Weekly Minnesota fishing report

ALEXANDRIA AREA

Crappies are being found scattered in six to 12 feet of water. It really depends on the weather, but if it's warm you'll still find active fish in shallow water. Look to Lake Carlos, Lake Geneva, Lake Darling and Lake Le Homme Dieu for the area's biggest crappies. A few sunfish have been showing up in the shallows of these lakes during the past few days.

ANNANDALE AREA

The bigger crappies have set up in slightly deeper water, eight to 12 feet, and in areas with some emerging weeds on most lakes. Tube jigs or a jig and minnow have worked best on Clearwater Lake, Cedar Lake, Sugar Lake, Lake Sylvia and Pleasant Lake. Sugar Lake, Cedar and Clearwater are kicking out small sunfish in six to eight feet of water.

BATTLE LAKE

Look to the shallow bays and reeds in three to six feet of water for crappies on Elbow Lake and Walker Lake. Lakes such as Deer, Stalker, Mollie Stark and Annie Battle are producing sunfish in shallow water.

BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA

The bays, channels, and docks of North Long Lake, Gull Lake and Green Lake are producing crappies in five to seven feet of water. Small jigs tipped with waxworms or leeches have been the ticket for sunfish in less than eight feet of water on Nisswa Lake, Lake Hubert and Lake Margaret.

CROSBY AREA

Sunfish and crappies are hitting at a good pace in shallow water. Small jigs tipped with minnows or waxworms have worked best in three to seven feet of water. Look to Serpent Lake, Milford Lake, Black Hoof Lake, Rabbit Lake, Lake Adney and Mahnomen Lake for the area's biggest fish.

DETROIT LAKES

Find some reeds in five to eight feet of water and you should find bluegills and crappies. Lakes such as Little Cormorant, Big Cormorant, Pelican, Prairie, Crystal, Toad and Detroit are worth noting. Jigs tipped with waxworms or minnows are working best.

EAST-CENTRAL MINNESOTA

Crappies are hitting minnows on Fremont Lake and Blue Lake in less than six feet of water. The Mississippi River is producing numbers of catfish on nightcrawlers. Sunfish have been scattered in shallow and deeper water depending on the weather.

FAIRMONT AREA

The power plant area of George Lake is producing crappies during the afternoon and evening hours. The channel between Amber Lake and Hall Lake is a safe bet for crappies and bullheads.

GRAND RAPIDS AREA

The harbor and bays on Lake Pokegama are providing consistent crappie action. Look to the backwaters of the Mississippi River for bluegills and crappies in shallow water. There's an evening crappie bite in Cow Bay on Bowstring Lake in four to six feet of water. The bays on Spider Lake have produced numbers of crappies as well.

HACKENSACK AREA

While sunfish continue to be tough to find, the area crappie bite remains consistent. Ten Mile Lake, Pleasant Lake, Woman Lake and Five Point Lake are kicking out limits in four to six feet of water.

LAKE KABETOGAMA

The walleye opener will depend on water temperatures, but it looks as though a jig and minnow will work best. Floating jigs and minnows also may turn fish if the water continues to warm. Northern pike should be found in shallow water down to about 12 feet.

LAKE MILLE LACS

Crappie activity in shallow water has slowed, but a few perch have been caught on leeches and small minnows along the shorelines. Everyone anticipates a good start to the walleye season.

LAKE MINNETONKA

Bigger crappies have staged outside of the bays in 10 to 14 feet of water. Look for emerging weed cover to be holding schools of fish, which tend to be most active during the evening hours. Sunfish continue to be found in six to eight feet of water in most bays and along shorelines.

LAKE OF THE WOODS

Sturgeon continue to hit crawlers on the Rainy River. Most bays are kicking out northern pike in 10 to 12 feet of water. Crankbaits or ciscoes have turned bigger fish during the afternoon hours.

LAKE OSAKIS

Miller's Bay started producing a few crappies in shallow water. Look to the reeds and shallow creek mouths to start providing steady panfish action during the next week. Jigs tipped with minnows or waxworms under floats are the way to go here.

LAKE VERMILION

Crappie reports continue to be limited by cool water temperatures. Look to the bays and shorelines to produce small walleyes this weekend. The bigger fish tend to gather between 24 and 35 feet of water. A jig and minnow presentation should work best opening day.

