Current Minnesota lakes fishing report

Published 12:00 am Saturday, June 4, 2005

BEMIDJI

Leeches and shiner minnows have been the best baits for walleyes on Lake Bemidji. These fish get most active during the evening hours in seven to 21 feet of water. Minnows also have produced walleyes on Lake Irvine in seven feet of water. Look for northern pike to be cruising the shallow weed edges on most area lakes.

BRAINERD/NISSWA

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Look for walleyes to be most active early and late in the day on North Long Lake and Gull Lake. Live bait rigs tipped with leeches or shiner minnows have worked best in 12 to 18 feet of water. Northern pike and largemouth bass are biting consistently on area lakes in less than 10 feet of water and you will find plenty of crappies still in shallow water.

DULUTH

Fatheads or small sucker minnows on a jig have produced walleyes on Island Lake in 17 to 25 feet of water. Work the edge of the deep channel near the Boy Scout Landing on the St. Louis River for walleyes as well. Kimball Bay on the St. Louis River started producing nice crappies in shallow water. You’ll find an assortment of lake trout, cohos, and king salmon hitting stickbaits near the surface on Lake Superior.

FAIRMONT

Leeches and livebait rigs are producing walleyes on Hall Lake in 16 to 18 feet of water. Look to the power plant area on George Lake for crappies and bluegills. Largemouth bass action has been very good on George and Hall as well.

FARIBAULT

Cannon Lake and Lake Mazaska still are producing walleyes during the evening hours with Rapalas in shallow water. On Shields Lake, leeches have worked best in 14 to 16 feet of water. Panfish have moved into their spawning areas on lakes such as Hunt, Shields, and Mazaska. The bass bite has been very good in shallow water on most lakes and you’ll find plenty of small northern pike hitting minnows along the weed edges of Cedar Lake and Shields Lake.

LAKE MILLE LACS

East &045; Leeches and live bait rigs continue to turn numbers of walleyes on the north end sand breaks in 15 to 25 feet of water during the day. The rock points and shallow sand have provided steady walleye action during lowlight periods of the day in eight to 15 feet of water. Slip bobbers and leeches are the best bet with Big Point being a primary shallow location. Shiner minnows are a safe bet for northern pike in Isle Bay. Shallow-running crankbaits are producing smallmouth bass on the rocks.

West &045; Work the 14- to 20-foot breaks in St. Alban’s Bay for walleyes with a Lindy Rig and leech or rainbow minnow. The mud bite continues to improve with fish being caught during the day and evening hours in 23 to 28 feet of water. Leeches also have produced the majority of fish off Sherman’s Flat, Curley Flat, and the Seven Mile Flat. Slip bobbers and leeches are the way to go late in the evening off any of the points in 10 to 15 feet of water.

LEECH LAKE

Fish the windy side of most points in 12 feet of water and you’ll catch walleyes with a jig and minnow. Minnows also are turning walleyes in Walker Bay over 18 to 25 feet of water.