Minnesota is known for its 10,000 Lakes and outstanding Walleye fishing.  There are plenty of other fishing species to target in Minnesota; like Northern Pike, Muskie, and Bass, but no other fish gets targeted more in Minnesota than Walleye. Walleye are easy to fillet and they taste great which makes them the favorite of many anglers.

Some of the Top Minnesota Walleye fishing lakes are Lake Mille Lacs, Lake Winnibigoshish(Lake Winnie), Leech Lake, Upper Red Lake, Lake of the Woods, Lake Vermilion and Rainy Lake.

Lake Mille Lacs is a huge lake with over 132,000 acres of water to fish. The lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet, but there are a number of shallow mud flats on the north end of the lake that hold lots of walleye.

Lake of the Woods is one of the most popular fishing destinations in Minnesota and the entire midwest. This lake is located on the border of Minnesota and Ontario, Canada. The lake is very big as it covers over 65,000 miles of shoreline. You will also see plenty of wildlife and pristine wilderness around the lake. The portion of this lake that is located within Minnesota is known more for its walleye and northern pike fishing, although you can also catch plenty of perch to go along with an occasional smallmouth bass. The Rainy River is also nearby and the fishing can be incredible during the spring for spawning walleye. The Rainy River connects Lake of the Woods to Rainy Lake. If you can plan a trip to Lake of the Woods in the spring, spend a couple of days in the river and you will have some excellent fishing opportunities.

Rainy Lake is located in the northern part of Minnesota and there are plenty of walleye to catch in this lake. There are lots of walleye with tons of scenery to give you the ultimate Minnesota fishing experience. Crankbaits that resemble perch do very well on Rainy Lake. This lake is also very popular for houseboating in the summer time.

Leech Lake is a very popular lake for MN fishing vacations. There are plenty of weed lines to go along with some flats, and deep water humps that will hold walleye. It is very common to catch big perch and northern pike in the same spots that you will be catching your walleye on this lake.

Lake Winnibigoshish, also called Lake Winnie, is an excellent walleye lake. This is another big lake, but there are plenty of walleye and a very good northern pike fishery. There are a lot of pike in the 20 to 29 inch range with 30 to 35 inch fish being common.

Minnesota Fishing Report

"The information in this report is provided courtesy of community organizations throughout Minnesota. This report is brought to you by Explore Minnesota Tourism"

Big Stone Lake MN Fishing

The majority of fish are being taken during morning hours, beginning around 5:30 a.m. and ending by 9:30 or 10:00 a.m. Some walleye are also coming from the docks after 10:00 p.m. White bass have been keeping anglers busy, with reports of good numbers of these fighters being taken. A few perch continue to be netted, but this bite has slowed somewhat. The dog days of summer have arrived, and as usual, anglers need to be more persistent in order to get rewarded with a good catch.

Detroit Lake MN Fishing

While the walleye have moved deeper, they can still be found in the weeds on Big Detroit Lake. Fish have also moved to mid-lake structure. Crappies are still active in the weeds at 11-13 feet, with jigging producing more fish than bobbering. Muskie anglers are having success using the "chunking" technique on the edges of the large flats.

Gull Lake MN Fishing

Fishing in the Brainerd Lakes Area has been excellent, with lots of walleye coming from Gull Lake. For the most fish, hit the outside weed edge using a live bait rig tipped with a chub. The bass fishing has been nothing short of spectacular, with a variety of methods producing fish on Gull. For smallmouth bass, hit the rocks using a wacky hooked plastic worm. For largemouth bass, use a weedless jig tipped with a plastic worm, or try a deep-diving crankbait on the outside weed edge. The northern pike bite is starting to pick up and will only get better as the water gets warmer. For the most fish, try weed weasel jigs tipped with a pike sucker on the outside weed edge.

Lake of the Woods MN Fishing

The Northwest Angle and Islands area is giving up excellent numbers of multiple species. For limits of walleye, hit depths of 10-12 feet or 22-26 feet using a 3/8-ounce gold or orange jig. On the south end of the lake, anglers are taking incredible numbers of walleye when anchored over 30-32 feet of water and using a brightly-colored jig tipped with a leech or minnow. Just a few of the hot spots are just outside of Pine Island, Morris Point, and Zippel Bay. Muskie and northern pike action continues to increase with the rising water temperatures.

Leech Lake MN Fishing

On Leech Lake, anglers are having to compete with the abundant baitfish and crayfish hatches this spring, and the walleye bite has been tough during the day. The most numbers are being taken as the sun is setting, and into the night. The best presentation during evening hours has been to pull perch- and crayfish-colored shad raps, with minnow-colors also producing fish. Do some experimenting to learn which size of plug and speed works best. The best reports have been coming from Walker Bay, Cedar Point, Pine Point, and into the Traders Bay. In the main part of Leech Lake, shad rap fishing has been successful from Northland Reef to Stony Point. Daytime anglers using live bait rigs were finding some large fish in the Duck Point area of Sucker Bay, at The Trench off Stony Point, in Mokey Reef, and in the Submarine Island area. Muskie reports continue to be good in the Portage Bay area, around Pelican Island, and at the Walker Narrows. Largemouth bass remain active in Steamboat and Boy bays.

Lake Mille Lacs MN Fishing

Walleye anglers having the most success are pulling spinners with crawlers or deep-diving crankbaits through 19-30 foot depths on the flats. During low light periods, bobber fish the rocks or troll deep-running crankbaits on the south end of the lake in depths of 12-15 feet or more. The smallmouth bass are hitting tube jigs worked in 4-8 feet of water. As of July 15, 2010, the protected slot will change to 20-28 inches and walleye anglers will be able to keep more fish. At present, anglers must release all walleye measuring 18-28 inches in length.

