Minnesota Lakes, Fishing and Minnesota Lake Homes, MN Fishing

Minnesota Lakes are famous for Outstanding Walleye, Northern Pike and Muskie Fishing. Find information on Minnesota Fishing, Minnesota Lake Homes, Top Fishing Lakes, Fishing Resorts, Lake Property, Fishing Guides, Lake Maps and More

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Minnesota Fishing Lakes

The State of Minnesota is home to over 10,000 Lakes, so if you enjoy Fishing, Boating, and Water Sports, this is an excellent vacation destination. Minnesota is known for great Walleye Fishing, Northern Pike Fishing and Bass Fishing. With incredible Fishing Lakes like: Lake of the Woods, Lake Vermilion, Lake Mille Lacs and Leech Lake, you are sure to catch your fishing limit on these and most Minnesota Lakes. Make sure you spend some time at one of our many great Minnesota Resorts and Minnesota Campgrounds, which are perfect for both Fishing and Family vacations. There is also beautiful Minnesota Lake Property for sale throughout the State, so you can find your Dream Lake Home.

Minnesota Fishing Reports

Lake Mille Lacs Fishing

On Lake Mille Lacs, the east end is producing walleye on lindy rigs tipped with leeches, and on crankbaits, worked at the 25- to 30-foot gravel and mud areas during the day. After dark, hit the 14- to 20-foot rocks and gravel using slip bobbers and leeches. Smallmouth bass continue to be pulled from the rocks and points. Northern pike action has been limited. Muskie anglers are seeing a few fish during evening hours in the bays. On the west end of the lake, walleye are hitting spinner rigs and live-bait rigs in 24-30 feet of water during the middle of the day and early in the evening. After dark, use a slip bobber and leech either on the shallow rocks or off the flats in depths of 30 feet or more. A few good-sized northern pike have been taken off the weedlines in St. Alban’s Bay. Smallmouth bass are coming from the rocks. Muskie action remains limited.

Lake Mille Lacs Fishing

Lake of the Woods Fishing

On Lake of the Woods, walleye are being taken from 5-10 feet of water and from depths of 22-28 feet around Pine Island, the Lighthouse Gap, Morris Point, and Zippel Bay. Jigs or live-bait rigs tipped with crawlers or minnows are producing the majority of fish. The deeper holes of the Rainy River are giving up walleye and northern pike.

Twin Cities Area Fishing

Crappies and sunfish have become very active in the shallow bays of lakes such as White Bear, Vadnais, and Centerville. The marinas and docks scattered throughout the St. Croix River also provided an improved crappie bite this week. Walleyes and sauger are scattered but active on the St. Croix. A jig and minnow is working best in eight to 23 feet.

Lake Minnetonka Fishing

On Lake Minnetonka, slip bobbers and leeches are producing walleye, with fish found tight to the weedlines in 17 feet of water. Crappies are scattered at the tops of most weed flats. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows at the 15- to 18-foot weed edges. Sunfish remain along the shorelines. Bass are an easy catch in depths of 6-10 feet. While muskie anglers report lots of follows, few fish have been caught.

Alexandria Lakes Area Fishing

Walleye are hitting crawlers and leeches worked in 15-20 feet of water on Lake Mary, and in depths of 12-15 feet on Lake Reno. A jig and minnow combination continues to produce walleye at the weedlines and in 18-22 feet of water on Ida and Miltona lakes. Bass are hitting plastics and rattle traps at the weedlines of most area lakes. Look for crappies on the rock piles and at the cabbage weeds of lakes Carlos, Darling, and Le Homme Dieu. Sunfish have started moving to the first weedline throughout the Le Homme Dieu Chain.

Annandale Lakes Area Fishing

Walleye action in French, Clearwater, Pleasant and Cedar lakes in 16-24 feet using leeches, fathead minnows and crank baits. Sunfish are moving into the shallows to spawn in area lakes. Anglers are catching northerns in John, Sugar and Sylvia lakes in 12-16 feet along the weedlines. Wright County Lakes

Battle Lake Area Fishing

Sunfish are being pulled from 3-8 feet of water on Deer, Long, Star, Dead, Norway, Rush, and West Battle lakes. The 12- to 17- foot weedlines of Blanche, Stalker, Walker, and East Battle lakes are holding crappies. Walleye are being taken on leeches worked in depths of 18-25 feet on East Battle, Walker, Little Pine, Silver, and Clitherall lakes. On Otter Tail Lake, crawlers have worked best in 18-22 feet of water, and in depths of 27-32 feet. Northern pike are cruising the weedlines of Long, Otter Tail, and South Turtle lakes. Anglers using crankbaits and bucktails are taking muskies on West Battle Lake. Most area lakes are producing bass.

