Minnesota Lakes Fishing Report.

[Brnnoser6983]

X2 on pool 2. You could launch in Fridley area. It is far enough south of the Dam in Coon Rapids, and gives you a large distance until the MPLS dam. I have looking to launch there this year and test out the waters so to speak of river fishing in my boat.

[dsidle61]

No fishing this week for me so far, just can't enjoy myself in the cold and wind. Tomorrow looks to be a great day, going to head somewhere in the afternoon/evening. I'll report back!

[FryDog62]

I'm in Plymouth, MN too and plan to go out in the morning.... will see how I feel, am toying between Minnetonka or Parker's Lake...depending on how many emails I have to follow up on before the long weekend (self-employed).   Have you fished Medicine much?  I haven't bought the park sticker in the past but may want to try.  Haven't heard many reports on it.  Wondering if it gets less pressure than Tonka and if the fish are plentiful and/or big. 

[Jim Hill]

FIshing here in North Eastern MN hasn't been the best for me on the locals lakes.  Considering I was fishing 2 or 3 days ago in the snow!  Hopefully this warm up here helps, going to Vermillion on saturday, most likely hoodoo point (in a boat).

Anyone been to Vermillion in the last few days?

[baileyjs]

I'm in Plymouth, MN too and plan to go out in the morning.... will see how I feel, am toying between Minnetonka or Parker's Lake...depending on how many emails I have to follow up on before the long weekend (self-employed).   Have you fished Medicine much?  I haven't bought the park sticker in the past but may want to try.  Haven't heard many reports on it.  Wondering if it gets less pressure than Tonka and if the fish are plentiful and/or big. 

Are there any decent bass in Parker's?  I drive by it every day.

[dsidle61]

Ive only fished Medicine once, I only have a 10ft jon so I don't even bother going to that ramp.  I put in once on the south end of the lake on the beach area.  It was super busy so I didn't last two long.  As far as parkers goes, I fish there a lot.  If you are looking for size you wont find it there.  Tons of pike in there but small.  As far as bass go youll find some in between all the pike.  Its small so if you get one or two skiiers out there it can be a pain.  I live walking distance from there so its my evening quick fishing spot.  Wouldn't make an effort to get there though. 

[FryDog62]

I'm same with Parkers, only a couple miles from my house so when I only have an hour or two to fish I'll go there.  Try to fish in the morning before other boats, jet skiers, etc.  Bass seem to average 2-3 pounds so nothing huge, and yes - have a leader on for the toothy snot rockets!!

[dsidle61]

heres my weekend report, doesnt look like tomorrow will be worth heading out.  Friday headed out to Waverly Lake, about a 35-40 min drive west of the metro but worth it!  Perfect day mid to low 70s almost no wind.  Found all my bass topwater up shallow, couple 2.5-3lbers.  Some nice northern that were not happy to be hooked.  All came on a spinnerbait with the exception of one on a scatter rap just outside the main weedline.  Some nice walleye in there as well but i didnt want to stop catching fish so i never even threw for them. 

Today stopped at Parkers for just a little bit.  Lot of traffic out there didnt do well at all.  Ive only fished that lake last year so maybe someone whos fished it for a few years can confirm or deny this.  But Parkers is absolutely chocked full of weeds.  I know its not great to begin with and last year it was pretty full but i feel like this year that place is going to get swallowed up.  I couldnt even troll 40 yards off shore bc of the weeds submerged a foot under.  Theres maybe a 50 yard stretch in the center of the lake that is clear enough to pull a crank through.  I was just there a week or so ago and it wasnt this bad. 

[Jeff H]

I was on White Bear today.  Been near 20 yrs since I was out there.  Surface temps 61-63.  I saw no beds.  We caught some bass and enough mini gators that I likely will never return.  Lake was a bit busy today, but I expected it would be.  Launch ramp is kind of a PITA, but parking lot is great!

 

Bass were caught on jerk bait, spinnerbait, Senko, Fluke and one on a jig.  Biggest was around 19"(jerkbait) , most were 13"-15" and came from depths of 2'-8'.  Maybe 12-15 bass were caught and they were really spread out.  

[FryDog62]

dsidle61 it's not your imagination about the weeds on Parker's...its best early season or late Fall because of the incredible milfoil. Rumor has it a guy that worked for the DNR lived on or near Parker's for years and treated it himself (probably not supposed to) to keep the weeds at bay. Then he retired a few years ago and it is slowly getting swallowed up. Hate that stuff, I'm sure there are good fish underneath the slop but I don't like catching 3 pound fish with 4 pounds of weeds wrapped around it...

