03-15-2004, 11:05 PM
ALEXANDRIA AREA
Sunfish continue to be caught during the day on Lake Geneva and Lake Mary in six to 12 feet of water. The best crappie bite still is taking place during the evening hours on Geneva, Lake Ida, and Maple Lake in 12 to 15 feet of water. Glow jigs tipped with minnows are turning the majority of crappies after dark.
ANNANDALE AREA
Sunfish action remains consistent on Clearwater Lake, Sugar Lake, and Lake Sylvia in eight to 12 feet of water. The north bays of Lake Sylvia are also producing crappies during the evening hours. Lakes such as Clearwater, Pleasant, and Sugar have all given up a fair number of crappies during the evening hours in 10 to 15 feet of water. The best bet for crappies is from sundown until it’s completely dark.
BATTLE LAKE
The shallow bay on the north end of Star Lake is a safe bet for smaller sunfish. Look for a few crappies and sunfish on Clitherall Lake in eight to 12 feet of water. East Battle Lake and Stewart Lake have started giving up a few nice panfish in 12 feet of water. The deep holes of Star Lake and Clitherall Lake also have produced more tullibees in recent days. Look for suspended schools of fish over 40 feet of water or more.
BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA
North Long Lake, Upper Gull Lake, Cullen Lake, Round Lake, and Nisswa Lake are all producing sunfish and crappies.As a general rule, the bigger sunfish have been active in six to 10 feet of water, while the majority of crappies remain suspended in 16 to 22 feet of water. Glow jigs tipped with larvae or small minnows are producing the majority of fish.
CHISAGO AREA
The sunken islands on North Center Lake continue to hold numbers of sunfish and crappies in eight to 12 feet of water. Sunset Point on South Center Lake is also producing a mixed bag of panfish in 10 to 12 feet of water. The south end of Chisago Lake is also worth noting this week for panfish. You’ll have to sort through a few small fish on these lakes, but there are plenty of keeping-sized fish mixed in. Look for the best crappie bite to take place during lowlight periods of the day.
CROSBY AREA
Panfish continue to be caught, but not with any consistency. The bite seems to be more spread out than it traditionally is this time of year. Scattered reports of crappies and sunfish are coming in from most lakes, but numbers have been the exception. Lakes such as Perry, Serpent, Blind, Mission, Milford, and Manohmen are all worth checking out in eight to 12 feet of water. Don’t expect limits of sunfish or crappies, but you will find enough active fish on each to keep any outing interesting.
CROSS LAKE AREA
Many small lakes throughout the area are producing crappies and sunfish. Glow jigs tipped with waxworms or minnows are turning these suspended fish off the 14- to 18-foot breaks. Trout are being found in 50 to 60 feet of water on Trout Lake. Try shiner minnows and small jigs.
DULUTH AREA
Anglers fishing from shore on Lake Superior continue to hook quite a few Kamloops and coho salmon. Small jigs tipped with spawn sacs or crawlers under a float seems to be working best. Any of the river mouths from Duluth to Two Harbors are worth checking out. The narrows on Fish Lake are still producing sunfish and crappies in 10 to 12 feet of water. Look to Caribou Lake during the evening hours for crappies in 15 to 20 feet of water.
FAIRMONT AREA
Buffalo Lake is producing crappies in two feet of water. The morning and evening hours have produced better numbers of good-sized fish, but watch ice conditions by the weekend. The rest of the lakes are in tough shape. Most have begun to open or pull away from the shore enough that anglers can no longer get on them. The ice fishing season is about done in this area.
GRAND RAPIDS AREA
The north end of Bowstring Lake is kicking out crappies and jumbo perch in 22 to 28 feet of water. Look to Big Splithand Lake for crappies in 26 feet of water. Rice Lake is a safe bet for numbers of smaller crappies, which have been suspended, over 20 to 30 feet of water. Jay Gould Lake started producing bigger perch in eight to 12 feet of water.
