By Outdoor News

LAKE MILLE LACS
East — The best walleye bite is taking place on the rocks in six feet or less with minnows. The Grassy Island area, Hawkbill Point, and Big Point have produced the most fish during the day and evening hours. Minnows and leeches also have turned walleyes on the north-end sand breaks.
West — Walleyes are scattered throughout St. Alban’s Bay in six to 22 feet. A jig and small shiner minnow is turning walleyes off Brown’s Point, Seguchie Point, and Pike Point. A few good-sized pike also have been taken on minnows in the shallow weeds of St. Alban’s Bay.

LAKE OF THE WOODS
Limits of 16- to 19-inch walleyes and quite a few large fish have been caught in four to 13 feet at the Lighthouse Gap, Morris Point Gap, and in Four Mile Bay. Anchoring and jigging with shiner minnows has been the best option throughout the day.

LEECH LAKE
A jig and minnow is producing walleyes in five to 10 feet off Pine Point, Otter Tail Point, and the Hardwoods. Generally speaking, most wind-driven points are producing fish. Look for consistent perch action in less than 10 feet in the Walker Narrows and Hardwoods area. The boat harbors have started holding crappies.

LAKE MINNETONKA
The best walleye option is at night in three to five feet. Leeches or small minnows under a float have worked best in Brown’s Bay. An occasional walleye also is caught on the weedlines. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows in the channels and crappie action has been excellent in the bays.

RAINY LAKE
A jig and minnow is a safe bet for walleyes on the Rainy River. Jigging also produced walleyes for anglers fishing shorelines or from docks. A few fish have come from 40 to 50 feet of water, but most of the main lake has yet to start kicking out fish. Northern pike reports are limited, while Black Bay is worth noting for crappies.

LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
It’s been an inconsistent walleye bite to start the season, and the cool water and inconsistent weather haven’t helped. The best option is a jig and minnow in less than eight feet. Mallard Point, Sugar Point, the Gap, and north-end breaks are good starting spots.

TWIN CITIES
NORTHEAST METRO — Shad Raps are triggering walleyes on the St. Croix River in eight to 15 feet. White Bear Lake is producing walleyes and northern pike in six to 12 feet via minnows during the evening hours. Look to the bays of Big Marine Lake and Silver Lake for northern pike as well. Crappie activity remains strong with good reports coming off Vadnais Lake and the marinas of the St. Croix.
WEST METRO — Sucker minnows or crankbaits are producing northern pike at Lake Auburn, Steiger Lake, and the south side of Lake Riley. Shiner minnows are the best option for walleyes in less than 10 feet on the Crow River, Minnesota River, and Lake Riley. Work the north end of Lake Minnewashta for panfish in less than eight feet.

LAKE WACONIA
Fathead minnows are producing walleyes during low-light periods at the Carp Trap, Rock Dock, and Harm’s Point in six to 12 feet. Crappie action has been excellent along the entire south shore, highlighted by some big fish being taken off the docks in the marina. Small jigs tipped with minnows are turning the biggest fish.

ALEXANDRIA AREA
A jig and minnow is turning a few walleyes in four to six feet at lakes Mary, Andrew, and Oscar. Crappies seem to be in and out of the shallows depending on weather conditions, but look to lakes Carlos, Lobster, Darling, Miltona, and Le Homme Dieu when the sun is out. Lake Carlos is the area’s best option for northern pike as well.

ANNANDALE AREA
Walleye action has been inconsistent although shallow-running crankbaits or minnows are producing a few fish in four to eight feet on Clearwater Lake and Lake Sylvia. Clearwater also is giving up northern pike, while the sunfish and crappie bite remains strong in shallow water. Lakes such as John, Pleasant, Francis, Sylvia, and Clearwater have been best for panfish.

