Minnesota fishing report: A good bite and good weather to boot

Baudette area: Anglers on the south end of Lake of the Woods enjoyed nice weather and good fishing on Opening Day. Anglers were successful catching walleyes and saugers in depths of 14 to 20 feet. Anglers on the Rainy River caught some good-sized walleyes. Reports from the Northwest Angle noted good walleye fishing.

Brainerd area: Many area lakes had a good walleye bite during opening weekend. On some lakes, such as Gull, North Long and Pelican, the bite was better after sunset. Crappies have remained active, and anglers enjoyed a good northern pike bite.

Detroit Lakes area: With the water temperatures around 60, anglers enjoyed a good opener. They were finding walleyes in depths of 6 to 15 feet. Crappies and bass were active in shallow areas, too.

Ely area: The higher-than-usual water temperatures made anglers search outside usual locations for walleyes. They were found in depths of 15 to 20 feet. Anglers looking for pike found a good bite, especially near shallow flats and weed beds. Anglers fishing from docks also were successful.

Leech Lake: Anglers on the state's third-largest lake were greeted by calm and sunny conditions on Opening Day. With water temperatures in the mid-50s, walleyes were being found, especially in shallow areas.

West metro: On Lake Minnetonka, anglers were finding walleyes and northerns in 8 to 12 feet of water, according to Wayzata Bait and Tackle. More success was found in the evening or low-light hours after rain. Walleyes were being found in the channels using minnows or soft plastic bait. Crappies were also being found in 8 to 12 feet, especially in the mud-bottom bays. Bass are still on a catch-and-release until later this month, and the bass action was hit or miss. Other area lakes in western Hennepin County — Medicine, Independence and Sarah — have been producing crappies.