HUTCHINSON
Look to Green Leaf Lake for active sunfish and crappies during the early morning and evening hours in less than 12 feet of water. Lake Minnie Belle is also kicking out panfish in 21 feet of water. Lake Marion and Ripley Lake are producing a few sunfish and crappies, at a variety of depths.
LAKE MILLE LACS
EAST -- Finding numbers of good-sized perch has been difficult. The deep rocks are your best option, for an occasional flurry of bigger perch. The big news on this end of the lake has been the crappie action in Isle Bay. Fish over one pound have been caught in eight to 10 feet of water during the evening hours.
WEST -- The few people chasing perch are finding a limited number of jumbos. The rocks between Seguchie Point and Brown’s Point are producing the best numbers in 18 to 26 feet of water. Drill a lot of holes and keep moving with jigging spoons, and you’ll pick up some fish here and there.
LAKE OF THE WOODS
The Rainy River is now open two miles east of Franz Jevne State Park and anglers are hoping to put in their boats at Birchdale by the weekend. Good numbers of jumbo perch and walleyes are being caught along the south shore. Limits of jumbo perch can be had off the rock reefs near Long Point. A mixed bag of walleye and sauger can be had near Sandy Shores and the Graceton Beach area. At the Northwest Angle/Islands area, walleyes and perch are biting in 21 to 28 feet of water at Four Blocks, Little Oak, and McDonald Island.
LEECH LAKE
The tullibee and whitefish action has picked up in the deep water one to three miles off Stony Point. Perch activity also is improving off Sand Point and in Sucker Bay. Look to the main basin of most small lakes in this area for crappies. Anglers are reporting suspended fish in 20 to 22 feet of water. Look to these same lakes along the 8- to 18-foot weed edges for bluegills.
LAKE MINNETONKA AREA
Lake Sarah is kicking out crappies and sunfish from the weed edges, out to 22 feet of water. The north side of Crystal Bay or the North Arm on Lake Minnetonka are worth noting for panfish in 16 to 18 feet of water. The evening crappie action on Lake Independence is still going strong in over 30 feet of water.
RAINY LAKE
The reefs located near the Brule River continue to produce walleyes in 30 to 40 feet of water. The early morning and evening walleye action also is going strong at the American Narrows in 35 to 40 feet. Crappie anglers are finding suspended fish in Northwest Bay over 40 to 50 feet of water. The Rainy Lake City area continues to be the best bet for big northern pike. Large ciscoes have turned the biggest fish.
LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
The north end is kicking out better numbers of good-sized perch. Look to Raven’s Point in 18 to 20 feet of water or on the humps just north of the pressure ridge in 20 to 34 feet of water. Sugar Bar and River Bar also have provided consistent perch action in 20 to 30 feet of water.
LAKE OSAKIS
The sunfish and crappie action has been hit and miss. You’ll find better numbers of fish in 17 to 24 feet of water. Look for the majority of sunfish to be tight on the bottom, while the crappies will suspend several feet off bottom. Employ small, green jigs tipped with Eurolarvae or grass shrimp.
MANKATO AREA
The east bay on Madison Lake started producing bluegills in six to nine feet of water. The key: Find areas within the bay that offer green weeds. Mud Bay on Lake Washington is producing crappies at night and small sunfish during the day.
McGREGOR AREA
The northwest end of Big Sandy Lake started producing tullibees in 25 to 30 feet of water. The crappie bite remains strong on Lake Minnewawa in 14 feet of water. The early morning and evening hours have provided better action.
ORTONVILLE AREA
Panfish have been tough to locate, except for a limited perch bite on Nelson Lake in 10 feet of water. Across the border into South Dakota, the north end of Lake Waubay continues to produce perch and walleyes in 20 to 25 feet of water. Pickeral Lake is worth noting for crappies in 18 to 20 feet of water on the South Dakota side as well.
