State fishing report
Bemidji area: Those still trying to catch walleyes are pulling nightcrawlers or crankbaits at 15-19 feet during the daytime and shallower during the evenings. During the evenings, anglers are running crankbaits at 8-12 feet on shoreline breaks or mid-lake humps. Muskie action has become more active using topwater baits or cowgirls. The best crappie action has been on Moose Lake at 12-16 feet off weed edges.
Ely area: Walleye action is productive using nightcrawlers or leeches around rock piles and islands. Some anglers are throwing spinner baits to catch a few walleyes as well. Northerns are hitting on crank or spinner baits. Smallmouth action has been excellent on area lakes such as Snowbank or Shagawa using crank baits or top water baits.
Lake Mille Lacs: While anglers can no longer fish for walleyes this season, there is still a good smallmouth bass and northern bite. For smallmouth bass, anglers are using a combination of crawler and spinner, jig and minnows, tube jigs, wacky's or jerk baits at 10-18 feet. Northerns are being caught along weedlines at 9-12 feet using sucker minnows on Wahkon Bay and Garrison Bay.
Lake of the Woods: Anglers are catching a nice mix of walleyes and saugers on Archie's Reef or Long Point at 24-26 feet either drifting with spinner baits or trolling. Those that are down rigging are headed to the mud flats between Starren Shoal, Garden Island and Little Oak in 28-31 feet.
Leech Lake: There has been a strong walleye bite using crankbaits at 8-14 feet on rock piles, mid-lake flats or weed-sand transition areas such as the Sand Point area, Goose Island, Grand Vu flats and the eastern rock reefs. Muskie action has picked up in recent days using bucktails, jerk baits or top water baits. Bass and panfish action is also still productive.
Willmar area: Green Lake continues to provide the best walleye action at 22-32 feet, and some anglers are catching some walleyes on Diamond and Eagle Lakes. Northerns, bass and sunfish action is productive on most area lakes using angle or wax worms.
