Report from the Dock – Minnesota Fishing Conditions
Across much of southern and central Minnesota, the ice fishing season has effectively come to an end. Shorelines, lake accesses, and main lake ice took a beating over the past week, bringing a quick close to ice fishing opportunities in many areas. Some lakes in cities such as Fairmont, Windom, and Marshall are already completely ice free.
However, if you travel north and northwest from central Minnesota, conditions remain much better and fishing continues on many lakes. Some accesses have started to deteriorate, but anglers can still get out on foot or with ATVs in many areas. In regions north of Walker and Bemidji, trucks were even being used on some lakes earlier this week.
The best fishing action right now for bluegills, crappies, and perch across Minnesota is shifting into shallower water. Many more reports this week indicate fish being caught in the 8 to 12 foot range, and that shallow-water pattern is expected to continue as the season transitions toward spring.
Leech Lake Ice Fishing Report – Walker, MN
On Leech Lake near Walker, perch are currently being found in two main locations. Anglers are catching fish either on mud flats in 10 to 15 feet of water or around sand and grass areas in 8 to 10 feet.
Areas producing consistent perch activity include Trader’s Bay, Portage Bay, Sand Point, Pine Point, and GrandVu Flats. These locations should remain good areas to target as fishing continues. Eelpout activity has slowed slightly compared to previous weeks, but anglers can still find fish on 15 to 25 foot sand during the day, with some moving into shallower water at night. Tullibees and whitefish continue to provide steady action over deeper water in the 30 to 42 foot range, particularly around Stoney Point.
Most resorts on Leech Lake have now closed their lake accesses, but good conditions remain off several public ramps. ATVs and side-by-sides should still be able to get out safely through the weekend.