REGIONAL FISHING REPORTS

[Lee Borgersen]

                              REGIONAL FISHING REPORTS



LAKE MILLE LACS

East - Look for walleyes on the 20- to 30- foot rock structure during the day. The sand/mud transition areas on the north end have produced walleyes, and you'll find perch in 12 to 16 feet on the north end sand as well. Most bays continue to provide steady northern pike action and some keeping-sized perch.


West - ATV travel to the mud flats is now an option and the walleye bite on most of them has been strong. Work the tops of the flats during low-light periods and the deeper edges during the day. You'll find big perch mixed with the walleyes in 28 to 32 feet during midday hours. The 18- to 22- foot breaks in most bays continue to hold walleyes as well.

LEECH LAKE

Walleyes and perch are hitting off Pine Point and the shoreline breaks in Walker Bay in 10 to 14 feet. Walleyes also have started showing up on the deep humps in Walker Bay, but most have been running small. Some of the best walleye action is taking place after dark on setlines and shiner minnows. Northern pike have been active in less than 12 feet in most bays and main lake structure.

BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA

Early morning and evening hours have been best for walleyes in 18 to 30 feet on North Long Lake, Pelican Lake, Round Lake and Gull Lake. Crappies are suspended over 15 to 30 feet on Round, Gull and North Long. Look for sunfish in 8 to 12 feet on these lakes as well as Nisswa Lake and Cullen Lake.

CASS LAKE AREA

Northern pike action continues to be very good in 10 to 14 feet in Allen's Bay and the Star Island area of Cass Lake. Look for a few walleyes during the morning and evening hours on the north side of Allen's Bay or Wishbone Bar on Cass in 10 to 12 feet. The east shoreline and Center Bar areas of Pike Bay Lake are giving up walleyes in 12 feet. Dick's Bay on Cass or Kitchi Lake are safe bets for bluegills in 8 feet.

CROSBY AREA

Spearing has been very good on most lakes in less than 10 feet with Serpent Lake giving up a few bigger fish. There's some evening crappie and walleye action at Bay Lake in 17 feet with glow jigs and minnows. Look to Lake Mahnomen in 12 to 20 feet and Milford Lake in 16 to 24 feet for sunfish and a few crappies. Serpent and Rabbit Lake are giving up a few walleyes in 21 to 23 feet during the evening hours.

EMILY AREA

Walleyes have started hitting shiner minnows or rattle spoons on the southwest side of Molten Lake in 12 to 15 feet. Look to Smokey Hollow Lake for crappies in 18 feet, and the north end of Island Lake is giving up northern pike in 10 to 12 feet on tip-ups and sucker minnows.

GRAND RAPIDS AREA

Look for suspended crappies over 20 to 24 feet on lakes Bowstring, Sand, Big Cutfoot, Little Cutfoot and Big Splithand. Walleyes are spread out from 12 to 40 feet and most active in the evenings on Bowstring, Deer Lake, Lake Wabana, Trout Lake, Sugar Lake and Lake Pokegama. Bluegills are biting in 6 to 14 feet on Bass Lake, 6 to 30 feet in the bays of Pokegama, and 18 to 20 feet on Big Splithand. Northern pike action has improved with bigger fish coming off Pokegama and Trout in 10 to 14 feet.

STAPLES/LITTLE FALLS AREA

Walleyes continue to hit on Lake Alexander in 18 to 22 feet during the evening hours. Pierz/Fish Lake is producing crappies in 22 feet, and the Grass Island area of Big Lake is kicking out sunfish and crappies. Spearing for northern pike has been strong on Green Prairie Lake, and you'll find crappies here in 18 to 22 feet.