Bemidji area: With cooler than normal water temperatures on most area lakes, walleye action has been best at deeper depths (around 24 feet) during the daytime and then at shallower depths during the evening using a jig and minnow. Smaller lakes with warmer water temperatures have produced better crappie action using crappie minnows with a jig during the evenings. Northerns are hitting on sucker minnows while trolling on most area lakes.

Big Stone Lake: According to Schmidt's Landing Resort, anglers are enjoying nice walleye and largemouth bass action casting off shorelines using crappie rigs or floating jigs during the late afternoons or evenings. The south end of the lake, around Skeleton Island, continues to also provide quality walleye action using crank baits or spinners with crawlers at shallow depths.

Chisago City: The best two lakes for walleye action have been South Lindstrom and Chisago Lake at about 10-12 feet using fathead minnows or leeches near weedlines. Crappies are hitting on crappie minnows or jigs on Chisago and South Lindstrom at about 4-12 feet. Sunrise Lake has produced the best northern action, using sucker minnows or trolling with Rapalas.

Ely area: According to Babes Bait and Tackle Shop, the best walleye bite has been on area lakes with warmer water temperatures using minnows near shorelines. Some anglers are also casting crank baits into shallow water and then switching to a jig with minnow or leech. Northerns are hitting sucker minnows near points or weedlines. Bass are hitting on crank baits or jig and tube combos from about 3-10 feet. A few lake trout have been landed by trolling spoons at about 15-25 feet.

Leech Lake: Walleyes are taking a jig and minnow at 6-10 feet on wind-driven points and shorelines such as Oak Point, Star Point, Pine Point, the Meadows, Otter Tail Point, Stoney Point, Two Points, and the Hardwoods. Panfish and bass action has been slow but they should start moving to shallower depths.