RED LAKE
The best crappie bite in recent days has taken place well after dark. Anglers who stay a bit longer in the evening seem to be finding better numbers of fish, after the masses leave. Red glow jigs tipped with minnows are still working better than anything else. Access and roads are still in driving shape, but that could change with a few days of warm weather.
RED WING AREA
Boat traffic has been strong on the Mississippi River, but the bite has been slow in recent days. The rocks in the Bay Point area have given up the most walleyes and sauger in 24 feet of water. Hair-tied jigs tipped with a minnow are working best. A few days of warm weather could really spark the bite in other areas of the river.
ST. CLOUD AREA
Sunfish and crappies continue to be caught throughout the area, but the majority of them have been small. Lakes such as Grand, Pearl, East, and Cedar Island are all producing smaller panfish in eight to 14 feet of water. The deep holes of Horseshoe Lake continue to produce a few crappies and quite a few catfish. Jigging spoons tipped with minnows or chicken liver are turning the majority of cats.
SAUK CENTRE AREA
Numbers of smaller crappies continue to be caught from Red Barn Bay on Big Sauk Lake in 25 to 30 feet of water. The sunfish bite has picked up on Maple Lake in 10 to 12 feet of water. The north end of Swan Lake is kicking out sunfish and crappies in 30 feet of water. Look for suspended fish here, about six feet off bottom. The north side of Lake Villard is giving up a few sunfish in 10 to 12 feet of water.
STARBUCK AREA
There’s been a bit more sunfish activity on the Glenwood end of Lake Minnewaska. You have to do a lot of hole hopping, picking off fish in 10 to 12 feet of water. The crappie bite has also improved from a week ago. They’ve been mixed in with the sunfish during the day, but look slightly deeper as the sun goes down. Glow jigs tipped with larvae have been the best bet for crappies.
STILLWATER AREA
Look for active sunfish and crappies on Big Carnelian Lake in 12 to 14 feet of water. Big Marine Lake and Demonterville Lake are producing a few sunfish in 10 to 12 feet of water. Look for crappies a bit deeper on these lakes. The ice is holding up well on the St. Croix River and the crappie bite is worth checking out in the Bayport area. These fish remain suspended over 30 to 40 feet of water, and are most active during lowlight periods of the day.
TWIN CITIES AREA
NORTHEAST METRO -- The south end of East Rush Lake is kicking out bluegills. Work the channel areas in four to 11 feet of water. The north end of West Rush Lake also is producing quite a few bluegills. Look to the timber of School Section Lake for crappies in eight feet of water. Lake Jane started producing big crappies in eight to 28 feet of water, depending on the time of day. Walleye action on the Mississippi River has been slow. Pools 2 and 3 have been most popular, but the fish have yet to cooperate on a consistent basis.
NORTHWEST METRO -- Ramsey Lake and Maple Lake are producing sunfish and crappies in eight to 15 feet of water. Waverly Lake is a safe bet for crappies, outside the channel, in 10 feet of water. The evening hours have been very productive for crappie anglers on Buffalo Lake in 14 to 16 feet of water.
SOUTHWEST METRO -- Sunfish action has picked up off Nagles Point on Lake Minnewashta in 10 feet of water. Black ants tipped with waxworms are working best. Christmas Lake is giving up sunfish just south of the public access in 10 to 12 feet of water. Lake Mitchell also is worth noting for sunfish in eight feet of water. On Lake Waconia, crappie action remains strong in Waconia Bay in 12 feet and on Pillsbury Reef in 20 feet of water. Lake Parley is kicking out a few crappies in the “Painted Rock” area and look to the swimming beach area on Lake Riley in 14 feet for crappies as well.
WILLMAR AREA
Scattered reports continue to come in for sunfish. Look to North Long Lake, Florida Lake, Lake Calhoun, and Monson Lake in less than 14 feet of water. The evening hours continue to provide decent crappie action on Foot Lake, Games Lake, and Norway Lake in 12 to 15 feet of water.
