Battle Lake Area: Anglers can head out to Silver, West Battle, Ottertail or Ten Mile Lakes for walleye action using jigs with minnows or Lindy Rigs with leeches or night crawlers at 13-16 feet. Donald Lake, Pickerall, and Clitherall Lakes are producing bass action at 8-14 along the weedlines using jigs with minnows along weedlines. Northerns are hitting on Blanche, Ottertail or W. Battle Lake at 10-15 feet along weedlines using minnows or spoons.
Ely area: The best walleye action appears to be in the late afternoons or evenings when the water temperatures improve, using leeches or nightcrawlers with a spinner rig or slip bobber at about 8-10 feet on lakes such as Bald Eagle and Shagawa. Good northerns action on most area lakes can be had using spinner baits or spoons.
Lake of the Woods: Pine Island, Light House Gap, Graceton, and Zippel Bay have been producing walleyes jigging at 25-30 feet. Anglers can also try spinners at 10-15 feet near Knight and Garden Island reefs. Another good area for walleyes has been from Long Point to Archie's Reef jigging at 22-26 feet.
Lake Mille Lacs: The best walleye action still has been on the mudflats using primarily leeches at about 6-10 feet. Some anglers are also catching walleyes on spinners with crawlers. Smallmouth bass is productive around rock piles using tubes or leeches at 8-12 feet. Northerns are hitting large sucker minnows along weedlines.
Leech Lake: On the east side of the lake, anglers are heading out to the rocks on Submarine Island, Mokey, Pelican Reef or North Bar while on the west side, the Hardwoods or Sucker Bay have produced some walleye action. The early morning or evening are producing the best walleye action, using a Lindy Rig with a leech or night crawler in the sand flats. In the main lake, most anglers are fishing at 16-20 feet on calm days and at 10-14 on windier days.
Willmar area: Nightcrawlers or leeches with spinners are producing the best walleye action at about 10 feet on Big Kandiyohi Lake, South Long Lake and Solomon Lake. Walleye action is at 15-20 feet on Eagle Lake, Lake Florida, Lake Andrew, Nest Lake and Diamond Lake. Big Kandiyohi has also produced some good smallmouth and sunfish action.
