The fall fishing continues to be very good for walleye, pike, bass and panfish. There aren’t many folks out on area lakes at this point, as many anglers have put their boats away for the season.
It’s a great time to be out on the water, although it can be pretty chilly, especially in the mornings. With water temps down in the low 50s, it doesn’t take much of a breeze for it to be cold out on the water, so dress accordingly.
Live bait rigs with larger minnows are turning walleyes in 12 to 18 feet on Lakes Bemidji, Plantanganet, Andrusia and Big. Jigs and minnows are also working. The bass fishing has been very good off the deeper weeds using plastics, and most of the panfish are suspended out in deeper water. The weather looks great for this week to be out on our area lakes.
Bemidji area: Jigs or live-bait rigs with minnows, and Jiggin’ Raps are all turning walleyes on Lake Bemidji, Lake Plantagenet, Gull Lake and Lake Andrusia. With some wind or clouds, you’ll find walleyes in 8 to 10 feet; otherwise, look deeper — around 15 to 20 feet. Bigger perch are hitting jigs and minnows in 8 to 12 feet on Bemidji and Andrusia. Crappies and bluegills are being found over deep basin areas, while bigger bass are being caught off green weeds and rocks on most lakes.
Bemidji area resource
can be contacted at
Blackduck area: A jig and minnow continues to produce walleyes on Blackduck Lake in 10 to 15 feet and Island Lake in 12 to 18 feet. Look for suspended crappies over 20 to 30 feet on Pimushe Lake and Gilstead Lake. Bluegills and some crappies are hitting along the 10- to 15-foot weeds on Blackduck, Pimushe and Turtle River Lake. Duck numbers are limited, but with the leaves thinning, there have been more grouse seen and shot.
Blackduck area resource
can be contacted at
Cass Lake area: A live-bait rig or jig with a redtail minnow is turning walleyes on Cass Lake in 12 to 14 feet. Muskies seem to be more active in shallow water rather than deep — rubber baits are raising fish on the bars and humps with weeds at Cass and Pike Bay Lake. Bigger perch are being taken off the sand flats in less than 6 feet on Cass. Look for bluegills in 3 to 6 feet and crappies in the 12-foot weeds on Grace Lake, Pughole Lake and Kitchi Lake. There are still a few puddle ducks being shot in the area, but no new ducks worth noting have moved in over the past week.
Cass Lake area resource
can be contacted at
Upper Red Lake area resource
can be contacted at
Jigs and minnows, live bait rigs and minnows, and Jigging Raps are all working for walleyes on area lakes.
Contributed
Upper Red Lake: There hasn’t been a lot of fishing activity over the past week, mainly due to the wind. If anglers can get out, they’re catching walleyes on a jig and minnow in 5 to 9 feet. The north and south shorelines seem to be holding the majority of fish and there have been a few bigger pike and crappies mixed in.
Upper Red Lake area resource
can be contacted at
Lake Winnibigoshish: Most anglers are having no problem finding good numbers of walleyes, but getting them to bite with any consistency continues to be difficult. A healthy supply of small perch is apparently providing plenty of forage for walleyes. There is short bite windows, and if you happen to be present when they decide to go on one of those feeding binges, you’ll catch walleyes on a jig and minnow. Work the shoreline points, breaks and shallow, main-lake structure in less than 12 feet.
Lake Winnibigoshish area resource Lake Winnie Resort Association can be contacted via its website,
Leech Lake area resource
can be contacted at
Please remember to practice selective harvesting. By doing so, we will continue to have great fishing for years to come!
Dick Beardsley is the owner and operator of Dick Beardsley Fishing Guide Service in Bemidji, Minn., and writes weekly fishing reports for the Pioneer. He can be reached at (218) 556-7172 and dick@dickbeardsley.com.