By Outdoor News

LAKE OF THE WOODS
Walleyes are hitting crankbaits or jigs and minnows in 28 to 33 feet along the south shore. Downrigging also has started to produce walleyes on the deep structure. The current has slowed on the Rainy River and the sturgeon bite has been excellent. At the Northwest Angle, a jig and minnow is the best walleye option in 25 to 30 feet of water.

LEECH LAKE AREA
Crankbaits are triggering walleyes during the evening hours from Pine Point to the Grandview Flats in 10 to 12 feet. Spinners and crawlers are working in 14 to 16 feet north of Goose Island, Stony Point, and the main-lake reefs. Muskies are chasing small bucktails on the weedlines of Sucker Bay and Portage Bay. The pencil reeds in the Walker Narrows are worth noting for bluegills and the rice beds in Boy Bay and Steamboat Bay are safe bets for bass

RAINY LAKE
Leeches and crawlers are triggering walleyes in 30 to 40 feet near Blueberry Island and the American Narrows. Sand Bay also is worth noting for walleyes in 28 to 32 feet. The golf course area of the Rainy River has been a safe bet for walleyes during the evening hours. Smallmouth bass continue to bite best on the Canadian side and crappies are being found in the Red Root River area of Black Bay.

LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
The bigger northern pike have started hitting spoons and minnows along the shoreline breaks and weedlines. Look for perch on the rocks and points in 12 to 15 feet. A jig and minnow continues to work well for walleyes in the six- to eight-foot weeds. Work the bars such as Moxes Hole, Sugar, and Snaghole with live-bait rigs in 18 to 25 feet for walleyes.

BEMIDJI AREA
Walleyes are being taken with leeches and crawlers during the evening hours off Diamond Bar on Lake Bemidji in seven to 11 feet. The eight- to 12-foot cabbage areas of Turtle Lake and Lake Plantagenet also have produced walleyes. The best panfish action is coming off Sucker Lake, Lake Alice, and Lake Pimushe in 12 to 16 feet. Muskies are starting to hit bucktails and topwaters during low-light periods on Bemidji and Plantagenet.

BLACKDUCK AREA
Blackduck Lake continues to produce small walleyes, but look for bigger fish from Gull Lake during the evening hours via crankbaits. The 10- to 14-foot weeds of Gull also have provided good panfish action. The deep weedlines of Rabideau Lake and Gilstead Lake are holding bluegills and a few crappies.

DETROIT LAKES
Leeches, crawlers, and minnows are producing walleyes from the weedlines out to 20 feet on lakes Sallie, Big Detroit, Melissa, Pelican, and Cormorant. Muskies are hitting CowGirls on the humps and weedlines of Big Detroit. Bluegills are being taken off the deep cabbage of Floyd Lake, Island Lake, Severson Lake, Sour Lake, and Big Detroit. Crappies are suspended over 20 feet at Melissa, Big Detroit, and Pelican.

DULUTH AREA
Boulder Lake is kicking out walleyes in 10 to 12 feet via chubs and leeches. Crawlers have triggered walleyes in 12 feet at Fish Lake. Trolling crankbaits and spoons in 20 feet on the south shore of Lake Superior is a safe bet for walleyes. Crappies and bluegills can be had off Fish Lake in eight to 14 feet. Work Rice Lake and Fish Lake with sucker minnows in six feet for pike. You’ll find king and coho salmon 35 to 40 feet down and lake trout near the bottom over 70 feet on Superior.

GRAND RAPIDS AREA
There’s consistent walleye action taking place at night with Rapalas and Salmos in eight feet at lakes Pokegama, Deer, Sugar, and Trout. The best day bite is at Trout Lake in 17 feet with leeches. The 12- to 18-foot weedlines of Pokegama, Wabana, and Spider are producing crappies during the evening hours. Bass Lake, Grave Lake, and the Mississippi River are providing bluegills and bass remain active on most lakes.

LAKE KABETOGAMA
Walleyes are hitting during the day, but the bite peaks during the evening hours on the 20- to 30-foot reefs and weed edges. Stick baits tossed along the deep weed edges will trigger pike during the morning and evening hours. Smallmouths have moved to deeper structure but continue to be caught at a good pace on crankbaits and minnows.

LAKE OSAKIS
Bluegill action is slowly improving on the eight- to 12-foot flats and weedlines. Small jigs tipped with red worms or leeches have worked best. Walleye activity has really slowed over the past week, but northern pike and bass are biting on the deep weedlines. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and minnows are all working.
LAKE VERMILION
Muskie action continues to be very good on the weedlines, rock reefs, and points. Big bucktails are working best during the day and topwater is the way to go during low-light periods. Lindy Rigs and crawlers are producing walleyes in 17 to 22 feet. The evening bite on the rock reefs also is going strong with slip bobbers and leeches. Senkos are producing smallmouths in the shaded areas or on vertical structure.
MANKATO AREA
Limits of crappies are coming off Madison Lake in 10 to 25 feet. Look for bluegills in 10 to 12 feet at Lake Washington and in 10 to 20 feet at Lake Francis. Walleyes and pike are inactive, but bass continue to be pulled off the weedlines of most lakes with plastics.
PARK RAPIDS AREA
Spinners and crawlers are triggering a few walleyes on Long Lake in 28 to 30 feet. Work the weedbeds of Fifth Crow Wing Lake with minnows for northern pike. Island Lake is kicking out bluegills in 12 to 14 feet and topwater baits are raising muskies on Big Mantrap Lake. The bass bite remains strong on all lakes.
ST. CLOUD/EDEN VALLEY AREA
Look for sunfish in eight to 12 feet on Rice Lake, Pearl Lake, Horseshoe Lake, and Cedar Island Lake. Rice and Cedar Island also have produced crappies in 12 feet. Crawlers are turning a few walleyes on Rice in 12 to 16 feet. On Brown’s Lake, minnows are providing steady pike action from the weedlines out to 18 feet. Work the deep breaks around the islands of Lake Koronis for smallmouth bass.
SAUK CENTRE AREA
Plastics and minnows are producing crappies on Little Sauk Lake in six to eight feet and on the north end of Big Sauk in 12 feet. Sunfish are an easy catch at Fairy Lake in 16 feet, Maple Lake in 10 to 12 feet, Big Birch Lake in 17 feet and right in the weeds on Lake Villard. Crawlers are producing a few walleyes on Big Birch in 30 to 34 feet and on Sauk in 16 to 18 feet. Hit Fairy Lake with minnows in 15 to 18 feet for northern pike.