The fishing report

North Dakota

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Whoppers List

Here is the latest whopper fish list reported to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. (Listed as follows: name, hometown, weight of fish in pounds-ounces, where fish are caught).

Walleye

Jaci Gately, Buffalo, N.D., 8-12, Lake Ashtabula.

Michael John Goetz, Fargo, 8-4, Golden Lake South.

Brown trout

Robert Woodward, Bismarck, N.D., 9-5, Missouri River.

White bass

Frank Kartch, Bismarck, N.D., 4-6, Devils Lake.

Laura Johnson, Cooperstown, N.D., 3-9.

Jaden Wieland, Fargo, 3-6, Devils Lake.

Jaden Wieland, Fargo, 3-4, Devils Lake.

Adam Busche, Fargo, 3-4, Devils Lake.

Jim Wieland, Fargo, 3-1, Devils Lake.

Deb Bjerke, Fargo, 3-1, Devils Lake.

Northern pike

James McIntyre, Bismarck, N.D., 20-9, Lake Williams.

Minnesota

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Fishing Report

Report provided by Outdoors News

Alexandria

Look for an occasional walleye during the evening hours on the deep weed edges of Lake Miltona and Lake Le Homme Dieu. A few muskies also can be had from the weed edges of Miltona with Suicks or bucktails. The 10- to 15- foot weed edges on most lakes are holding northern pike and panfish. Bass remain active on the bars, weed edges, and near docks throughout the area.

Battle Lake

West Battle Lake is kicking out walleyes early and late in the day in 22 to 24 feet of water. On Otter Tail Lake, small sucker minnows or leeches have been the ticket for walleyes in 20 to 30 feet of water. There's a consistent panfish bite in the area, with lakes such as Star, Blanche, Deer, and Clitherall producing fish in 12 to 14 feet of water. Bucktails are enticing an occasional muskie follow on West Battle Lake and there's plenty of active bass and northern pike to be had throughout the area.

Brainerd/Nisswa

Bass and northerns have been the hot ticket in this area. Fish them in six to 16 feet off the weedbeds. Jig a sucker or try a bass spinner tipped with a leech or worm. Walleyes are in slightly deeper water, hitting redtails and leeches.

Detroit Lakes

The best bet for catching walleyes in the DL area continues to be bottom bouncers and spinners, or crankbaits, to cover a lot of water. Fish the 18- to 30-foot breaks and deep weedlines. Look for White Earth, Big Cormorant, and Many Point lakes to kick out a few fish. With the hot weather, muskies are starting to turn on; try Detroit and Pelican lakes.

Hackensack

Crawlers and leeches have produced a few walleyes on Birch Lake in 20 to 24 feet of water. There's some decent walleye action after dark with crankbaits or leeches on Ten Mile Lake and Stoney Lake. Look to the sand and rocks on Deep Lake for smallmouth bass, while Big Bass Lake and Birch Lake are kicking out largemouth. Scattered panfish reports are coming off lakes such as Birch and Pleasant this week.

Lake Mille Lacs

East -- Leeches and crawlers on live bait rigs or spinners are turning a few walleyes off the edges of the mud flats in 28 to 32 feet of water. Look to the Blue Jug Flat, Seven Mile, and Eight Mile as likely starting spots. Slip bobbers and leeches also will produce fish on the mud after dark and on the shallow rocks in 12 to 14 feet of water. The best bets for muskies are crankbaits, bucktails, and topwater baits on the weed edges outside of most bays. Smallmouth bass are an easy catch on the rocks and near docks with tube jigs or crankbaits.

West -- Slip bobbers and leeches continue to produce walleyes after dark in 28 to 34 feet of water. Curley's Flat, Sherman's Flat, and Seguchie's Flat have provided the best action. The day bite has been more inconsistent with a few fish coming off the mud. Spinner rigs tipped with leeches or crawlers are the best way to cover a lot of water and pick off an occasional walleye. Northern pike remain active along the weed edges of Wigwam Bay and St. Alban's Bay. Look to these areas for muskies with bucktails or sucker minnows.

Lake of the Woods

High temps and sunny skies have brought on a good fish bite. Along the south shore, anglers are pulling walleyes from the rocky reefs and rubble piles. Hammered gold spinner rigs and worms are working on walleyes around the Gap and off Pine Island. Big muskies are being caught at the Northwest Angle and Islands areas. Northerns and smallmouth bass are hitting at the confluence of the Rapid and Rainy rivers.

Lake Winnibigoshish

The main lake bars and humps are producing walleyes in 20 to 24 feet of water. Leeches or nightcrawlers have worked best on Bena Bar, Big Muskie Bar, and Center Bar. You will find a few fish in 10 to 14 feet of water with crankbaits during the evening hours. Find a deep weed patch and you should hit some jumbo perch with a jig and minnow. Northern pike seem to be active throughout the lake.

Leech Lake

Jigs and minnows or live bait rigs and leeches are producing walleyes on the south humps in Walker Bay. There's some decent evening walleye action with slip bobbers and leeches off Sand Point in eight to 12 feet of water. Work the breaks south of Cedar Point for walleyes with live bait rigs and crawlers as well. Shingobee Bay and Kabekona Bay are kicking out good-sized bluegills in 12 feet of water, while muskie anglers are seeing more fish on the rocks and weedlines this week.

Ortonville

Fishing is very slow right now. The Minnesota River is producing an occasional catfish and a walleye. Artichoke Lake is good for a few walleye and maybe a crappie or two.

Park Rapids

Leeches and nightcrawlers are producing walleyes in 15 to 20 feet of water on Fish Hook Lake. On Big Sand Lake, look for walleyes in 30 feet of water during the day, but as shallow as 12 feet during low-light periods. The weed edges of Big Mantrap Lake continue to produce an occasional muskie and numbers of northern pike. Fish Hook Lake and the Crow Wing Chain of Lakes are the area's best options for crappies and bluegills in 12 feet of water.

Starbuck

The Starbuck and Glenwood ends of Lake Minnewaska are producing sunfish in 10 to 12 feet of water. The key is to move until you locate a pod of bigger fish. A few walleyes continue to be caught off the points of Minnewaska in 18 to 20 feet of water during the early morning and evening hours. The north side of Lake Reno also is worth noting for an occasional walleye during the evening hours. Largemouth bass and northern pike are biting throughout the weeded areas of Minnewaska.