LAKE WACONIA

Work the docks and bays for crappies in six to 10 feet of water. Jig and minnows continue to turn the majority of fish, but tube jigs also have been working quite well this week. Sunfish can be found scattered throughout the shallow shorelines of most bays. Waxworms and small jigs are working best.

LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH

Work the mouth of the Mississippi River and west side points for perch in six to eight feet of water. Jigs and fathead minnows are turning the majority of fish, and it's important to stay on the move until you locate a school of bigger fish.

LEECH LAKE AREA

Most small lakes and the bays of Leech are kicking out panfish in four to eight feet of water. While numbers haven't been a problem, the majority of fish being caught have been small. Look for small jigs tipped with minnows or waxworms to work best.

McGREGOR AREA

Good-sized perch started hitting minnows in four to six feet of water on Big Sandy Lake. A few crappies continue to be caught on minnows at the Big Sandy Flowage. Work the shallows of Lake Minnewawa with small jigs and waxworms for sunfish.

MONTICELLO AREA

The north end of Maple Lake is a safe bet for crappies and sunfish. Pelican Lake continues to give up crappies in shallow water during the afternoon and evening hours. On Big Lake, you'll find sunfish and crappies in less than six feet of water. Channel catfish are hitting nightcrawlers on the Mississippi River.

ORTONVILLE AREA

There's a good night bite for walleyes on the south end of Big Stone Lake off Goose Island and Poverty Point in three to five feet of water. A slip bobber and leech or jig and minnow combination have worked best. During the day, spinner rigs and crankbaits are turning fish on the north end of the lake in 12 to 14 feet of water. The Mallard Point area is a safe bet during the day.

PARK RAPIDS AREA

Small jigs tipped with waxworms or minnows are turning panfish in four to six feet of water. Look for bigger fish from Long Lake, Fish Hook Lake and the Crow Wing Chain of Lakes during the afternoon and evening hours.

RAINY LAKE

The lake trout bite has been very good on the Canadian side of the lake. Ciscoes are working best in shallow water. Sturgeon are hitting nightcrawlers at a good pace in the Rainy River, and northern pike can be had along the shorelines and in most bays. Crappie reports have been minimal, although the fish being caught have been good-sized.

RED LAKE

A small jig and minnow combination is producing crappies in six to eight feet of water. The key is to keep your bait suspended and ideally away from the walleyes.

RED WING AREA

Three-way rigs and crankbaits or willow cats and jigs have been the best options for walleyes in the Vermilion River area of the Mississippi River. Crankbaits trolled in 12 to 18 feet of water have produced walleyes in the Head of the Lake area as well. The backwaters of the river are kicking out some panfish in shallow water. Look to the shallow rock piles of Lake Pepin for smallmouth bass and crappies.

ST. CLOUD AREA

You'll still find sunfish and crappies in the shallow bays on Cedar Island Lake, Horseshoe Lake, Goodner Lake and Rice Lake. On lakes such as Grand, Pearl and Big Fish, the majority of crappies are now staging in the eight- to 10-foot emerging weedbeds. A jig and minnow under a float or tube jig has worked best for crappies.

SAUK CENTRE AREA

The bays and shorelines of Sauk Lake are kicking out sunfish and crappies. Hunter's Bay on Big Birch Lake is worth noting for sunfish in six to eight feet of water. Look to Fairy Lake for crappies during the evening hours in five to seven feet of water.

STARBUCK AREA

Fish Hatchery Bay and the Starbuck Marina on Lake Minnewaska continue to produce sunfish and crappies. While their size has decreased, numbers aren't a problem in six to eight feet of water.

TWIN CITIES METRO

NORTHEAST METRO — Big Marine Lake and White Bear Lake remain the area's best options for crappies in seven to 10 feet of water. Look to the St. Croix River for walleyes and sauger in 15 to 22 feet of water. Work the bars with crankbaits or leeches throughout the day. Crankbaits and small jigs have produced white bass in these areas, as well.

WEST METRO — Jig and minnow combinations are producing crappies in four to six feet of water on Lake Minnewashta. The south end of Lake Riley is producing sunfish and a few crappies in six feet of water during the afternoon hours. Hydes Lake remains a safe bet for panfish in shallow water as well.

WILLMAR AREA

Shallow water is the best bet for panfish. Lakes such as Florida, Norway, Games, Andrew and Nest continue to produce sunfish and crappies in four to six feet of water.