Area Fishing Reports

[Lee Borgersen]

                   :fishing2:Area  Fishing Reports

Posted: April 19



BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA

Anglers continued to use ATVs on most lakes this week, but watch the channels and accesses by this weekend. North Long Lake, Hubert Lake, Cullen Lake, Clark Lake, and Nisswa Lake remained safe bets for crappies and sunfish in six to 10 feet.


CROSBY AREA

Ice-fishing options have ended. The shorelines are pulled away and the few people fishing last weekend reported poor main-lake ice as well. The ice left looks black and soft so open water isn’t too far away.


LAKE MILLE LACS

Most shorelines and access spots are showing signs of a spring thaw, ending most ice-fishing options. There were some reports of garbage can-sized holes opening in some bays so if you do venture out one last time, watch for those areas.


HACKENSACK AREA

The tail end of the ice-fishing season has arrived. People were still going early this week but the shorelines have started to pull away, so with some caution you could probably still find a place to fish this weekend. Crappies continue to be found in 10 to 15 feet at Pleasant Lake, Stoney Lake, Webb Lake, and Birch Lake. Whitefish were being found suspended high in the water column over deep water at Ten Mile Lake.


LEECH LAKE

Despite some cooler weather this week, many access points and shorelines have deteriorated beyond the point of allowing people to get on the lake. As a result, fishing pressure has been minimal since last weekend and if you plan on going this weekend, check with resorts to see if they are still letting people on the ice.


McGREGOR AREA

The shorelines are starting to bust up and pull away, but anglers were still getting on the ice early this week. Most were walking out so if that’s an option this weekend, Lake Minnewawa and Big Sandy Lake are worth hitting for panfish in less than 12 feet.


LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH

Some accesses are getting beat up, but ATVs were being used early this week and some of the best perch spots are being walked to. Look for perch in less than 10 feet along the south shore and out from the West Winnie Campground access.


LAKE OF THE WOODS

Pike are ready to run shallow with bigger fish being taken on sucker minnows in Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay in eight to 10 feet. On the Rainy River, the Birchdale and Frontier accesses are open for any size boat and open water extends just west of Clementson. The walleye season is closed, but the catch and release sturgeon action has been good on the river.


RAINY LAKE

The catch and release sturgeon season started on the Rainy River. The majority of fish have been small and taken on nightcrawlers. The pike season is open as well, with a few fishermen working the Rainy Lake City area with tip-ups and suckers in seven to 10 feet, but most of these fish have also been small.


BEMIDJI AREA

Although the main-lake ice is still strong, the accesses are getting beaten up and the number of people fishing has been limited. It seems as though most people have put away the ice-fishing gear for the season and are content waiting for open water.


BLACKDUCK AREA

ATVs should be an option on area lakes through this weekend. Perch continue to be caught in six to 25 feet at Island Lake and Round Lake. Crappies are hitting during the evening hours over 20 feet of water on Blackduck Lake. Look to Gull Lake and Pimushe Lake for bluegills in 10 to 20 feet.


CASS LAKE AREA

The six- to eight-foot sand/weed flats of Pike Bay Lake and Cass Lake continue to produce perch. Bluegills and a few crappies are being found over 18 feet of water at Lower Sucker, Middle Sucker, and Upper Sucker lakes. Be careful on the ice at this point as the shorelines and current areas are starting to open. Anything with moving water has started to open in pockets.


EAST CENTRAL MN

The shorelines are no longer allowing people to get on the ice and what’s left looks black and could be gone with the next warm stretch of weather. A few people have been fishing the Mississippi River for rough fish and catfish with marginal success.


GRAND RAPIDS AREA

Shorelines remain in good shape and ATVs are being used throughout the area. Look to Bass Lake for bluegills in six to 11 feet and Jay Gould Lake is producing perch in 10 feet. Tioga Bay and Poole’s Bay on Lake Pokegama are giving up crappies and sunfish in seven feet, while Big Cutfoot Sioux Lake is kicking out crappies and tullibees over 25 to 30 feet. Hit Bowstring Lake for crappies in 20 feet and perch in 16 to 18 feet. Big Splithand and Little Splithand lakes are producing a mixed bag of panfish in 17 to 20 feet.


ST. CLOUD/EDEN VALLEY AREA

There’s too much ice left to fish open water and not enough shorelines available to get on the lakes in the area. Looking at the ice that remained early this week, it should be gone quickly with the next warm spell.