Recommended Guide: Wild Country Guide Service. There’s a big bumper crop of small walleyes coming up on the big pond, along with a solid population of true Minnesota trophy ‘eyes. Walleye waters abound in Minnesota. The benefit of using a bobber is that you’ll catch the occasional crappie, and on Red Lake, they grow them BIG. Posted by Nick Lindner | May 2, 2019 | WALLEYE |. Looking for some tips and tricks to help you catch more fish during the Minnesota Walleye Opener? If you’re a walleye angler and that doesn’t peak your interest, I don’t know what will! The skies are overcast and rain showers persist. As a matter of fact, Vermilion is actually the southernmost Canadian Shield lake. Walleye typically spawn in shallow waters with clear rocky bottoms. According to DNR studies, the catch rate is better than any place in the state and no one does it like we do! The nice part about fishing Otter Tail on opener is, it doesn’t get hit nearly as hard as the other lakes on this list; and it’s not due to a lack of fish. Gold is an excellent color on Lake of the Woods, as is pink. This lake is among Minnesota’s most popular, and was chosen as the location of the 2005 Governor’s Fishing Opener. "June is the month when the walleye … Red Lake is a fantastic walleye lake and arguably the best all-around fishery in Minnesota early in the season. Before we dig into the lakes, here are some universal tips that will help you catch more fish on any of the fisheries on this list: Spottail shiners are always king, no matter where you decide to go. According to Brian Brosdahl, “A spottail is a guaranteed bite.” You heard it here first, folks. Lake of the Woods/ Rainy River, Minnesota. That's right, in Minnesota, Walleyes are a real crowd pleaser and because the passion for walleye fishing is so intense, they have become my top specialty. Pelican Lake. A couple years back, the Star Tribune wrote an article about the lake titled: “Leech Lake’s unique problem? If you happen to get your hands on some chubs, please don’t waste them on a jig. Minnesota's best rated fishing guides for Lake Winnibigoshish - aka Lake Winnie, Leech Lake, Red Lake, Bowstring Lake, Pokegama Lake, Sand Lake, and more near Deer River and Grand Rapids MN, offering guided fishing trips and Minnesota fishing vacations on Northcentral MN lakes. Walleye fishing in Minnesota is a tradition that brings anglers from across the country to fish Lake Winnibigoshish and Cutfoot Sioux Lake. At Walker Bay, try Sand Point during the day in 10-12 feet of water for perch and walleye. Black Bay is no doubt one of the best areas if you’re looking for a place to start. In a past interview, Mr. Walleye had this to say about the lake: “I like Winnie so much I bought me a cabin on that lake.”. Lake Harriet is another urban lake suitable for Minnesota ice fishing, but is located on the Minneapolis side of the Twin Cities region. Fishing remains very consistent throughout the lake. Now onto the list (in no particular order)…. Too many walleyes”. Frozen and salted shiners are another great option. Most importantly, the walleye fishing is superb! The 13,725-acre lake is the largest in Otter Tail County and is surrounded by well-developed shorelines. If you can’t get emerald shiners, fatheads or rainbows work. Too many walleyes”, Fishing Clear Water with Sport Fish Michigan, Fish Species in North America — Underwater Minute. Minnesotans are so proud of their walleye fishing that two communities – Garrison and Baudette – each claim to be the Walleye Capitol of the World. In the southern part of the state, the Fairmont Chain of Lakes near the city of Fairmont and Lake Washington just north of Mankato are good places to try. Many anglers will be fishing the Rainy River and around Pine Island and the Gap, but you can have success anywhere near the river mouths and primary points, intercepting walleyes as they move back into the lake. Read on to see our picks for the best walleye lures available. From comfortable Minnesota fishing resorts to remote Boundary Waters canoe fishing trips, Ely Minnesota has the fishing experience you are looking for. This lake from Kochingching County is one of the most outstanding fishing havens in Minnesota with its vast supply of Northern pike, walleye, crappie, and smallmouth bass. Arrowhead Lodge & Resortoffers everything you need to complete your fishing trip. It’s a jig and minnow bite and a slip bobber bite near the mouths of the rivers. A 2013 survey by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources found abundant fish in the 20- to 24-inch range, along with a healthy class of 6- to 8-inch walleye, indicating a strong future for this 128,000-acre fishery. Otter Tail Lake is one of the top walleye lakes in the state of Minnesota. Recommended Guide: RainyDaze Guide Service. Recieve the latest information on new tactics, gear, fishing tips, fishing reports, and top destinations right to your inbox! Otter Tail Lake has a MASSIVE amount walleye in it, plain and simple. A shiner or rainbow on a set line has also been a solid producer. Lake of the Woods and Mille Lacs Lake both compete for the title of “Walleye Capital of the World” and both are worthy of the name. ... “ Even during the lull of the ice season Phil was able to put us on some big walleye and landed a nice pike as an added bonus! You’re