyes in Allen’s Bay on Cass Lake during the day in 25 feet and much shallower in the evenings. Look for crappies in 9 feet on Kitchi Lake, Wolf Lake and Allen’s Bay on Cass. Allen’s Bay also is giving up bluegills in 6 feet. Perch action has been best around Cedar Island on Cass. There seems to be good numbers of ducks and geese in the area, but the warm, bright weather on opening day kept them flying high after the first hour of shooting.
Sunset Cove Resort (800) 279-4831
CROSBY AREAA minnow and jig is turning crappies and walleyes at Clearwater Lake in 30 to 40 feet and walleyes at Rabbit Lake in 22 to 28 feet. Trolling big jerk baits and bucktails along the tree edges at Portsmouth Pit and Sagamore Pit has produced northern pike. Serpent Lake and Rabbit are kicking out largemouth bass in 20 to 25 feet on plastics. The duck opener was good for some groups and poor for others with mallards, wood ducks and blue-winged teal in most bags. The leaves have really dropped so grouse hunting reports have improved north and west of the area.
Oars ‘n Mine Bait and Tackle (218) 546-6912
EAST CENTRAL MNCrappies and sunfish remain active at Blue Lake in 7 feet and the Mississippi River has been giving up smallmouth bass. The weedlines of Elk Lake and Green Lake are producing northern pike, and duck hunters have done well, shooting mostly wood ducks and teal.
Tales and Trails Sport Shop (763) 856-3985
EMILY AREANorthern pike are hitting sucker minnows in 10 to 12 feet on the east side of Lake Emily, and Mitchell Lake is kicking out walleyes on minnows near the island in 18 feet. Crappies have started hitting in 12 to 14 feet on Lawrence Lake. Waterfowl hunters had a good opener with numbers of wood ducks and ringnecks in most bags, and grouse action remains favorable as well.
Redding Sports and Spirits (218) 763-2191
GRAND RAPIDS AREAWalleyes are hitting minnows in 7 to 12 feet on Big Splithand Lake or 20 to 35 feet at lakes Pokegama, Trout, Wabana and Sugar. You’ll find suspended crappies over 12 to 20 feet on Big Splithand and Little Splithand Lake and over 16 to 30 feet on Sand Lake, Big Cutfoot, Little Cutfoot and Pokegama. Work the weedlines on Little Cutfoot, Pokegama and Bass Lake for bluegills. Duck hunters shot limits of birds on opening day, but it’s been slow since. The cover is thinning so grouse hunters are shooting more birds.
Ben’s Bait and Tackle (218) 326-8281
GREY EAGLE AREAWalleyes are hitting minnows in 30 to 40 feet on Big Birch Lake and 18 to 25 feet at Cedar Lake. On Big Swan Lake, crappies and sunfish are biting in 12 to 15 feet, while Two Rivers Lake is kicking out panfish in 8 to 10 feet. Duck hunting reports have been mixed and opening day seemed to be better than Sunday.
Nancy’s Bait & Tackle (320) 285-2405
HACKENSACK AREAWaterfowl hunters reported seeing a lot of birds on opening weekend with wood ducks, mallards and a few ringnecks in bags, while grouse and woodcock shooting has been strong as well. Walleyes are hitting minnows at Woman Lake in 14 to 24 feet, and crappies are going in 12 to 16 feet at Webb Lake and Birch Lake. Look for muskies to hit BullDawgs or large sucker minnows on Baby Lake, Little Boy Lake and Lake Wabedo.
Swanson’s Bait and Tackle (218) 675-6176
McGREGOR AREAFishing reports have been limited, although Big Sandy Lake continues to produce a few panfish in 10 to 14 feet. Duck hunters shot more birds on Saturday morning than Sunday of opening weekend, and grouse hunting is improving with more birds being seen with the leaves coming down.
Willey’s Sport Shop & Spirits (218) 426-3382
ST. CLOUD/EDEN VALLEY AREAThe duck opener was “fair” with a mixture of puddle ducks and geese in most bags. Look for walleyes on Lake Koronis in 19 feet and Rice Lake in 12 to 18 feet. Rice also is giving up crappies in 12 feet and sunfish continue to hit on Cedar Island Lake, Becker Lake and Horseshoe Lake in 6 to 12 feet. Northern pike have started biting on sucker minnows or crankbaits in 12 to 14 feet on Horseshoe, Koronis, and Pearl Lake.
Mike’s Bait and Tackle (320) 453-2248
SAUK CENTRE AREAThe north end of Lake Osakis continues to produce crappies in 18 to 25 feet and sunfish in 13 feet. The north end of Sauk Lake is producing crappies in 4 to 8 feet, and Big Birch Lake continues to kick out a few walleyes in 18 to 40 feet on minnows. Look to Long Bridge Lake and Guerney Lake for crappies in 6 to 8 feet. Waterfowl participation appears down, but there was a lot of wood ducks in the area on opening weekend.
Fletcher’s Bait Shop (320) 352-2155
South Central Minnesota Fishing Reports
Southeast Minnesota Fishing Report - October 3rd, 2014
Posted on Thu, 02 Oct 2014
FARIBAULT AREAThe dock on Cannon Lake is producing perch and Cedar Lake is giving up crappies and sunfish in 7 to 9 feet. Look to Roberds Lake for catfish and sunfish, while Lake Mazaska is kicking out sunfish and crappies in 7 to 10 feet. Waterfowl hunters found plenty of wood ducks, geese and teal on opening day.
Nagel’s Live Bait (507) 334-8341
RED WING AREA
Walleye reports have been limited to a few fish being taken on minnows and jigs in the back channels and Head of the Lakes area. Waterfowl hunters found a good supply of wood ducks on opening day with a few teal and mallards in bags as well. The warm weather last weekend seemed to slow deer activity as well.
Four Seasons Sports (651) 388-4334
Southwest Minnesota Fishing Report - October 3rd, 2014
Posted on Thu, 02 Oct 2014
FAIRMONT AREAOpening day of the duck season produced limits for most groups, but Sunday was slower. Blue-winged teal and wood ducks were around in big numbers, followed by mallards and a few geese. Walleyes continue to hit crankbaits in 6 to 8 feet on Budd Lake, Hall Lake and George Lake. Crappies and sunfish are hitting in 4 to 7 feet on Lake Sissiton and Budd, while catfish are hitting crawlers on most lakes.
Sommer Outdoors (507) 235-5225
MANKATO AREASunfish and crappies are hitting on Lake Washington in 10 to 12 feet, and you’ll hit a few walleyes on minnows here in 16 to 20 feet or along shallower weedlines. The deep pockets on the Minnesota River, Blue Earth River and Le Sueur River are giving up walleyes on jigs tipped with minnows or plastics. Look to Madison Lake for a few crappies in 14 feet, and duck hunters struggled a bit with most groups only having a duck or two on opening day.
The Bobber Shop (507) 625-8228
MONTICELLO AREASucker minnows are producing smallmouth bass on the Mississippi River and northern pike on the weedlines of Lake Ida. Birch Lake is worth hitting for sunfish in 8 to 14 feet and look to Lake Constance over 18 feet for crappies. Duck hunting reports have been limited as participation seemed down on opening day.
Monticello Bait & Tackle (763) 295-11
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Topic: Minnesota Fishing Reports (Read 2302 times)
