LAKE MILLE LACS
East - Leeches and minnows are producing walleyes on the 12- to 22-foot rocks and sand breaks during the day. During the evening hours, slip bobbers and leeches have worked best on the six- to eight-foot rocks. Look to the bays and boat harbors for crappies and sunfish.
West - Sherman's Point, Seguchie Point, Brown's Point, and Pike Point are safe bets for walleyes during the evening hours in six to 12 feet. The 12- to 20-foot sand breaks on the north end and in St. Alban's Bay are the best walleye options during the day. Jigs or spinners tipped with minnows are the ticket at midday, while crankbaits have worked best at sunset.
LAKE OF THE WOODS
Anchoring and pitching a jig and minnow is producing walleyes in Four Mile Bay and just inside the Lighthouse Gap. Big fish as well as numbers of eaters have been caught throughout the day.
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LEECH LAKE AREA
Walleyes are hitting a jig and minnow on the wind-driven points of Leech Lake Pine Point and the Hardwoods are good starting spots in six to 10 feet. Perch action has picked up in six to 12 feet throughout Trader's Bay and Shingobee Bay started giving up panfish. Look to Garfield Lake and Pine Mountain Lake for a few walleyes in shallow water. Little Boy Lake and Lake Wabedo are safe bets for crappies in less than six feet.
LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
A jig and minnow is triggering limits of walleyes in seven to 14 feet. Better areas this week have been Sugar Point, Raven's Point, and from the Highbanks to Tamarack Point. Northern pike tend to be mixed with the walleyes, and Sugar Point is producing limits of perch in eight to 12 feet.
ALEXANDRIA AREA
Most small, shallow lakes are producing walleyes via minnows in six to 12 feet. Lakes Mary and Reno are good starting spots. Crappies and sunfish seem to be staging near their spawning areas and moving in and out of the shallows depending on the day. Lakes such as Carlos, Le Homme Dieu, and Darling are worth noting for panfish.
BATTLE LAKE
Minnows remain the hot bait for walleyes in six to 10 feet of water at Otter Tail Lake, Rush Lake, Walker Lake, Portage Lake, and Silver Lake. Crappie action has heated up in the shallows of lakes such as Tamarack, Clitherall, Ten Mile, East Battle, and West Battle. Look for the best sunfish action off Rush and Deep lakes. Northern pike are hitting minnows on the shoreline breaks of Clitherall, east side of West Battle, Otter Tail, and South Turtle.
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BEMIDJI AREA
Walleye action is heating up in six to 10 feet at lakes Bemidji, Plantagenet, Big Wolf, and Andrusia. Twister Tails also have produced walleyes on the Mississippi River. Crappies have started showing up in the shallows of most lakes, but bluegills and pike are tough to find.
BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA
Crappie and sunfish activity remains strong in the bays of Gull Lake, Pelican Lake, and Round Lake. During the day walleyes are being found in 24 to 30 feet, but look much shallower during low-light periods. Lakes such as Gull, Round, and North Long have been most productive.
CASS LAKE AREA
Walleyes are crushing shiner minnows in four to eight feet throughout the Cass Lake Chain. Look for jumbo perch on the four- to eight-foot gravel and sand areas of Cass as well. Crankbaits are turning plenty of northern pike on Lake Andrusia. Panfish continue to be found in 12 to 20 feet in most weedy bays.
CROSBY AREA
A jig and minnow or crankbait is turning walleyes in three to eight feet at Serpent Lake and Rabbit Lake. There's some evening crappie action in the shallows of Serpent, Rabbit, and Milford lakes. Look to Little Rabbit Lake for sunfish, while Manuel Pit and the Pennington Chain are producing trout. Rapalas, spoons, and Power Bait are working best.
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DETROIT LAKES
You'll find sunfish in the shallows of lakes Floyd, Big Detroit, Sallie, and Melissa. Crappies are being found in the bays over two to 12 feet at Acorn Lake, Little Detroit Lake, and Big Detroit. Minnows are turning walleyes in six to 12 feet at Island Lake, Height of Land Lake, Big Detroit, Melissa, Big and Little Pine lakes. Northern pike are an easy catch in less than 10 feet on most lakes.
GRAND RAPIDS AREA
Shiner minnows are turning walleyes in less than 10 feet on many lakes, with the area's best action taking place at Bowstring, Sand, and the Mississippi River. Panfish continue to be difficult to find with the exception of the warm-water discharge area on the Mississippi River where bluegills and crappies remain active.
HACKENSACK AREA
A jig and minnow is the best bet for walleyes and pike in eight to 10 feet. Look to Woman Lake and Ten Mile Lake for the best action. Panfish have become active in the shallows of Pleasant Lake and Little Webb Lake.
LAKE VERMILION
Walleyes are hitting a jig and minnow or Lindy Rigs during the day. Trolling crankbaits during low-light periods also has worked just fish the windswept shorelines. Crappie reports have been limited but this should improve with warmer water.
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ORTONVILLE AREA
There's an evening walleye bite on the south end of Big Stone Lake near the Peninsula and docks in Ortonville. Lou Point and Welcome Point are holding walleyes at the middle of Big Stone and slip bobber rigs are best in all areas. Look to Lake Traverse in shallow water for evening walleye action. On Artichoke Lake, you'll find walleyes and crappies in five feet.
PARK RAPIDS AREA
Pitch a jig and shiner minnow in eight to 14 feet and you'll find walleyes at Fish Hook Lake and the Crow Wing Chain. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows in eight to 10 feet at Big Mantrap Lake. Fish Hook also is giving up sunfish in shallow water, while the bays of Lake Belle Taine and Island Lake are holding crappies.
STARBUCK AREA
On Lake Minnewaska, minnows are turning walleyes in front of the high school in 24 to 26 feet. Small sucker minnows or shallow-running crankbaits are working best for walleyes and pike on Lake Emily in five feet. For panfish, hit the Starbuck Marina or Lakeside Ballroom area of Minnewaska in four to eight feet.
WILLMAR AREA
Walleyes are scattered between 10 and 50 feet at Green Lake. Floating Rapalas or minnows are triggering walleyes in shallower water at lakes Ringo, Diamond, Long, Solomon, and Willmar/Foot. Lakes Andrew and Monson are safe bets for northern pike, while North Long, Calhoun, and Andrew are producing panfish.