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Sunfish continue to be caught during the day on Lake Geneva and Lake Mary in six to 12 feet of water. The best crappie bite still is taking place during the evening hours on Geneva, Lake Ida, and Maple Lake in 12 to 15 feet of water. Glow jigs tipped with minnows are turning the majority of crappies after dark.
ANNANDALE AREA
Sunfish action remains consistent on Clearwater Lake, Sugar Lake, and Lake Sylvia in eight to 12 feet of water. The north bays of Lake Sylvia are also producing crappies during the evening hours. Lakes such as Clearwater, Pleasant, and Sugar have all given up a fair number of crappies during the evening hours in 10 to 15 feet of water. The best bet for crappies is from sundown until it’s completely dark.
BATTLE LAKE
The shallow bay on the north end of Star Lake is a safe bet for smaller sunfish. Look for a few crappies and sunfish on Clitherall Lake in eight to 12 feet of water. East Battle Lake and Stewart Lake have started giving up a few nice panfish in 12 feet of water. The deep holes of Star Lake and Clitherall Lake also have produced more tullibees in recent days. Look for suspended schools of fish over 40 feet of water or more.
BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA
North Long Lake, Upper Gull Lake, Cullen Lake, Round Lake, and Nisswa Lake are all producing sunfish and crappies.As a general rule, the bigger sunfish have been active in six to 10 feet of water, while the majority of crappies remain suspended in 16 to 22 feet of water. Glow jigs tipped with larvae or small minnows are producing the majority of fish.
CHISAGO AREA
The sunken islands on North Center Lake continue to hold numbers of sunfish and crappies in eight to 12 feet of water. Sunset Point on South Center Lake is also producing a mixed bag of panfish in 10 to 12 feet of water. The south end of Chisago Lake is also worth noting this week for panfish. You’ll have to sort through a few small fish on these lakes, but there are plenty of keeping-sized fish mixed in. Look for the best crappie bite to take place during lowlight periods of the day.
CROSBY AREA
Panfish continue to be caught, but not with any consistency. The bite seems to be more spread out than it traditionally is this time of year. Scattered reports of crappies and sunfish are coming in from most lakes, but numbers have been the exception. Lakes such as Perry, Serpent, Blind, Mission, Milford, and Manohmen are all worth checking out in eight to 12 feet of water. Don’t expect limits of sunfish or crappies, but you will find enough active fish on each to keep any outing interesting.
CROSS LAKE AREA
Many small lakes throughout the area are producing crappies and sunfish. Glow jigs tipped with waxworms or minnows are turning these suspended fish off the 14- to 18-foot breaks. Trout are being found in 50 to 60 feet of water on Trout Lake. Try shiner minnows and small jigs.
DULUTH AREA
Anglers fishing from shore on Lake Superior continue to hook quite a few Kamloops and coho salmon. Small jigs tipped with spawn sacs or crawlers under a float seems to be working best. Any of the river mouths from Duluth to Two Harbors are worth checking out. The narrows on Fish Lake are still producing sunfish and crappies in 10 to 12 feet of water. Look to Caribou Lake during the evening hours for crappies in 15 to 20 feet of water.
FAIRMONT AREA
Buffalo Lake is producing crappies in two feet of water. The morning and evening hours have produced better numbers of good-sized fish, but watch ice conditions by the weekend. The rest of the lakes are in tough shape. Most have begun to open or pull away from the shore enough that anglers can no longer get on them. The ice fishing season is about done in this area.
GRAND RAPIDS AREA
The north end of Bowstring Lake is kicking out crappies and jumbo perch in 22 to 28 feet of water. Look to Big Splithand Lake for crappies in 26 feet of water. Rice Lake is a safe bet for numbers of smaller crappies, which have been suspended, over 20 to 30 feet of water. Jay Gould Lake started producing bigger perch in eight to 12 feet of water.
