Report from the Dock
Minnesota is lucky to have so many lakes with bluegills and crappies in them because they’ve really provided the best opportunity to consistently put fish in the boat this week. For the most part, bluegills have bit best during the morning and afternoon hours, while crappies are hitting best each evening. Both are weed-related, with pods of bigger panfish being found on deeper, green weeds that remain. Even though there doesn’t seem to be as many people fishing for them, the same can be stated for bass and northern pike. Find an established weed edge or weed flat in at least 12 feet of water and you should have no problem catching numbers of both. Walleyes have been a struggle in most areas again this week, although there are some exceptions. The key at this point is to cover water with crankbaits or spinners and crawlers and pick off the few active fish that exist on a given spot and then move on. Low-light periods continue to be best and there were several reports that indicated minnows are starting to produce walleyes as well.
Leech Lake Report
Muskie anglers continue to raise fish on the main lake rocks and points with bucktails or topwater baits. Walleyes are being caught, but you have to cover water with a spinner and crawler on the main lake bars and breaks in 12 to 16 feet. Some fish are showing up shallower on the wind-driven points and trolling crankbaits at night in 9 to 12 feet is turning walleyes off Sand and Cedar points.