Battle Lake area: The morning and evening are the best times to reel in that big walleye on West Battle, East Battle, and Ottertail, using leeches, nightcrawlers or crank baits in 21 to 25 feet. Anglers are using crank baits on the flats on West Battle and using fatheads or sucker minnows on Ottertail near weed lines during the day in 8 to 13 feet. Northern action has been solid on West Battle, Clitherall, and Ottertail, trolling weed lines in 12 to 18 feet using crank baits or sucker minnows. Plenty of bass are being caught on Elbow and Stalker lakes using jigs or spinner baits in 3 to 15 feet.
Gull Lake: The walleye bite has started to pick up with the bait fish supply starting to dwindle. Anglers are using a Lindy Rig and a Redtail Chub in 14 to 24 feet at the weed lines. Bass can be found in 8 to 15 feet along the weed lines using jigs, plastic worms and spinner baits. You can find northerns along the weed lines in the south end of the lake and in the Gull chain. The sunfish bite continues to be productive.
Minnetonka: Anglers are chasing bass and walleye using Lindy Rigs with leeches in 18 to 24 feet around Diamond Reef. Muskie fishermen have had the best success at night using top-water baits. Sunfish are in the deep weed lines, 18 to 22 feet; at the bottom, small leeches and wax worms work best.
Rainy Lake: Walleyes are taking blue- and white-colored jigs on Sand Bay, Shorty's Reef, and the American Narrows in 12 to 25 feet. Anglers are having the best luck catching northerns on Black Bay, trolling with Daredevils or Rapalas.
St. Cloud area: Sunfish are biting in Sugar Lake in 15 to 20 feet, mostly on leeches but also on angleworms and wax worms. On the Mississippi, the smallie action is good and fly fishing with a Clouser Minnow has been hot. In Clearwater Lake, northerns are being found along the south shore and weed beds using suckers, and try around BJ's Bait for panfish.
Spicer area: Diamond Lake has been the best for walleye action, using leeches or fatheads at 15 feet or deeper. Anglers are catching some nice panfish on Long Lake and Ness Lake, using leeches or nightcrawlers at shallower depths. Some northern and bass action has been reported on Green Lake.
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