HUTCHINSON
Look to Green Leaf Lake for active sunfish and crappies during the early morning and evening hours in less than 12 feet of water. Lake Minnie Belle is also kicking out panfish in 21 feet of water. Lake Marion and Ripley Lake are producing a few sunfish and crappies, at a variety of depths.
LAKE MILLE LACS
EAST -- Finding numbers of good-sized perch has been difficult. The deep rocks are your best option, for an occasional flurry of bigger perch. The big news on this end of the lake has been the crappie action in Isle Bay. Fish over one pound have been caught in eight to 10 feet of water during the evening hours.
WEST -- The few people chasing perch are finding a limited number of jumbos. The rocks between Seguchie Point and Brown’s Point are producing the best numbers in 18 to 26 feet of water. Drill a lot of holes and keep moving with jigging spoons, and you’ll pick up some fish here and there.
LAKE OF THE WOODS
The Rainy River is now open two miles east of Franz Jevne State Park and anglers are hoping to put in their boats at Birchdale by the weekend. Good numbers of jumbo perch and walleyes are being caught along the south shore. Limits of jumbo perch can be had off the rock reefs near Long Point. A mixed bag of walleye and sauger can be had near Sandy Shores and the Graceton Beach area. At the Northwest Angle/Islands area, walleyes and perch are biting in 21 to 28 feet of water at Four Blocks, Little Oak, and McDonald Island.
LEECH LAKE
The tullibee and whitefish action has picked up in the deep water one to three miles off Stony Point. Perch activity also is improving off Sand Point and in Sucker Bay. Look to the main basin of most small lakes in this area for crappies. Anglers are reporting suspended fish in 20 to 22 feet of water. Look to these same lakes along the 8- to 18-foot weed edges for bluegills.
LAKE MINNETONKA AREA
Lake Sarah is kicking out crappies and sunfish from the weed edges, out to 22 feet of water. The north side of Crystal Bay or the North Arm on Lake Minnetonka are worth noting for panfish in 16 to 18 feet of water. The evening crappie action on Lake Independence is still going strong in over 30 feet of water.
RAINY LAKE
The reefs located near the Brule River continue to produce walleyes in 30 to 40 feet of water. The early morning and evening walleye action also is going strong at the American Narrows in 35 to 40 feet. Crappie anglers are finding suspended fish in Northwest Bay over 40 to 50 feet of water. The Rainy Lake City area continues to be the best bet for big northern pike. Large ciscoes have turned the biggest fish.
LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
The north end is kicking out better numbers of good-sized perch. Look to Raven’s Point in 18 to 20 feet of water or on the humps just north of the pressure ridge in 20 to 34 feet of water. Sugar Bar and River Bar also have provided consistent perch action in 20 to 30 feet of water.
LAKE OSAKIS
The sunfish and crappie action has been hit and miss. You’ll find better numbers of fish in 17 to 24 feet of water. Look for the majority of sunfish to be tight on the bottom, while the crappies will suspend several feet off bottom. Employ small, green jigs tipped with Eurolarvae or grass shrimp.
MANKATO AREA
The east bay on Madison Lake started producing bluegills in six to nine feet of water. The key: Find areas within the bay that offer green weeds. Mud Bay on Lake Washington is producing crappies at night and small sunfish during the day.
McGREGOR AREA
The northwest end of Big Sandy Lake started producing tullibees in 25 to 30 feet of water. The crappie bite remains strong on Lake Minnewawa in 14 feet of water. The early morning and evening hours have provided better action.
ORTONVILLE AREA
Panfish have been tough to locate, except for a limited perch bite on Nelson Lake in 10 feet of water. Across the border into South Dakota, the north end of Lake Waubay continues to produce perch and walleyes in 20 to 25 feet of water. Pickeral Lake is worth noting for crappies in 18 to 20 feet of water on the South Dakota side as well.
