LAKE OF THE WOODS
The best walleye action is in the Four-Mile Bay and Morris Point Gap areas. Anchoring and jigging with shiner minnows has been best in 15 to 20 feet. Anglers venturing up the Rainy River have found more saugers, sturgeon and pike, although walleye fishing is improving as water temperatures cool. Farther upstream near International Falls, Minn., walleye action has picked up from the golf course to the dam. Grouse hunting in the Lake of the Woods area has improved; there are lots of geese around, and duck hunting hasn't been bad for mallards and ringnecks.
BEMIDJI AREA
The muskie bite has been "on and off." Lakes Bemidji, Cass and Plantagenet are the best options. Walleye reports are limited to a few fish being caught on minnows at Lake Andrusia in 17 to 20 feet of water. Grouse hunters have had a tough week, but duck numbers appear decent with mallards, ringnecks and wood ducks in most bags.
LEECH LAKE AREA
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Trolling crankbaits after dark has produced a lot of big walleyes. Most have come from less than 12 feet of water off Sand Point, Otter Tail Point, Goose Island and Bear Island. Walleyes also can be had with a jig and minnow during the day in these locations and on the Walker Bay humps in 30 feet. Perch action has dwindled, mainly because most anglers are focused on walleyes. There doesn't seem to be much for new ducks in the area, but shooting remains good and grouse hunting has improved from last week.
LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
There aren't a lot of people fishing. Those that are have been pitching jigs and minnows on the points in 8 to 10 feet or working the deep breaks on the north end and the Big Cutfoot areas.
BLACKDUCK AREA
Blackduck Lake is giving up limits of eating-sized walleyes in 10 to 14 feet of water. Blackduck also has produced perch and crappies in slightly deeper water. Look to lakes Rabideau and Gilstead for panfish in 12 to 18 feet. Grouse hunting has improved, and duck hunters are reporting a "decent" number of birds in the area.
DETROIT LAKES
Walleyes are scattered between 10 and 50 feet and hitting minnows on lakes Sallie, Big Detroit, Pelican, Melissa, Pine and Island. Minnows or CowGirls are the tickets for muskies on Big Detroit. Look for crappies in 20 feet and sunfish in shallower water on Big Detroit, Melissa Pelican and Island lakes. A few grouse and pheasants are being shot, but hunters aren't reporting anything consistent.
AREA WATERFOWL UPDATE
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n Devils Lake area: A significant number of snow geese, along with several flocks of swans, have shown up at Lake Alice and the surrounding area, reports Cami Dixon, biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Devils Lake Wetland Management District. The northern migration of birds is just starting, Dixon said, with a trickling of birds in the past week. She said bird numbers have increased in the northern part of the district and even at Kellys Slough National Wildlife Refuge in the past week. Lake Alice still holds plenty of diver ducks, Dixon said. Hunters venturing onto Lake Alice should familiarize themselves with hunting regulations on the refuge, Dixon said. For more information, go to www.fws.gov/lakealice/lakealicehuntingreg.pdf , or call the Devils Lake Fish and Wildlife Service office at (701) 662-8611.
n Roseau River Wildlife Management Area near Pinecreek, Minn.: There hasn't been any significant migration of birds into or out of the area since last week. Hunting success last weekend was poor. The WMA at latest count had 4,500 Canada geese, 600 snow geese and 5,400 ducks, mostly mallards, ringnecks and green-winged teal, with lesser numbers of gadwall, wigeon and redheads.
n Thief Lake WMA near Middle River, Minn.: The WMA at most recent count had 600 Canada geese (down from 2,500 the previous week) and 7,000 ducks (down from 18,000 the previous week). Duck counts were comprised of 31 percent ringnecks and 24 percent scaup, followed by lesser numbers of mallards, redheads, canvasbacks and buffleheads.
-- Herald staff and wire reports