going to find a lot of fish scattered throughout the shorelines on both the north and south sides of the lake. Short shanks are great because they don’t get snagged up in the rocks. As is the case on most of these lakes, spottail shiners are your best bet. Here's a guide to fall fishing in Minnesota's major regions. Throwing jigs tipped with minnows around the mouths is always a good bet during on Vermilion during Minnesota Walleye Opener. Look for fish on the gravel and on primary shoreline points, breaks and shoreline-connected bars. Get the latest new tactics, gear, rigging tips, fishing reports, top destinations and more delivered right to your inbox! Instead, you’ll want to drag them nose-hooked on a livebait rig, allowing them the freedom do what they do best: causing a ruckus and making walleyes mad. Depending on the area and the size of the lake, walleye, muskie, northern pike, largemouth bass and crappie, as well as trout in the southeast Minnesota streams, are all biting. Depending on where you live, it can be a long haul up to Lake of the Woods, but in our opinion, it’s worth the drive. A great area to start is in Cutfoot Sioux, working the shallow shoreline breaks from Williams Narrows to the mouth. Local sources claim that spottail shiners are your best option, and anything else is a distant, distant second as far as bait choice is concerned. And, River Point Resort® since 1944 has been “top notch” of the choices for Minnesota walleye fishing resorts. Black Bay, Norwegian Bay and Wakemup are good areas and I would recommend finding the warmest water and starting there. Here, he relases a portly 'eye, hoping to come back and catch it another day. Log in, Minnesota Fishing Reports – Most Current 10, February going out with a bang...New ncor Video, New Humminbird Onix 10 ci si combo cross touch, National Championship Bloodline English Springer Spaniel Puppies, English Springer Spaniel Puppies For Sale. With sky blue waters and spectacular forests, “Up North” in Minnesota, Lake Kabetogama is one of the best fishing lakes in the midwest. It’s the biggest lake in the region, and there’s a hatchery right on the lake, so it gets it’s fair share of walleye fry each year. Six Best Bets for Minnesota Walleye Fishing Tom Brunz is a self-proclaimed river rat who follows the post-spawn migrations of trophy walleyes and saugers in the lower Mississippi each May. Located just north of Leech Lake, Big Winnie is truly a phenomenal walleye fishery in it’s own right. One bonus: boat traffic should be down compared to past seasons with walleye being catch-and-release only this year. Walleyes, Minnesota's state fish are the attraction that lures many folks into the Itasca Region. Each fishing technique has its own optimal lure types. Minnesota is one big, beautiful Walleye fishery. If you’re just looking for something fun to watch, check out “Spawning Walleye – Up Close and Person“. Recommended Guide: Capt. Enjoy! Whether you’re searching for eater fish or a true trophy, it’s hard to go wrong with Lake of the Woods for Minnesota Walleye Opener. Here’s one for all of you in the western part of the state. Green or orange glow spoons have been best this week. If you’ve spent time fishing in Canada, you’ll feel right at home on Lake Vermilion with it’s beautiful scenery and mazes of rocky structure. This past winter, the DNR made walleye regulations less restrictive due to “high walleye abundance and large numbers of … Shetek is the biggest lake in Murray County at nearly 3,600 acres, plus it's one of the best in southwestern Minnesota. As the year progresses, and water temperatures rise, walleye will move out to the deeper parts of the lake. Read on to find your perfect fishing paradise! June is walleye month, and Minnesota is the walleye state. Big Pine, Little Pine and Rush Lake should all be productive as well, but based on our experience, Otter Tail is the place to be. If you decide to launch your boat on Leech this spring, you’ll have some good fishing to look forward to. When it comes to the best walleye fishing in Minnesota, few lakes enjoy the great reputation Lake Winnibigoshish has as Minnesota's premier world-class walleye fishing lake. The best depth range tends to be around 4-6 feet this time of year. Mille Lacs Lake in Minnesota can produce some of the finest walleye fishing around. A weighted jig is an ideal choice for ice-fishing in winter, for example, while a spinnerbait is a good option when fishing amongst feeding walleye in areas of dense cover. If action is what you’re seeking, that’s what you’ll get on Red. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources stocks the lake with walleye each year, but the lake is best known for high numbers of crappies. With 14,522 islands and 25,000 miles of shoreline, there is no shortage of beautiful landscape on Minnesota’s northernmost lake. Planning Your Minnesota Walleye Fishing Trip. There should be a joke here, but I can’t seem to find it.The 40,557-acre lake is fantabulous for fishing walleye, bass and muskie, especially between the beginning of June and October. Fishing lake kabetogama minnesota b in grand rapids mn a minnesota vacation at maple ridge resort june is walleye month minnesota the every state walleye record in americaBest Walleye Lakes In Minnesota Why Rainy Lake Stands OutTop 8 Lakes For Minnesota Walleye Opener AnglingbuzzTop 8 Lakes For Minnesota Walleye Opener AnglingbuzzTrophy Walleye Lakes Best Fishing … Snap Jigging Triggers Savage Walleye Strikes, How to Spinner Rig for Walleye (Advanced Tips), Spring Walleye Location – Mapping & Side Imaging, Must-Have Canadian Fishing Gear for Your Next Trip, Simple Advice for All Boat Owners for a Healthier Engine, Late Summer Fishing Products for Multi-Species Fishing, Panfish Lures and Accessories for Summer Fishing, Walleye Trolling Tackle & Gear for Success, Brainerd Lakes Area Buzz Bite Report 1-25-2021, Where You Should Put Your Yetti Fish House, Central North Dakota Buzz Bite Report 1-15-2021. This is considered to be a gentle giant and has long been one of Northern Minnesota’s most reliable and productive fisheries. Local anglers offer boat rentals, guided fishing tours, resort lodgings, and other coastal activities. If you’re out on Winnibigoshish for opener, you might just run into walleye legend Gary Roach. Winter Fishing in Minnesota Winter fishing on Lake of the Woods is the best you can find. Test-netting on the lake last fall recorded an average of 19.1 walleyes per net, which is the third highest average in over 30 years. The Rainy River spring walleye run is one of the best fishing opportunities there is, but what surprises some people are just how good the small boat opportunities are … Did the governor catch anything? A popular destination for multi-species fishing, the 8,000-acre Pelican Lake is a dream come true for serious anglers. If action is what you’re seeking, that’s what you’ll get on Red. With miles of undeveloped shoreline and plenty of underwater structure, Lake Winnie and Cutfoot Sioux Lake are an angler’s dream. Lake Winnie offers great structure and has large numbers of Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Muskie, Crappie, Jumbo Perch and panfish. You’re going to have a lot of success anchoring up in those areas, and pitching out jigs tipped with minnows. “Gravel Lizards” thrive in lakes and rivers all around the state. "The fishing around here is good, both from shore and from boats," said Jeff Carlson, owner of Carlson Corner in Slayton. Top Minnesota Fishing Charters & Tours: See reviews and photos of fishing charters & tours in Minnesota, United States on Tripadvisor. Vermilion warms up slowly and because of this the shallowest bays are a great place to start fishing. The Minnesota Walleye Opener is a holiday as big as Christmas for many fishermen in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. It’s typically a slip-in-the-current or anchor-in-the-mouth kind of bite. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, “Leech Lake’s unique problem? There are a lot of walleyes in this lake with opportunities for both eater size fish and big fish. “ The surrounding area vast outdoorsy for winter skiing?, and sumer boating fishing . Early December through early January at first ice is always an excellent time to enjoy active fishing and trophy walleyes and northern pike. As is the case for many of the lakes on this list, spring anglers do really well at the entrances and exits of rivers. We want to extend a special thanks to Brian Brosdahl for providing a ton of great information for this article. This massive natural lake in northern Minnesota has gotten a lot of attention in recent years for great walleye fishing but this lake just seems to get more solid each year. The entire month of May and well into mid-June is a very popular time for anglers from around the country to head up to the lake for some premiere Minnesota fishing. Spottail shiners are the best bait, of course, but don’t worry if you can’t get them; they aren’t necessary. This lake is also known as Big Winnie, Lake Winnie, or simply Winni. While it doesn’t get the same kind of attention as it’s sister fishery, Lake of the Woods, it is a true walleye factory in it’s own right. Big Rainy Lake is the “other” bookend walleye fishery on the Minnesota/Ontario border. The skies are overcast and rain showers persist. Brian Brosdahl recommends a gold Fireball Jig or a bubble gum RZ jig tipped with an emerald shiner. With cooler weather, more active fish and a beautiful backdrop of changing leaves, fall is one of the best times of year to fish in Minnesota. This past winter, the DNR made walleye regulations less restrictive due to “high walleye abundance and large numbers of fish from 12 to 21 inches.”. With all the fabulous options on Mille Lacs, you could do much worse for Minnesota Walleye Opener. Winnibigoshish is a lake that has a fantastic open-water walleye bite and is great during the winter for perch. It’s probably the best spawning walleye footage you’ve ever seen. 9. Recommended Guide: Leisure Outdoor Adventures. Minnesota's state fish is a good fighter, tastes excellent and is common throughout most of Minnesota. When you’re talking about the best walleye lakes in Minnesota, Mille Lacs Lake needs to be in the discussion. If you pick Rainy for walleye opener this spring, expect picturesque scenery and a lot of action! A very big lake with a huge population of walleyes. Nearly 95 % of it’s 35-mile shoreline is undeveloped, so the lake’s scenic appeal makes it an ideal location to take the family for the weekend. 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