RED LAKE
The best crappie bite in recent days has taken place well after dark. Anglers who stay a bit longer in the evening seem to be finding better numbers of fish, after the masses leave. Red glow jigs tipped with minnows are still working better than anything else. Access and roads are still in driving shape, but that could change with a few days of warm weather.
RED WING AREA
Boat traffic has been strong on the Mississippi River, but the bite has been slow in recent days. The rocks in the Bay Point area have given up the most walleyes and sauger in 24 feet of water. Hair-tied jigs tipped with a minnow are working best. A few days of warm weather could really spark the bite in other areas of the river.
ST. CLOUD AREA
Sunfish and crappies continue to be caught throughout the area, but the majority of them have been small. Lakes such as Grand, Pearl, East, and Cedar Island are all producing smaller panfish in eight to 14 feet of water. The deep holes of Horseshoe Lake continue to produce a few crappies and quite a few catfish. Jigging spoons tipped with minnows or chicken liver are turning the majority of cats.
SAUK CENTRE AREA
Numbers of smaller crappies continue to be caught from Red Barn Bay on Big Sauk Lake in 25 to 30 feet of water. The sunfish bite has picked up on Maple Lake in 10 to 12 feet of water. The north end of Swan Lake is kicking out sunfish and crappies in 30 feet of water. Look for suspended fish here, about six feet off bottom. The north side of Lake Villard is giving up a few sunfish in 10 to 12 feet of water.
STARBUCK AREA
There’s been a bit more sunfish activity on the Glenwood end of Lake Minnewaska. You have to do a lot of hole hopping, picking off fish in 10 to 12 feet of water. The crappie bite has also improved from a week ago. They’ve been mixed in with the sunfish during the day, but look slightly deeper as the sun goes down. Glow jigs tipped with larvae have been the best bet for crappies.
STILLWATER AREA
Look for active sunfish and crappies on Big Carnelian Lake in 12 to 14 feet of water. Big Marine Lake and Demonterville Lake are producing a few sunfish in 10 to 12 feet of water. Look for crappies a bit deeper on these lakes. The ice is holding up well on the St. Croix River and the crappie bite is worth checking out in the Bayport area. These fish remain suspended over 30 to 40 feet of water, and are most active during lowlight periods of the day.
TWIN CITIES AREA
NORTHEAST METRO -- The south end of East Rush Lake is kicking out bluegills. Work the channel areas in four to 11 feet of water. The north end of West Rush Lake also is producing quite a few bluegills. Look to the timber of School Section Lake for crappies in eight feet of water. Lake Jane started producing big crappies in eight to 28 feet of water, depending on the time of day. Walleye action on the Mississippi River has been slow. Pools 2 and 3 have been most popular, but the fish have yet to cooperate on a consistent basis.
NORTHWEST METRO -- Ramsey Lake and Maple Lake are producing sunfish and crappies in eight to 15 feet of water. Waverly Lake is a safe bet for crappies, outside the channel, in 10 feet of water. The evening hours have been very productive for crappie anglers on Buffalo Lake in 14 to 16 feet of water.
SOUTHWEST METRO -- Sunfish action has picked up off Nagles Point on Lake Minnewashta in 10 feet of water. Black ants tipped with waxworms are working best. Christmas Lake is giving up sunfish just south of the public access in 10 to 12 feet of water. Lake Mitchell also is worth noting for sunfish in eight feet of water. On Lake Waconia, crappie action remains strong in Waconia Bay in 12 feet and on Pillsbury Reef in 20 feet of water. Lake Parley is kicking out a few crappies in the “Painted Rock” area and look to the swimming beach area on Lake Riley in 14 feet for crappies as well.
WILLMAR AREA
Scattered reports continue to come in for sunfish. Look to North Long Lake, Florida Lake, Lake Calhoun, and Monson Lake in less than 14 feet of water. The evening hours continue to provide decent crappie action on Foot Lake, Games Lake, and Norway Lake in 12 to 15 feet of water.
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