Lake of the Woods
Walleyes continue to be caught on a jig and minnow in 29 to 32 feet of water at Long Point, Zippel Bay and straight out from the Lighthouse Gap on the south shore. Many anglers continue to comment that this recent stretch has been the best walleye fishing they've ever experienced. At the Northwest Angle, the slab crappies have started to show up in Ontario waters, and walleyes are being caught in 26 to 28 feet. Massacre Island, Tug Channel and Soldier's Point have been most productive. The weed beds around Falcon Islands are producing quite a few muskies.
Devils Lake
Walleyes are hitting in 12 feet of water or shallower in Pelican Lake, according to the latest report from Devils Lake Tourism. Anglers are having their best luck pitching or trolling crankbaits or trolling white- or gold-colored spinners with half a nightcrawler. Other good bets include the "Golden Highway" in Minnewaukan Flats, sunken rock piles in the Doc Hagens area and Budweiser Bay. Farther east, Penny Bay is producing fish on crankbaits in 15 feet of water or shallower.
Meanwhile, waterfowl reports are relatively unchanged from last week. According to Cami Dixon, a biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Devils Lake, it seems the mallards are grouped up and will take some scouting to find. Other ducks are very spread out, she said, and the area holds only a few snow geese, along with some swans and sandhill cranes, but lesser Canada geese have yet to arrive. The push of northern birds definitely has not started. Dixon reminds sandhill crane hunters to be on the lookout to avoid shooting endangered whooping cranes, which migrate through the state this time of year. Dixon said she saw two whooping cranes about 40 miles north of Devils Lake last year, so they definitely could be in the northeastern part of the state.
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Bemidji area
Walleyes are being caught with minnows on Lake Andrusia and the 12- to 14-foot rock piles of Big Turtle Lake. Look to Lake Marquette for crappies; muskie action has faded this week. Bear registrations have dropped off, but grouse hunting reports are favorable.
Blackduck area
Walleyes are hitting minnows on the weed lines or in 10 to 20 feet of water at Blackduck Lake, Island Lake and Gull Lake. Panfish are being found suspended over deep water at Pimushe Lake and Turtle River Lake. Grouse hunting continues to be impressive despite thick cover.
Cass Lake area
Rainbow minnows have been the key to walleye success in 18 to 20 feet or 28 to 30 feet on Cass Lake. Allen's Bay and Buck's Bar have been real productive. During the evening hours, most river inlets and outlets are producing walleyes as well. Look for perch in the reeds out to 12 feet or on the main-lake bars in 10 to 12 feet on Cass. Muskie fishing has been slow, but Kitchi Lake and Wolf Lake are producing crappies over 30 to 32 feet of water.
Leech Lake
A jig and minnow is producing walleyes on the east shore in 3 to 5 feet of water. The Goose Island area and Big Hardwoods area also has kicked out walleyes in 6 to 12 feet. At this point, you can't go wrong pitching a jig and minnow on the wind-blown shorelines and points. Perch action is going strong off Sand Point, GrandVu Flats and in Trader's Bay in 9 to 12 feet. Muskie reports have been poor.
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Lake Winnibigoshish
Anglers are catching walleyes on a jig-and-minnow combination in 6 to 10 feet of water on the wind-driven points and shoreline breaks. Little Stony Point, Raven's Point, Mallard Point and the Highbanks are all producing fish if the wind is hitting them. Perch also are being found in these areas, but in slightly shallower water.
Detroit Lakes
Walleyes are hitting minnows in 28 to 32 feet of water on Big Cormorant Lake, in 20 feet on Big Detroit Lake and in 30 feet on Pelican Lake and Lake Melissa. Muskies continue to hit large minnows or topwater baits in 10 to 15 feet of water on Big Detroit and Pelican. Work the 12-foot weed lines of Big Detroit, Floyd Lake, Sour Lake and Severson Lake for panfish.
Ortonville area
Jumbo perch are hitting minnows on Big Stone Lake in 12 to 14 feet of water in the Grapevine, Bayview and Hartford Beach areas. Anglers fishing from shore with a jig and minnow are catching walleyes at the Marsh Lake dam. The dam on the Minnesota River is kicking out northern pike on spoons. There's also some shore fishing opportunities for crappies at the landing on Long Tom Lake.
Park Rapids area
Expect walleyes to hit minnows on Fish Hook Lake in 20 to 22 feet of water. Crankbaits are working best for northern pike at Long Lake in 14 feet. Spinnerbaits are a good bet for bass in shallow water at Big Mantrap Lake, and Portage Lake is a safe option for bluegills in 8 to 10 feet. There seem to be grouse in the area, but thick cover has limited hunter success.
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Minnesota Fall Colors Report
- Big Bog State Recreation Area near Waskish, Minn: 50 percent to 75 percent color.
- Hayes Lake State Park near Roseau, Minn.: 75 percent to 100 percent color.
- Itasca State Park: 75 percent to 100 percent color.
- Lake Bemidji State Park: 75 percent to 100 percent color.
- Lake Bronson State Park, Minn.: 75 percent to 100 percent color.
- Old Mill State Park, Minn.: 75 percent to 100 percent color.
- Red River State Recreation Area: 75 percent to 100 percent color.
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- Zippel Bay State Park near Williams, Minn.: 75 percent to 100 percent color.
