Hot weather keeps more anglers than normal on the water

Topwater baits are producing bass at Little Elk Lake and Sandy Lake. Duck and pheasant reports have been minimal, but it sounded like youth deer hunters shot plenty of deer last weekend.

Tales And Trails Sport Shop (763) 856-3985

Ely Area

Minnows are turning walleyes on structure in 20 to 25 feet or along the shorelines in 6 to 10 feet at Basswood Lake, White Iron Lake, and Shagawa Lake. Smallmouth bass are hitting plastics or minnows around the sunken islands on Snowbank Lake, Shagawa, and Fall Lake. Sucker minnows or paddle tails are producing big pike along the shorelines and river mouths throughout Birch Lake, Farm Lake, and Horse Lake. Miners Lake is giving up brook trout on spoons along its shorelines and rainbow trout on crawlers under a float up high in the water column. Tofte Lake and Hanson Lake are kicking out splake on crawlers close to bottom over 10 to 15 feet. Look for crappies and sunfish on the 16- to 20-foot mud at South Farm Lake, Low Lake, and One Pine Lake. Water temperatures were around 51 degrees early this week. The youth deer hunt went well; plenty of success reported, and grouse hunters all seem to be shooting a few birds.

Arrowhead Outdoors (218) 365-5358

Fairmont Area

Bluegills and crappies continue to be caught in 6 to 10 feet on Lake Sisseton, Budd Lake, and George Lake. Jigs tipped with minnows or plastics are turning a few walleyes on the Blue Earth River and West Des Moines River. Hit Hall Lake and Budd for yellow bass in 6 feet. Waterfowl hunters are shooting mostly puddle ducks, pheasant hunters are doing well, and participation during the youth deer hunt seemed down compared to last year.

Sommer Outdoors (507) 235-5225

Faribault/Shieldsville Area

The Cannon River Chain of Lakes is producing walleyes on shallow-running crankbaits in less than 5 feet. Hit Lake Mazaska for crappies in 16 to 18 feet, walleyes in 9 to 14 feet late in the day, and pike along its shallow weedlines. Cedar Lake is a safe bet for crappies in 3 to 7 feet and Roberds Lake is producing sunfish in 3 to 10 feet. Pheasant hunters report flushing and shooting good numbers of roosters, while results from the youth deer hunt last weekend indicated a high success rate.

Lake Country Convenience & Bait (507) 334-9711

Grand Rapids/Deer River Area

Walleyes are hitting a jig and minnow on Trout Lake by Coleraine in 10 to 17 feet, Splithand Lake in 8 to 12 feet, and Big Cutfoot Sioux Lake in 15 to 20 feet. Crappies are hitting on Big Cutfoot Sioux over 25 to 30 feet and Splithand in 10 to 15 feet. Large sucker minnows or bucktails are turning muskies at North Star Lake and Deer Lake in 10 to 15 feet. Success rates seemed high during the youth deer hunt, duck numbers are limited in the immediate area, but grouse and woodcock are being shot if you’re willing to get off the main trails.

Thousand Lakes Sporting Goods (218) 999-5992

Grey Eagle Area

Minnows are producing walleyes on Big Birch Lake and Little Birch Lake in 22 to 30 feet. You’ll find crappies suspended over 16 feet on Little Birch and a mixed bag of panfish on Big Swan Lake in 15 to 20 feet. Hunting reports have been pretty light over the past week.

Nancy’s Bait & Tackle (320) 285-2405

Hackensack Area

Walleyes are being caught with minnows on Woman Lake in 20 to 22 feet. Hit the rocks in 15 to 18 feet on Ten Mile Lake and Woman with hair jigs or minnows for smallmouth bass. There hasn’t been many anglers fishing for panfish or muskies locally. Deer have started rutting and moving a bit more and most reports from last weekends youth deer hunt were favorable. Grouse reports have been mixed; some decent and some not very good as far as bird numbers. Duck hunting has been tough and there seems to be fewer people hunting waterfowl.