[dsidle61]

Thanks Frydog, yeah I couldn't believe how bad it had gotten in a week. Like I said I fished it all last summer when I first moved here bc it was the closest thing to me and its 100x worse right now than it ever was last year. I don't mind weeds on top bc I love throwing frogs it's the stuff submerged < a foot below that just frustrates me.

[Tlauz]

Fished the Bemidji area. Most bass were shallow, less than 6 feet. Caught most on spinnerbaits and a few on plastic worms. Most fish were 12 to 14 inch. A few nice ones. Bigger fish were caught on Texas rigged worms and were very shallow or under docks.

[punch]

I got out three times this weekend in some north metro lakes. I seemed to only find bass really shallow. When the sun was out I was able to sight fish some pretty good sized fish in like 2-3 feet of water. Some were right on their beds and some were protecting (moving off the bed to chase bluegil away) I was able to hook up with a couple with a t-rig craw.. others wanted nothing to do with me. Effective sight fishing on beds takes a lot of patience and boat control.. both of which I don't have!

Yesterday I got out early in the morning and was ONLY able to hook up with 3 or 4 fish super shallow with a rebel pop-r. I'm talking like 2 feet of water. I've been cranking and getting nothing this past week, the fish do NOT seem to be chasing. I've tried shallow with squarebills and outside weedlines with DT's.. nothing. They seem to be lethargic and really shallow with temps being in the mid-low 60's. I'm assuming they are spawning and haven't moved out to the post-spawn patterns yet. 

 

I guess all I can suggest based on my 4 outings in the last 10 days is if you're in the metro, go very very shallow and work your way out. I've been getting no action on frogs, but i've had action on spooks and pop-rs. 

[dsidle61]

I got out three times this weekend in some north metro lakes. I seemed to only find bass really shallow. When the sun was out I was able to sight fish some pretty good sized fish in like 2-3 feet of water. Some were right on their beds and some were protecting (moving off the bed to chase bluegil away) I was able to hook up with a couple with a t-rig craw.. others wanted nothing to do with me. Effective sight fishing on beds takes a lot of patience and boat control.. both of which I don't have!

Yesterday I got out early in the morning and was ONLY able to hook up with 3 or 4 fish super shallow with a rebel pop-r. I'm talking like 2 feet of water. I've been cranking and getting nothing this past week, the fish do NOT seem to be chasing. I've tried shallow with squarebills and outside weedlines with DT's.. nothing. They seem to be lethargic and really shallow with temps being in the mid-low 60's. I'm assuming they are spawning and haven't moved out to the post-spawn patterns yet. 

 

I guess all I can suggest based on my 4 outings in the last 10 days is if you're in the metro, go very very shallow and work your way out. I've been getting no action on frogs, but i've had action on spooks and pop-rs. 

Great write up man.  Ive been the same way, everything has been shallow for me.  Only thing on the outside weedlines seem to be northern.  However all my shallow fish have been on frogs.  Just tossing right on any surface cover and slowly popping.  Just a pop pop pause seems to be working for me. 

[bass1980]

I was on White Bear today. Been near 20 yrs since I was out there. Surface temps 61-63. I saw no beds. We caught some bass and enough mini gators that I likely will never return. Lake was a bit busy today, but I expected it would be. Launch ramp is kind of a PITA, but parking lot is great!

Bass were caught on jerk bait, spinnerbait, Senko, Fluke and one on a jig. Biggest was around 19"(jerkbait) , most were 13"-15" and came from depths of 2'-8'. Maybe 12-15 bass were caught and they were really spread out.

That lake used to be a lot better but the recent water level didn't help at all. Still for such a large lake like White Bear LMB are small. I wish I understood why.

[Jeff H]

That lake used to be a lot better but the recent water level didn't help at all. Still for such a large lake like White Bear LMB are small. I wish I understood why.

I agree, it was a lot better back in the 90's.  That lake is WAY down from what it used to be.  I'm talking 5'-6' low.  From what I've heard we can expect it to continue to shrink.

[bass1980]

I agree, it was a lot better back in the 90's.  That lake is WAY down from what it used to be.  I'm talking 5'-6' low.  From what I've heard we can expect it to continue to shrink.

