Report from the Dock
With some of the warmest weather of the season hitting the state last week and early this week, catching walleyes has been difficult in many areas. Water temperatures jumped up quite a bit, and many lakes developed significant algal blooms – neither of which is good for walleye activity. The best options continue to be early and late in the day, or after dark, covering water with crankbaits or spinners tipped with minnows or crawlers. Minnows definitely started to produce more walleyes this week, and better minnow options are starting to show up again in a lot of areas. Largemouth and smallmouth bass remain an easy catch, although bigger fish are being found deeper 15 to 25 feet depending on the lake. Bluegills are hanging tight to established weeds, while some of the state’s better crappie action now involves suspended fish off weedlines in deep water. Bucktails continue to trigger the majority of muskies.
Leech Lake Report
A spinner and crawler is producing walleyes in the Five Mile and Two Points areas of Portage Bay in 13 to 16 feet. You’ll also pop a few walleyes with a jig and minnow or spinner and crawler on the north end of Walker Bay in 9 to 13 feet. At night, trolling crankbaits have produced walleyes from Sand Point to Cedar Point in 8 to 10 feet. Perch action has picked up in the 12-foot weeds out from GrandVu Resort, while largemouth bass are hitting in the reeds and rice in most bays, and smallmouths continue to be plucked off the rocks with plastics. Muskie reports have been better off the shallow sand and rock with bucktails.