Area fishin/huntin report

[Lee Borgersen]

                  Area fishing and hunting report


Walleye season on Lake of the Woods, Rainy River and other Minnesota-Ontario border waters closed Sunday, but anglers still can ice fish for pike or target lake sturgeon in open water.
 


Lake of the Woods

Walleye season on Lake of the Woods, Rainy River and other Minnesota-Ontario border waters closed Sunday, but anglers still can ice fish for pike or target lake sturgeon in open water. The Rainy River as of Thursday morning was open past Baudette, Minn., to within about seven miles of Lake of the Woods. According to Sportsman’s Lodge, the best sturgeon reports are coming from the Rainy River near Clementson Rapids at the mouth of the Rapid River east of Baudette, where anglers are anchoring just upstream from deep holes and dunking a 5/0 or 6/0 hook baited with a glob of nightcrawlers. The snow is slow in melting, so there’s not much runoff at this point, and current remains slow. Sturgeon fishing is catch-and-release only through Tuesday, and a limited harvest season begins Wednesday and continues through May 7; the season reverts to catch-and-release from May 8 through May 15, when it closes until July 1. Check the 2013 Minnesota fishing regulations book for more information on sturgeon seasons, slot limits and other regulations. Walleye season resumes May 11.


Devils Lake


Not much has changed since last week, although there’s probably even more snow on the ice after the latest snowstorm. Reports are hard to come by right now because few people are fishing, but anglers last week reportedly were doing well on perch and walleyes, with pike hitting tip-ups baited with smelt or herring in shallower water.


Bemidji area


The Bemidji area is locked into winter mode, with more than 30 inches of ice remaining on most lakes. Anglers are still ice fishing, with most using snowmobiles to access the lakes. Fish have been moving into shallow water, waiting for spring to arrive. Walleye season is closed, but sunfish and perch in many lakes have moved into 6 to 8 feet of water. Anglers also should look for fish suspended right below the ice.


Cass Lake area


There’s still 30 inches of ice, shorelines are in good shape and anglers can access lakes with snowmobiles, but there isn’t much fishing activity taking place. The only bite worth noting is coming off the Stony Point area of Cass Lake, where perch are hitting in 8 to 10 feet of water along the cabbage weeds.


Leech Lake


The area received 6 inches of wet, heavy snow early in the week so moving around the lake continues to be difficult. Perch action has been slow; a few anglers are walking to perch spots in Walker Bay, Trader’s Bay and Agency Bay, but they’re not reporting much success.


Lake Winnibigoshish


It still looks and feels like winter in this area, and, with the exception of some deterioration along shorelines and access points, the ice continues to show no signs of a spring thaw. Fishing activity has been nonexistent again this week.


Detroit Lakes


A few fishermen continue to hit area lakes with ATVs, as ice conditions remain favorable for fishing. There have been tullibee reports coming from the deep-water areas on Star Lake, Long Lake, Big Pine Lake, Pelican Lake, Loon Lake and Little Pine Lake. Look for crappies and sunfish on Floyd Lake, Mud Lake, Height of Land Lake, Tamarack Lake, Buffalo Lake and Rock Lake in less than 10 feet of water.


Park Rapids area


The ice really hasn’t started to deteriorate throughout the area, and shorelines remain intact, but fishing pressure has been light. Bluegills are hitting Eurolarvae and waxworms on Fish Hook Lake and Straight Lake in about 10 feet of water. Crappie action has been slow this week.


Spring light goose update


Snow geese didn’t like what they saw in North Dakota, apparently, and large numbers have moved back south and are staged at Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge in South Dakota, according to the latest spring migration update from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Before the latest storm, numerous flocks of snow geese were staging in southeast North Dakota from Interstate 94 to the South Dakota border. A few flocks could be holding tight in parts of North Dakota waiting for a break in the weather before they start moving again. There also have been reports of snow geese moving back up the western portion of the migration corridor, where there is less snow.