White Bear Lake used to be the east Minnetonka. I remember guys used to talk about how good a fishery it was back in the 90's. It was also the best metro lake for giant Muskies. The lakes water level has dropped a lot in the past 7 years. I read an article that they may have the local residence reduce their water consumption. I didn't know they used water from WBL. Also ideas of tapping water from the Mississippi but that would be an extremely long and costly pipe line which I doubt will happen. Just last year I heard water level finally came back up a bit due to a lot of rain in the spring. I haven't been there in 3 years but it was very low at that time. That is why now Bald Eagle lake is always packed with Musky anglers now instead of WBL.

[Jeff H]

New developments in Hugo are pulling water from the WBL aquafier....supposedly.  If they keep that up, that lake will just continue to shrink.  

 

We called it Mini-tonka back then, based purely on the heavy traffic but the fishing was good too.  I've caught some nice smallies from WBL in the past.  In fact, I recall one tournament that was won with a bag that was all smallies.  I don't recall the weight but it was better than 3lb average.  It was an impressive catch then.  I didn't catch or see any smallies last weekend but I hope there are still some out there.

[OperationEagle]

Was out on a small lake in the south metro.  Fish holding tight to structure.  Strikes came in shallows near downed trees.  Black and blue baby brush hog did the trick.

 

Windier than expected.  Bass became more aggressive with cloud cover.  Cottonwood seeds were a pain in the rear to deal with.  Nonetheless, I had a great day as the fish were biting. Put 10-12 bass in the boat with the largest being a 4lb 19+incher.  All were 15 inches and longer.

[punch]

Nice! I did some remodeling at my hosue over the weekend, but I did manage to sneak out tonight for a few hours with my 5yo daughter. We hit a north metro lake by my house at about 6pm. Water temps were mid 60's and the lake was dead calm. My daughter literally caught 19 bluegills.. she was hammering them. Once I let her have her fun I hit a few points on on lake looking any signs of life. One point had a lot of minnows & bluegills flopping around on the surface so tossed a storm Chug Bug (a personal fav topwtaer) and started drilling bass. I caught like 6 fish over one point in about 30 minutes. All 1-3lb fish, in about 2-5 feet of water. 

 

Then one of my final casts this guy absolutely hammered the chug bug. Great way to end the weekend. 

 

[shimmy]

Great job. Even a better job taking your girl out, true fisherman right there. Love when they just stare at the bigger bass and make crazy comments. Despite the loud noises and crazy boredom games they play in the boat, i think taking your girls with you always is a lucky charm for bigger bass. Seems to hold true for me. Congrats on a great fish. 

[Jeff H]

I was on Chisago last Sunday.  Was chilly in the morning!!  Did pretty good, no big bites though, 17" was biggest.  All caught on Senko's.  They wouldn't hit anything that was moving.  This is one of those lakes you'd have to be a complete spode to get skunked on, even after a major cold front.  Fun lake to fish.

[Tlauz]

Fished 4 different Bemidji area lakes 31st - 2nd.  Mornings were cold (in the upper 30's the first 2 days)  and wind was 10- 20 mph every day.  Found fish on one of the lakes under docks and shallow with senkos.  Other lakes had big reed flats that range from 5 to 6 feet down to 2 to 3 feet.  Fish were in 2 to 3 feet on the sandiest parts of the lake, caught nothing until we hit these spots.  It was very windy, so we drifted with the wind and threw spinnerbaits.  I haven't found fish on outside weed edge like I normally do in the summer.  Water temps  in low 60's. 

[punch]

I'm seeing the same thing Tlauz! 

 

I spent 7 hours out fishing today on a north metro lake and temps seem to be hanging around in the mid 60's and the bass are still REALLY shallow. I've been catching them shallow for the last two weeks and they just don't seem to be moving anywhere. I'm doing damage in like 2-3 feet of water with wacky senkos and topwater. The advantage of the bass being so d**n shallow is you can basically sight fish them with frogs and poppers. My chug bug got HAMMERED today. I caught 8-9 bass on the ole chug bug, most of them I could see hit the bait all day. 

 

If you're getting out I still suggest going very shallow and working your way out. Wear your polarized glasses and zero in on the big ones. I don't even need to zero in on docks because I can see them patrolling around the docks and I've been able to get them to strike being very slow and methodical with topwater. Buzzbaits don't seem to get any action and working frogs & poppers fast hasn't been getting strikes. I've had to work the baits really slow. 

 

Fish just don't seem to be out chasing food down yet here in the metro, at least the lakes I fish. 

[MN Lakes Area 14]

Tournament on Rush (chisago) 6/6. Fishing was real slow. Most guys found theirs West side, southern bay. Deep in grass. Cold front came in and really kept em tight. Wish I had better news.. next tournament 6/14 Green. I'll try to let you know how that goes.