Lake Mille Lacs: The walleye bite has been excellent on the lake, and anglers are having success by bobber fishing, rigging and trolling with crankbaits. Plenty of 20- to 26-inch fish have been caught, as well as a lot of keepers. The walleye bite will continue over the next couple of weeks. Bass are hitting tube jigs and spinners on the shallow rocks and along the shorelines, and large perch are also starting to bite.
Mississippi-St. Croix: Anglers are taking lots of walleyes right now by using Lindy Rigs, spinner rigs and trolling Rapalas in 13 to 22 feet of water. Many of those walleyes are keepers. Smallmouth bass are becoming easier to find with water levels falling. They are taking tube jigs, buzzbaits and swim jigs. Freshwater drum and white bass have been active, but not catfish.
Grand Marais area: Walleye fishing has been excellent on Devil Track Lake just north of Grand Marais. For best results, try trolling a slip bobber or float rig with a leech. Whitefish have been taking small mayfly lures. Rainbow trout have been going after nightcrawlers on Mink Lake about 12 miles up the Gunflint Trail. Nightcrawlers have also been the bait of choice for smallmouth bass on most of the area lakes, and lake trout are being taken in 50-60 feet of water on Lake Superior, with a few salmon mixed in.
Grand Rapids area: Walleye are scattered in deeper waters on most area lakes, with schools of fish being harder to locate. Tenacity is the best approach, pulling bottom bouncers and blades through the deeper waters. Northern pike and smallmouth bass have been easier to catch, and have been hanging around in the thicker vegetation along the shorelines. Larger lakes like Winnibigoshish and Pokegama have yielded the most walleye, and smaller area lakes have been producing lots of panfish and bass.