BATTLE LAKE
Key on the river mouths, current areas, or less than five feet of water for walleyes at Otter Tail Lake, Rush Lake, Silver Lake, Clitherall Lake, and Deer Lake. The bays and shorelines of East Battle, West Battle, Ten Mile, and Clitherall are safe bets for crappies. Lakes such as Mollie Stark, Deer, and Rush are producing sunfish, while sucker minnows are the ticket for pike at South Turtle Lake, Otter Tail, and West Battle.
BEMIDJI AREA
A jig and shiner minnow is turning walleyes in four to six feet, or the moving water areas of Lake Andrusia, Big Wolf Lake, and Lake Irving. Northern pike and panfish reports have been limited.
BLACKDUCK AREA
Walleye action has been limited with a few fish coming off Gull Lake and Blackduck Lake in shallow water. Panfish action also remains slow, but lakes such as Rabideau, Gilstead, and Pimushe should turn on once the water warms.
BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA
Finding a consistent walleye bite has been difficult. Even in shallow water, finding numbers of fish has been tough. Crappie fishing has been much more consistent. FluFlu’s tipped with minnows or waxworms are triggering numbers of crappies and a few sunfish in shallow water.
CHISAGO AREA
There’s an evening walleye bite on the shallow sand areas of Chisago Lake, North Center Lake, and South Center Lake with minnows. Sunrise Lake started kicking out crappies and northern pike, while most area lakes continue to produce panfish in shallow water.
CROSBY AREA
Bright-colored crankbaits are producing limits of trout on the local pit lakes. The best walleye reports are coming from three to six feet with most anglers doing best using crankbaits. Sunfish and crappie activity has picked up in the shallow bays and shoreline areas of most lakes. Look for northern pike to be hitting sucker minnows under a float throughout the area.
DETROIT LAKES
A minnow and bobber rig has worked best for walleyes during the evening hours. Concentrate on the current areas of Pelican Lake, Big Pine Lake, Little Pine Lake, and Cormorant Lake for the most fish. Northern pike tend to be mixed with the walleyes and crappie action remains favorable in the shallows of Big Detroit, Sallie, Melissa, Big Pine, and Little Pine.
EAST-CENTRAL
Walleye reports are sporadic, but minnows are turning a few ’eyes at Blue Lake and Green Lake in 12 feet. Pike and sunfish activity is limited, while crappies have provided steady action at Blue, Green, and Elk lakes in less than six feet.
ELY AREA
A vertically presented jig and rainbow minnow is the ticket for walleyes. Several lakes are producing fish, but the flowing water areas of Fall Lake and White Iron Lake have been best in less than 10 feet.
FAIRMONT AREA
Look shallow with Mister Twisters, leeches, and minnows for walleyes at Lake Sissiton, Budd Lake, and Iowa Lake. George Lake continues to kick out sunfish and crappies in shallow water and Fox Lake is a safe bet for northern pike in less than five feet.
FARIBAULT AREA
The shoreline along the ‘‘Warsaw Area’’ of Cannon Lake is an area that’s worth noting for walleyes. Work the shallow weeds of Sabre Lake with spoons for northern pike. The creek mouth of Shields Lake is a safe bet for crappies, while the bays of Lake Mazaska and Shieldsare holding sunfish.
GRAND MARAIS AREA
There was still ice that remained on many lakes in the area during opening weekend so it was tough to get a consistent walleye report. As of Monday, most lakes were ice-free and a few large walleyes had been caught on minnows at Devil’s Track Lake.
GRAND RAPIDS AREA
Numbers of large walleyes are being pulled from Big Cutfoot Sioux Lake in six to eight feet. Minnows are the ticket in the shallows of many lakes for walleyes including Sand, Bowstring, Six Mile, and Round. The shallow water at the east end of Lake Pokegama is a safe bet for crappies.
HACKENSACK AREA
Minnows are turning a few walleyes in 12 to 14 feet at Birch Lake, Ten Mile Lake, and Pine Mountain Lake. Hit Woman Lake in 12 to 14 feet for a few walleyes and jumbo perch. Panfish reports have been minimal with the cool weather.
LAKE KABETOGAMA
Walleyes are hitting minnows in six to 12 feet at a good pace. Most of these fish are in the 17- to 26-inch protected slot. The majority of small, eating-sized walleyes are coming from 28 to 32 feet. Sauger and crappie action is limited, but pike are hitting almost anything thrown in the shallows.
LAKE VERMILION
A jig and minnow combination is providing consistent walleye action in six to 20 feet in Black Bay, Norwegian Bay, Niles Bay, and the Narrows. Walleyes also were taken on crankbaits in the Narrows and Black Bay. Crappie action is improving, especially when the sun is out. Look to Black Bay as a good starting area.
McGREGOR AREA
The shorelines of Big Sandy Lake are producing small walleyes via minnows. Crappies have continued to bite off Pleasant Point and in the narrows on Lake Minnewawa. Bellhorn Bay and the narrows of Big Sandy also have given up crappies.
RED LAKE
You can pitch a jig and minnow just about anywhere in six to eight feet of water and catch numbers of walleyes. The north side of the lake is producing a surprising number of crappies in four to six feet quite a few limits are reported. A few big northern pike have been taken at the mouth of the Tamarack River.
ST. CLOUD/EDEN VALLEY AREA
An occasional walleye is caught during low-light periods around the islands of Lake Koronis in shallow water. The river mouth on Rice Lake and the channels or bridges of Horseshoe Lake also have produced walleyes. Look to Long Lake during the evening hours in less than eight feet for walleyes. Lakes such as Horseshoe and Long remain the best crappie options.
SAUK CENTRE AREA
Minnows and slip floats are turning northern pike in nine feet at Sauk Lake and in eight to 12 feet at Fairy Lake. Fathead minnows are providing steady walleye action on McCormick Lake at night. Look to Maple Lake for a few walleyes in 12 to 16 feet and panfish action remains slow.
STARBUCK AREA
Minnows have turned some walleyes in front of the high school on Lake Minnewaska in 20 to 25 feet. Shallow-running crankbaits or fatheads have produced a more consistent walleye bite on Lake Emily in four feet of water. Panfish tend to bite in the shallows if the sun is out, but it’s slow on the cool, cloudy days.
WATERVILLE AREA
Walleyes are hitting leeches in the narrows of Lake Sakatah in seven feet. German Lake, Lake Washington, and Buckmasters Point on Madison Lake are giving up walleyes via minnows and leeches in 10 to 14 feet. Work the lagoon on Lake Tetonka for panfish and Jefferson Lake continues to produce bullheads.
WILLMAR AREA
Minnows, leeches, and crawlers are producing walleyes in less than 10 feet at lakes such as Diamond, Norway, Long, East Solomon, Ringo, and Big Kandi. Green Lake is giving up walleyes in 40 to 50 feet. Panfish reports have slowed, but spinnerbaits are triggering northern pike on the Crow River.