Cool, windy conditions across the region have limited shallow-water crappie movement statewide, keeping most fish outside typical spring spawning areas. When sunshine raises surface temperatures slightly, some activity has been observed in shallow bays, shorelines, boat harbors, and channel edges, but the bulk of crappies remain staged in deeper transition zones around 6–13 feet, varying by lake.

With cooler water temperatures expected to persist through the fishing opener weekend, anglers targeting walleyes should prioritize shallow structure and slow presentations for the best chance of success. If the walleye bite is inconsistent, crappies remain a strong secondary target, especially following several days of forecasted sunshine and warming trends leading into opener.

Bait availability is mixed statewide due to cold-water impacts on harvesting. Minnow supplies are limited in some areas because of reduced trapping success, and leeches are available but generally run smaller than average, with few “jumbo” options expected.

Leech Lake Fishing Report – Walker, MN

The handful of anglers who have gone out are finding a few crappies in the bays such as Steamboat, Shingobee, Agency, and Boy in 5 to 10 feet. If the sun is out, look even shallower during the afternoon. There’s also been some crappies showing up in shallow boat harbors or channels late each day – again, if the sun is out.

For bait, gear, and local fishing insight near Leech Lake:

Reed’s Sporting Goods (218) 547-1505

Elite Angling Adventures (651) 315-9252

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With school back in session, along with some unseasonably cold air that was accompanied by strong, north winds, the number of people fishing was far less over the past week. In addition, water temperatures plummeted about 10 to 12 degrees across the state during the cold front, and this all provided a big bump in the road for anglers. Walleye anglers seem to have experienced the biggest hit; there’s still fish being caught, but you really had to force-feed them based on many reports. Crawlers continue to produce fish, but minnows are quickly becoming the go-to presentation for walleyes. Trolling crankbaits at night in shallow water is also picking up steam. Most good crappie reports now involve suspended fish over deep water and away from weeds, while bluegills continue to be found tight to, or directly in the remaining green weeds.

Leech Lake Fishing Report

Jigs tipped with a minnow or crawler continue to produce walleyes in 9 to 11 feet off Pine Point, Greg’s Breakline, and the Snake Pit. There have also been a few more walleyes, along with more perch, caught on the north end of Walker Bay in 10 to 12 feet. The 5- to 9-foot weeds in Portage Bay and Steamboat Bay are holding muskies.

Reed’s Sporting Goods (218) 547-1505

Elite Angling Adventures (651) 315-9252

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Panfish anglers are starting to get out, and crappie action has improved a lot since last week. Generally, reports have been best from central Minnesota and points south – where the ice has been gone the longest. Those traditional spring spots such as shallow bays, harbors, channels, and shorelines have started holding plenty of crappies, along with some bluegills. The farther north you go, the crappie activity is just getting started, but water temperatures remain relatively low. In most northern locations, crappies are just starting to be found in shallow water, while other pods of fish are being found slightly deeper, just outside of bays and channels. Small jigs tipped with wax worms, minnows, or plastics under floats seem to be working best. Look for walleyes to be shallow this weekend in most areas. If the walleye bit is slow, there should certainly be a lot of opportunities to put some panfish in the boat.

Leech Lake Report

Any remaining ice went out early this week. There hasn’t been much fishing activity, but look to Shingobee Bay or Miller’s Bay for crappies in shallow water. Expect to find walleyes shallow, hitting a jig and minnow this weekend along wind-driven points and shorelines.

Sponsored By:

• Reed’s Sporting Goods (218) 547-1505
• Shriver’s Bait Company (218) 547-2250

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Everything was lining up nicely for good ice and lake conditions prior to last week’s snow. Anglers were getting out, using ATVs, side by sides, and even trucks in some areas, but most of that has come to an end. While snow depths varied across the state, enough of it fell just about everywhere to cause slushy conditions and water underneath it. With a significant cold front behind the snow early this week, there hasn’t been much fishing activity, at least not as much as there could have been if lake conditions remained favorable and ice would have continued building. Anglers have continued to walk out and use ATVs or snowmobiles in those areas that weren’t hit the hardest, but there’s quite a few locations that you now need a track vehicle to get around if there hasn’t been any roads or trails opened. Hopefully, it gets cold enough to freeze the existing slush and the state doesn’t receive another round of measureable snow this week. 

Leech Lake

Between 8 and 11 inches of snow fell last week and that caused slush to develop throughout the lake. Tracked vehicles or snowmobiles are probably the best means to get around on the main lake where up to 11 inches of ice is being reported, but there are still spots with 7 to 9 inches, and less than that in Walker Bay. Most resorts or outfitters are shooting for the week after Christmas to start letting people out. The few people fishing are catching some walleyes in 10 to 16 feet off the points and shoreline breaks. There’s been some foot traffic in Walker Bay, where a few walleyes are being taken off the shoreline breaks in 12 to 18 feet.  

Sponsored By:

• Reed’s Sporting Goods (218) 547-1505
• Shriver’s Bait Company (218) 547-2250

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Walleye anglers struggled a bit more this week than last with mayfly hatches affecting the bite and strong winds limiting when they could fish many days. Evening hours seem to be providing the most consistent walleye activity with weed edges, main lake bars, and shoreline breaks producing fish in less than 15 feet. Midday hours have been more difficult with live-bait rigs or spinners with leeches and crawlers turning some fish on structure in 15 to 20 feet or so. There wasn’t much talk about minnows this week and it appears as though leeches and nightcrawlers are primary live bait options. Bluegills and crappies are now being found in or along cabbage or other vegetation on most lakes. There’s been a few shallow water (spawning) bluegill bites hanghing in there, but main lake weeds are your best option for numbers. Largemouth and smallmouth bass reports remain excellent with fish being caught shallow and deep this week.

Leech Lake Report

Summer patterns are starting to kick in with a change from minnows to a better leech and crawler bite. Main lake rock reefs are producing walleyes, while Sucker Bay and Portage Bay are producing fish on slow-death rigs or spinners tipped with a crawler in 12 to 16 feet. A slip bobber and a leech or crawler are producing walleyes in the weeds and off Sand Point in 12 to 16 feet. Work the 15- to 25-foot breaks in Walker Bay with a Lindy Rig and leech or a bigger minnow. Muskies are being raised in the cabbage throughout Portage Bay and Sucker Bay, while largemouth bass are going in the rice and weed growth in Steamboat Bay and Boy Bay.

Sponsored By:

• Reed’s Sporting Goods (218) 547-1505
• Shriver’s Bait Company (218) 547-2250

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