Lake Miltona MN Fishing

Most of the walleye being caught have been over 20-inches in length, with fish under 20-inches being difficult to find. Most fish coming from depths of 12-14 feet, however some found deeper in 17-20 feet of water. The best bait has been a leech or a nightcrawler. Muskie action has been fair, with a few fish being caught. The crappies remain very active in the cabbage beds, and hitting twister tails in depths of 12-15 feet.

Otter Tail Lake MN Fishing

Walleye are being pulled from depths of 20-30 feet of water during the day on crawlers and leeches, which is typical for this time of year. Bass have been very active; for the most fish, use a scum frog.

Lake Pepin MN Fishing

Anglers took the most fish on live bait rigs, and crankbaits trolled on leadcore. The bass bite was great in the many backwater areas downstream on the Mississippi River, and the smallmouth bass were also fairly active on the many rip rap shorelines of Lake Pepin. The channel cat bite has been nothing short of fantastic.

Rainy Lake MN Fishing

Rainy Lake continues to provide good fishing. Walleye are being caught in roughly 10 feet of water in Sand Bay and Black Bay. Walleye are also coming from the main lake reefs in 25-30 feet of water. The best technique is to use leeches or minnows. Large northern pike are being caught around the weedy edges of the bays along the south shoreline, such as Cranberry and Lost bays. There are reports of large pike coming from the east side of Brule Narrows as well. Smallmouth bass are attacking crayfish-colored lures worked along the rocky southern shoreline, especially in areas where there is a mix of weeds and sandy bottom.

Lake Vermilion MN Fishing

The walleye are biting, and the reef bite during evening hours has been excellent. Large leeches worked a foot off the bottom in depths of 12-15 feet have been best, especially at the humps near deep water. Crankbaits are also working very well when worked at the weedlines during the day and windswept shorelines in the evening. During evening hours, increase the crankbaits to size #11 or #13. Muskie action has been outstanding, with the water temperatures exceeding 75-degrees, making these fish ornry. Try double-10's late in the day and well after dark. Topwater lures are also working well at the rocks when conditions are right. Bass fishing has been great, with smallmouth bass hitting senkos fished wacky and weightless, and pitched to the vertical structure during the day.

Lake Waconia MN Fishing

The bass have been biting very well in both the shallow and deep waters. Many of the larger fish are coming off of the deeper cabbage and weed beds. Some of the best areas include Reinke's Bay, Anderson's Reef and Cemetary Reef. Anglers using Texas-rigged worms and bass jigs are hooking some monster bass. If you prefer the shallows, topwater and spinner baits are producing fish on the north side of the lake in the pencil grass and reeds. The larger sunfish are becoming a bit more difficult to locate, having moved to roughly 16-feet of water and starting to scatter across the weeds. The best bet is to use a slip bobber with a panfish leech or waxworm. Anglers are finding some fish in the 5-6 foot cabbage beds in Reinke's Bay and along the southern shoreline. Most of the walleye are being caught at night and during low light periods. Rigging and slip bobber fishing have been best, especially in depths of 17-22 feet off the weed lines. Crawlers and leeches have been the most productive. Popular spots include Keg's Reef and Anderson's Reef.

Whitefish Chain of Lakes MN Fishing

Walleye action has picked-up even more, with fish hitting long lindy rigs pulled through 18-24 feet of water. Leeches and crawlers were best. Northern pike action was great along the weedlines. Anglers trolling spinner rigs with large sucker minnows, and throwing spinnerbaits or spoons were doing well. For bass, plastic worm rigs were drawing fish from the weeds. Crappie and panfish anglers were doing well using minnows and worms on small hooks or jigs in 12-16 feet of water.

Lake Winnie MN Fishing

Lake Winnibigoshish is producing good numbers of fish, with most of the fish coming off the humps and bars in the main lake. Lindy rigs with leeches and crawlers and 3-5 foot snell have been best in 22-24 feet of water. When fishing on a bar, check your electronics until you find fish, and then throw out a marker and work this location. On calm days, hit the shallow rocks using a jig and minnow.

Minnesota Walleye Fishing Tips

1. When fishing Minnesota Lakes during the summer for walleyes there are generally two bites going on, a shallow water bite, and a deep water bite. If the shallows don't produce, trying fishing the deep water bite. Try primary and secondary points that head out into deep water, humps, underwater islands, rock bars and drop-offs.

2. Walleyes in shallower water will most often relate to weeds. These weeds both reduce the intensity of the sun light and offer the walleye cover to ambush minnows from. To fish the edge of a weed-line simply position your boat parallel to the break and cast your lure so it runs right next to the weed-line. To fish weeds that lie several feet below the surface, simple cast or troll shallow-running crankbaits or spoons right over top.

3. When fishing crankbaits for walleyes be sure to experiment with the type of action, size, and color of the lure. Crankbaits with a narrow lip will have a more subtle action versus crankbaits with a wider lip.  Natural colors are best in clear water with Fire Tiger being a good choice for stained water.

4. Trolling speed is very important when fishing walleyes. In colder waters a very slow speed is often the most effective, while faster speeds can trigger more active fish during the summer months. In either case be sure to note and repeat your trolling speed when catching a fish.

5. A good fishing rod for jigging and casting for walleyes should be a medium to medium-heavy 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 feet long that is medium to fast action. You want some flexibility in the tip, but to much flexibility will reduce the anglers amount of feel.

6. Match your choice of live bait to the season. Minnows are most effective during the winter, spring, and fall. In the summer time it's hard to beat night crawlers and leeches. Leopard frogs can also be effective in the fall.

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