Bemidji Lakes Area Fishing

Largemouth bass are hitting spinnerbaits on Deer, Thirteen, and North Twin lakes. Panfish are coming from the shallows of Grace and Midge lakes. Look for walleye on lakes Bemidji and Plantagenet using a jig and shiner in 6 feet of water. Muskie anglers are seeing fish, but few have been netted. Northern pike are hitting minnows on most area lakes.

Blackduck Area Fishing

Lindy rigs and live bait are turning walleye on Blackduck Lake in 14 feet of water. Island Lake continues to produce walleye in depths of 10-14 feet. Panfish action has picked up on the weedlines of Gilstead and Rabideau lakes. Bass are hitting plastics and spinnerbaits at the emerging weeds of most lakes.

Brainerd Lakes Area Fishing

Walleye are scattered in 8-32 feet of water, with lindy rigs and live bait working best in the shallower depths. Just some of the area lakes to check out include Gull, Round, and North Long. For northern pike, work the weedlines using sucker minnows. Bass are hitting spinnerbaits and plastics throughout the area. Crow Wing County Lakes

Cass Lake Area Fishing

Walleye are hitting leeches in 8-12 feet of water throughout Allen’s Bay on Cass Lake. Crankbaits have been best during evening hours at Deadman’s and North Cedar bars. Walleye are coming in on fatheads worked in depths of 10-12 feet on Big Lake. Look for perch in 4-6 feet of water on Cass Lake. Buck Lake is giving up crappies. Muskies are chasing topwater baits throughout the Cass Lake Chain. Grace Lake continues to provide plenty of bass action.

Chisago Area Lakes Fishing

Sunnies and crappies have moved to the outside weed edges on most area lakes. Walleye are hitting leeches and shiner minnows worked tight to the weeds in 10-12 feet of water, especially on Chisago and South Lindstrom lakes. Bass are coming from the shallow and deep weeds on most area lakes. For northern pike, drift sucker minnows over the 6 foot weed tops on Sunrise Lake. Chisago County Lakes.

Detroit Lakes Area Fishing

Look for walleye at the 10- to 16-foot weedlines of Big Detroit, Sallie, Melissa, and Buffalo lakes. Crawlers, leeches, and shiners are all working well. Sunfish have moved into 6-12 feet of water on Big Detroit, Little Detroit, Floyd, Cotton, and Big Cormorant lakes. Bass remain an easy catch on most area lakes. Muskie anglers are reporting more follows this week on Big Detroit Lake.

Duluth Area Lakes Fishing

On Lake Superior, coho anglers are doing well by trolling plugs near the surface around Park Point. Kamloops and steelhead are being taken on spawn sacs and yarn-tied hooks on the Lester, Knife and Sucker rivers. St. Louis County Lakes

Ely Area Lakes Fishing

Good walleye bite in area lakes. Use minnows and leeches in 10-15 feet and shallower.

Fairmont Area Fishing

Small jigs tipped with minnows or waxworms are producing numbers of crappies in shallow water on lakes such as Amber, George, Hall, and Budd. Walleye and northern pike reports have been decent off the Minnesota and Iowa border lakes. A jig and minnow has worked best at Iowa Lake and Okamanpedan Lake.

Grand Rapids Lakes Area Fishing

Crawlers and leeches worked in 8-14 feet of water are providing steady walleye action around the islands on Lake Pokegama. An evening walleye bite is being reported by anglers using minnows on Lake Wabana in depths of 8-12 feet. Look to the south end of Trout Lake in 12-16 feet of water for a few walleye as well. King’s Bay and Poole’s Bay on Lake Pokegama are giving up sunnies and crappies in depths of 3-5 feet. Bluegills remain active on Bass Lake in 5-8 feet of water. Bass action remains strong throughout the area. Depths of 20-30 feet on Lake Pokegama have been good for northern pike. Itasca County Lakes.