Swanson’s Bait And Tackle (218) 675-61761

Lanesboro Area

Streams are very clear and fishing well. Brown trout are spawning and spawning beds (redds) are becoming visible. Trout are hitting a size 14 chartreuse Glow Bug, spawn imitators, and yellow Mini Dungeon Streamers. During the morning hours, size 20 zebra midge nymph patterns are also producing trout.

Root River Rod Company (507) 467-2101

Longville Area

Woman Lake is giving up walleyes on minnows along the 10- to 12-foot weeds or around Government Point area in 18 to 20 feet. You’ll find crappies suspended over deep water in Otter Bay on Woman and along the weed edges throughout Lake Inguadona. Large sucker minnows are producing a few muskies on Little Boy Lake and Wabedo Lake. Grouse hunting reports have improved now that the leaves are down, there’s still a few local puddle ducks being shot, and deer movement seems to have picked up.

The One Stop (218) 363-2252

Mankato Area

The deep holes on the Minnesota River and Blue Earth River are producing channel catfish. The current breaks and deep holes on the Blue Earth and Le Sueur River are kicking out a few walleyes on a jig and minnow. Lake Washington is producing a few walleyes on minnows as well in 9 feet.

Walts Bait and Tackle (507) 508-0264

Orr Area

With the nice weather, there continues to be more anglers than normal fishing this late in the season. Crappies are being found suspended over 22 to 30 feet on Blackduck Lake, Elephant Lake, Echo Lake, and Ash Lake. Walleyes continue to hit minnows on the 25- to 30-foot structure at Blackduck, Namakan Lake, and Lake Kabetogama. Smallmouth bass are hitting minnows or plastics on the 20- to 25-foot rocks on Crane Lake, Namakan, Pelican Lake, and Ash. Grouse hunting reports continue to be decent and deer have noticeably started to move a bit more.

Norman’s One Stop (218) 757-3291

Ortonville Area

Water temperatures have not changed much since last week on Big Stone Lake; still in the mid 50-degree range, so bluegills and crappies remain pretty active on the rocks in 9 to 12 feet. There’s been some nice perch being caught down the middle of the lake in 7 feet as well, but walleye action remains slow. There wasn’t much for reports from the youth deer hunt, but most pheasant and duck hunting reports have been positive.

Artie’s Bait (320) 839-2480

Park Rapids Area

There’s two distinct patterns going for walleyes: Scopers are finding big fish suspended over deep water, while anglers are fishing with redtails or shiner minnows in 18 to 24 feet at Fish Hook Lake, Eagle Lake, Potato Lake, and Long Lake. Bucktails or big sucker minnows are producing muskies in 15 to 20 feet on Many Point Lake and Big Mantrap Lake. There hasn’t been many people fishing for them, but crappies and bluegills are still an option around the 12- to 18-foot weeds on Toad Lake and Fish Hook. Plastics and minnows are producing smallmouth bass on the 8- to 12-foot rocks on Big Sand Lake, Kabekona Lake, and Lake Belle Taine. Youth hunters shot quite a few deer last weekend, duck numbers are poor, and grouse hunters continue to do well.

Delaney’s (218) 732-4281

Smokey Hills Outdoors (218) 237-5099

Perham Area

Walleyes continue to be caught deep, 25 to 35 feet, on a vertically-presented jig and minnow at Big Pine Lake and Otter Tail Lake. Trolling crankbaits at night in less than 8 feet has also turned walleyes on these lakes. Panfish, bass, and pike reports have been light as the number of people fishing for them continues to be minimal. Waterfowl hunters still report very few new ducks moving into the area this week, while many people have been commenting that deer activity has definitely increased. Success seemed decent during the youth deer hunt.

