Minnesota fishing report

May 23, 2017 at 11:38PM

Chisago City area: Anglers are reeling in walleyes on most area lakes but Green and South Center appear to the best using a jig and minnow at 12-18 feet. Kroon Lake has been a good sleeper lake for crappie and panfish action as well as Chisago and South Lindstrom.

Duluth area: Fish and Island Lakes are producing good walleye action at 6-8 feet using leeches or fathead chub minnows. Walleyes are also active on Rice Lake. Anglers are also enjoying good walleye action on the St. Louis River near the Gary-New Duluth area using nightcrawlers or shiners. Crappie action is also active on Fish Lake during the evenings at about 8 feet.

Lake Vermilion: Walleye action has been particularly good on the east end using jigs with minnows at 1-6 feet. Anglers are also enjoying good crappie action on the west side of the lake along weed lines at about 10 feet using small jigs with crappie minnows. Walleye action is also picking up on the Little Fork and Rice Rivers using floating jig heads with rainbow minnows.

Kabetogama/Namakan/Ash River: Nice-sized walleyes, northerns and saugers are being caught by anglers using a slow presentation on either shallow shoreline points or at 30-40 feet using a jig and minnow. Smallmouth bass action has also been productive.

Leech Lake: The best walleye action is coming off most wind-driven shorelines and points at 6-10 feet using a jig and minnow or live-bait rigs. Crappies and bluegills are being caught in bays at shallow depths.

Park Rapids area: With warmer water temps, crappie and panfish action has been excellent using small jigs and minnows. Walleyes on area lakes are being caught on shallow flats, trolling with smaller crankbaits. During the daytime, anglers are catching walleyes using a jig with minnows near dropoffs.

Willmar area: Lakes such as Big Kandiyohi, Elizabeth and Lillian are providing anglers with good walleye action at about 8-20 feet. Anglers are also trolling shallow depths in the evenings pulling crankbaits for walleyes. Crappie and sunfish have been active on lakes Eagle, Diamond and Andrew using small jigs with minnows.

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