Hackensack Area Fishing

Anglers using minnows and crawlers in 10-17 feet of water on Woman Lake are taking walleye. The weedlines of Woman and Ten Mile lakes are giving up northern pike on minnows and crankbaits. Smallmouth and largemouth bass action remains strong on most area lakes. For panfish, hit the south end of Pleasant Lake.

Leech Lake Fishing

On Leech Lake, walleye are coming in on crankbaits trolled in 10-14 feet of water at the points and flats during evening hours. Lindy rigs tipped with crawlers, leeches or minnows have worked best at the main-lake structure during midday hours. Boy and Steamboat bays are kicking out bass. Muskie anglers are seeing fish, but few have been caught. Shingobee Bay is giving up panfish in less than 10 feet of water.

Longville Area Fishing

Walleye action in Big Boy Lake using shiner and fathead minnows in 12 feet. Bass have been hitting in Little Boy and Woman lakes in 6-8 feet on nightcrawlers and spinner baits.

Mankato Area Fishing

Anglers casting X-Raps at the 6- to 8-foot weedlines in the east bay of Madison Lake are taking walleye. The dredge lines and southeast end of Lake Hanska is giving up walleyes to anglers using spinners and crawlers. Northern pike are hitting spinnerbaits on Little Jefferson Lake. Lakes Washington and Madison have been good for sunfish. Bass seem to be active on all area lakes.

McGregor Area Fishing

The open-water panfish bite is just starting and there hasn't been a lot of people chasing them. Safe bets over the next couple of weeks for crappies include the narrows of Big Sandy Lake or Pleasant Point and the narrows on Lake Minnewawa.

Ortonville Area Lakes Fishing

A jig and minnow is turning walleyes during the evening on Big Stone Lake. Better locations have been the Twin Silos through Shady Beach area and the Meadowbrook area in shallow water. Jigs have started turning walleyes on the north end of Lake Traverse in eight feet or less.

Lake Osakis Fishing

On Lake Osakis, walleye are hitting leeches and crawlers at the 8 foot weedlines of Miller’s Bay, and Two Mile and Four Mile bars. Sunfish are starting to move onto the flats in 10-12 feet of water. Anglers are taking northern pike by trolling crankbaits at the weedlines and shallow flats. Bass can be found at the established weed edges, and seem to prefer large plastics and spinnerbaits.

Park Rapids Area Lakes Fishing

Leeches and crawlers are producing walleye on Big Sand Lake in 18 feet of water. Walleye are also coming from depths of 20-22 feet on Fish Hook Lake, and from 16 feet of water on Long Lake. Big Toad, Potato, and Eagle lakes, as well as the Crow Wing Chain, remain good for sunfish in depths of 8-10 feet. Work the weed edges of Two Inlets Lake for crappies. Lots of smallmouth bass are being pulled from Potato and Belle Taine lakes. Most area lakes are producing largemouth bass. Hubbard County Lakes

Rainy Lake Fishing

On Rainy Lake, the reefs around Blueberry Island are producing walleye in 30-40 feet of water. Black Bay is giving up walleye in depths of 8-10 feet. The islands inside of Sand Bay are also providing steady walleye action. Gold spinners and minnows are working best, however a jig and minnow combination is also working well. Look for crappies in Black Bay. The weedlines of Lost Bay have started giving up northern pike. The Canadian side remains good for smallmouth bass.

St. Cloud Area Lakes Fishing

The shallow weeds of Lake Koronis and Rice Lake are producing walleye on leeches and crawlers. Panfish remain active in the shallows of Horseshoe, Cedar Island, Long, Rice, and Koronis lakes. Bass continue to hit spinnerbaits in the weeds of most area lakes. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows under bobbers on Browns and Horseshoe lakes in 10-12 feet of water. Catfish have been an easy catch throughout the Sauk River. Stearns County Lakes

Starbuck Area Lakes Fishing

Sunfish are scattered throughout Lake Minnewaska in depths of 10-14 feet. Walleye continue to hit leeches in 12-18 feet of water on Lake Minnewaska. Bass are hitting just about anything thrown their way on most area lakes.

Lake Superior Fishing

On Lake Superior, spoons are producing lake trout roughly 30 feet down, with some coho salmon taken near the surface.

