Gary Engberg Outdoors

Minnesota Outdoor News Fishing and Hunting Report 12-24-09

gengberg December 24th, 2009

Minnesota Outdoor News Fishing Report
December 24th, 2009

This report is sponsered by:
Zippel Bay Resort

Big Six

LAKE MILLE LACS
East - Perch continue to be caught in 16 feet throughout Isle Bay on jigging spoons and minnow heads. You’ll find a few walleyes on the 14- to 16-foot rocks in Isle Bay as well, but the bite is limited to about an hour at sunset. Reports from the main lake continue to be sporadic.
Johnson’s Portside (320) 676-3811

West - Jigging spoons are producing walleyes and perch on the edges of the flats in 25 to 29 feet. Snowmobiles and sleds are being used to reach the flats. The 18- to 21-foot break in St. Alban’s Bay also continues to hold walleyes. Look to the bay for pike in 15 feet or less.
Terry’s Boat Harbor (320) 692-4430

LAKE OF THE WOODS
Limits of walleye and sauger are an easy catch in 20 to 26 feet. The best reports are coming north of Pine Island and the Morris Point area with glow or gold jigs tipped and shiner minnows. Walleyes in the 16- to 18-inch range are quite abundant on the Rainy River as well.
Lake of the Woods Tourism Bureau (800) 382-FISH

LEECH LAKE AREA
The humps in Walker Bay on Leech Lake are producing walleyes during the evening hours in 18 to 24 feet. Pine Point and the Goose Island area also have kicked out walleyes during low-light periods in 10 to 15 feet. On Garfield Lake, anglers continue to find panfish and walleyes in 15 to 20 feet. Northern pike are active in the shallow weed areas of most lakes.
Reed’s Sporting Goods (218) 547-1505

LAKE MINNETONKA AREA
There’s an evening walleye bite on Lake Minnetonka on the weedlines or 35 feet and on Lake Independence in 17 feet. Minnows on setlines seem to be working best. Northern pike are very active on the weedlines of most lakes hitting sucker minnows and panfish action is slow.
Wayzata Bait (952) 473-2227

RAINY LAKE
Big walleyes remain active off Birch Point in Sand Bay over 24 to 32 feet, but it’s been difficult to hook a limit of keepers. Look for the crappies to start hitting in Black Bay and northern pike reports continue to be limited.
Loon’s Nest (218) 286-5850

LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
There’s some evening walleye action two miles out from shore in 23 feet. The bars and humps also are giving up walleyes in 20 to 23 feet. A few perch have been found on Horseshoe Bar in 20 feet and you’ll find perch shallow, but plan on sorting through some small fish. Spearing is still good, but look for deeper water to give up bigger fish.
Nodak Lodge (218) 665-2226

Twin Cities Metro

NORTHEAST METRO
Look to White Bear Lake for walleyes in 15 to 20 feet during low-light periods. On the St. Croix River, walleyes and crappies are hitting spoons and Rapalas in 20 to 30 feet. Tip-ups and sucker minnows are turning pike on the weedlines of Lake Jane and Demonterville Lake. Sunfish are hitting in less than 10 feet on Lake Peltier and Jane is producing crappies in 15 to 20 feet.
Blue Ribbon Bait & Tackle (651) 777-2421

WEST METRO
Pike are hitting suckers under tip-ups in 10 to 12 feet at Pierson Lake. Crappies are hitting during low-light periods on Lake Parley in 12 to 15 feet. Look for sunfish on Lake Bavaria, Lake Minnewashta, and Lake Auburn in 10 feet or less.
Cabin Fever Sports (952) 443-2022 Continue Reading »