Gene’s Sport Shop (218) 346-3355

Richmond/Paynesville Area

Shiner minnows are producing walleyes on the flats throughout Horseshoe Lake in 8 to 12 feet, Grand Lake in 17 to 22 feet, and Lake Koronis in 14 to 18 feet. Crappies are hitting over 15 to 20 feet on Long Lake, Cedar Island Lake, and Horseshoe. There’s been a few muskies raised with bucktails throughout the Horseshoe Chain of Lakes; work the flats and points in less than 12 feet. Despite windy conditions, there were plenty of deer shot by youth and archery hunters last weekend. Pheasant reports have been light and you have to travel a bit west of the immediate area to find better duck numbers.

Channel Marine And Sports (320) 597-5975

Sauk Centre Area

Walleyes continue to bite along weedlines and structure; it doesn’t really matter what depth throughout Big Sauk lake. On Lake Osakis, walleyes are biting well in 18 to 24 feet during the day and 8 to 10 feet each evening. Redtails or brassy shiner minnows are working best on both lakes. The 12-foot weedline on Big Sauk started kicking out crappies, as is the north end of Osakis over 25 to 30 feet. Hunting reports have been minimal over the past week.

Fletcher’s Bait Shop (320) 352-2155

Stanchfield Area

Fishing activity has been limited; just fewer anglers heading out. There’s been a few crappies caught with minnows on East Rush Lake and West Rush Lake - look for suspended fish off the remaining weed edges. Walleye action is slow, but northern pike are hitting minnows or crankbaits on West Rush, East Rush, and Lake Pokegama. Overall success during the youth deer season was high and there was several big bucks shot during it.

Rush Point Store (763) 689-1088

Starbuck Area

Walleye action picked up quite a bit since last week on Lake Minnewaska. A jig and minnow, (bigger minnows have been best), in 16 to 20 feet on High School Bar, around Priest Point, out from Starbuck Marina, and the Glenwood Beach area. There was quite a bit of success during the youth deer season and most pheasant hunting reports have been positive.

Last Cast Bait And Tackle (320) 239-2239

Windom/Marshall Area

There hasn’t been much for fishing activity over the past week, as most folks have turned their efforts to the various hunting seasons. Pheasant hunting reports continue to be good; limits of roosters are being shot and hunters seem to be flushing plenty of birds. Participation seemed high and anecdotal reports indicated that success was high during the youth deer hunt. There has been a few more geese showing up, but not much for new ducks moving into the area.

Borch’s Sporting Goods (507) 532-4880

SOUTH DAKOTA

Webster Area

Minnows are producing perch and a few walleyes on North Rush Lake in 6 to 8 feet and the north end of Waubay Lake in 20 to 24 feet. Waterfowl hunters are doing OK, but there hasn’t been much of a push for new ducks into the area. Pheasant hunters are finding plenty of roosters in the immediate area.

Sportsman’s Cove (605) 345-2468

NORTH DAKOTA

Devil’s Lake

Crankbaits are producing walleyes along the old shorelines on the west side in 10 to 18 feet and on the main lake in 20 to 25 feet. There’s also plenty of walleyes being caught on glide baits or jigs with plastics around the bridges and 8- to 10-foot rocks. While there has been some new ducks showing up, there still hasn’t been a major push of birds into the area as of early this week. Overall, duck hunting reports have indicated fewer birds.

Eye Hangers Guide Service (701) 230-7080

WISCONSIN

Hayward Area

Walleyes are hitting minnows and plastics in 7 to 15 feet on Little Eau Claire Lake or Spider Lake and in 16 to 22 feet on Lake Lac Courte Oreilles and Grindstone Lake. Sucker minnows or bucktails are turning muskies in 10 to 15 feet at Round Lake, Lac Courte Oreilles, Grindstone, and the Chippewa Flowage. Crappie action has picked up along the 8- to 15-foot weeds on Nelson Lake, Grindstone, and Chippewa Flowage. Hunting reports have been limited, although archery hunters are saying that buck movement has started to amp up.

Hayward Bait & Tackle (715) 634-2921