Upper Red Lake Fishing

On Upper Red Lake, spinners and leeches are turning walleye in 6-8 feet of water along the east shore. For crappies, work the cribs and rock piles.

Lake Vermilion Fishing

When the wind subsides the walleye bite has been excellent. Leeches and crank baits are working. Windswept shores and points are holding active fish in 14-22 feet. Muskie action has been picking up, with most fish coming from weedy bays and hitting on hair baits and medium-sized twitch baits. Northerns and sunfish have been biting in the weedy, soft-bottom bays.

LAKE WACONIA Fishing

On Lake Waconia, look for sunfish on the northwest end in 8-16 feet of water. A few muskies are coming from the weedlines and swimming beach area. Large bass have moved to deeper waters off Cemetery, North, and Center reefs. A few walleye are being taken off Harm’s Point and from the south side of Cemetery Reef. For the most fish, hit depths of 10-12 feet using crankbaits or leeches during low-light hours. The Clay Banks and Red’s Reef are producing a few crappies.

Waterville Area Fishing

The lagoon on Lake Tetonka continues to produce crappies. A few more crappies and good-sized perch also have been caught on the main lake in 10 feet. The narrows on Lake Sakatah are giving up crappies via minnows. Bullhead action also remains strong at Jefferson Lake.

White Bear Lake Fishing

Sunfish and crappies have been hitting in White Bear Lake on crappie minnows and wax worms in 5-11 feet. Anglers have been catching walleyes in the late evening on White Bear Lake in 5-15 feet using leeches and crank baits.

Lake Winnie Fishing

On Lake Winnibigoshish, leeches and crawlers are producing walleye on the main-lake bars and humps in 16-20 feet of water. Sugar, Bena, and Big Muskie bars, as well as The Snaghole, have been the most consistent locations. A jig and shiner continues to produce walleye on the points and shoreline breaks in depths of 8-12 feet when the wind is blowing. Perch and northern pike reports have been limited.

Willmar Area Fishing

Green Lake is giving up a few walleye in 30-40 feet of water. Florida, Eagle, and Diamond lakes are producing walleye on leeches. For sunfish, hit the shallow weedlines of Games, Nest, and Andrew lakes. Bass and northern pike seem to be active at the weedlines of most area lakes.

“The information in this report is provided courtesy of Outdoor News, and Explore Minnesota Tourism.”

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Minnesota Walleye Fishing Tips

Walleyes have been known to be cautious eaters, but oftentimes, when the fish tries to bite, it’s the angler that gets excited and loses the plot. This is a common problem, the solution to which lies in a two pronged approach. For one, you have to understand the eating habits of Walleye. In some cases, a walleye will slash the bait like a muskie or pike would do. But generally, walleyes tend to swim up to the bait with flared gills, inhaling it along with the surrounding water and if they sense anything untoward at this point, you will get a short strike or no bite at all.

The second part of the solution is for you to change your presentation in the best possible way so as to minimize resistance in the lure cum line combo. Here are a few tips to help you achieve the same:

When Walleye fishing, go light with the Line: One of the best ways to minimize drag or resistance on a lure is to use a light, smaller diameter line. Preferably something that is good enough for a 4 to 6 pound test. A light line is critical because it lets the walleye suck the lure in without much effort.

Use a Bottom Bait Bouncer: If you plan on using live bait, experts recommend doing so with a bottom-bouncer rig. A bouncer is basically an L-shaped wire with a lead weight attached to the shaft. When you use a bouncer, the weight bounces off the bottom as you retrieve the line. The bouncing motion creates a slack in the line which enables the fish to inhale the bait without much trouble.

Use Short Strokes: A common mistake that many fishermen make is to pump the rod using long vertical strokes that can tug the bait out of the walleye’s mouth. This is why it’s recommended that you use shorter gentler strokes in order to hook the fish effectively.

Try to offer larger bait to the fish so that there’s a greater surface area which will be acted upon by the sucking force of the walleye. The same effect can also be derived by adding a plastic body to the jig. The greater the surface area of the bait, the easier it is for the fish to draw it in.

Go with the Flow: While fishing, if you find that the surface of the water is choppy, then you should try and roll with the waves as it provides that critical bit of slack to the line. The more relaxed your line, the greater your chances of landing walleyes in your boat.

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