Cannon Lake (1591 acres): Located in Rice County, this lake remains popular on the fishing opener and for good reason. The 2014 lake resurvey found nearly 12 walleyes per gill net lift, with 36 percent of walleye caught larger than 17 inches. With any wind, the long, narrow, shallow, and Cannon Riverconnected lake builds a strong “walleye chop” and anglers can cover lots of ground while drifting with live bait or trolling artificial lures. A public water access is located on the southeast end of the lake in Shager Park. Mazaska Lake (681 acres): Popular with anglers from the Interstate 35 corridor and metropolitan area, Mazaska Lake offers a variety of species with good numbers of walleye being present (about 8/gill net in 2012). The walleyes in Mazaska Lake are relatively large, as the majority of them fell between 17-21 inches long, with an average length of nearly 19 inches. Larger walleyes were present, with the largest one sampled being 26 inches long. Although 2012 northern pike catch rate (3/gill net) was down from the 2007 survey (11/gill net), it still might be worth a try if you are looking for large pike. Large pike exist in Mazaska Lake, as gators up to 38 inches in length were sampled in both gill nets and trap nets. If the walleyes have lock-jaw on the opener, Mazaska Lake also supports a quality bluegill population, which could provide some steady action if the bite is on. Public accesses are located on the southeast and southwest ends of the lake. The presence of Eurasian water milfoil has been confirmed in this waterbody. Anglers can help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species by draining water and cleaning all vegetation off of the boat and trailer before leaving the boat access. Fountain Lake (521 acres): Located in Freeborn County in the Town of Albert Lea, Fountain Lake is worth checking out on the opener. 2011 test netting showed an abundant northern pike population with 14 pike being captured per gill net. Northern pike weren’t huge but did average a little over 2 pounds and ranged from 19 to 26 inches. A healthy walleye population is also present in Fountain Lake as they were sampled at a rate of 6/gill net in the 2011 survey. Walleyes were nice-sized as the average length was almost 21 inches, and all of the walleyes were greater than 15 inches. The opportunity to hook into a trophy walleye is also present, with the largest sampled walleye measuring just over 27 inches. If the popular walleye and northern pike aren’t biting, you might want to try your luck in catching some channel catfish. Channel catfish were sampled in high numbers (about 14/trap net) during the 2011 survey and the cats were nice, averaging nearly 21 inches with the largest being almost 31 inches. Respectable populations of bluegill and black crappies were also present. Public accesses are located on the northern side of the lake in Edgewater Park, and on the east side of the lake in the narrows connecting the northern basin to the southern basin. Lura Lake (1359 acres): Lura Lake in Blue Earth County is entering a cycle of fishing renaissance. After seeing declines in nearly all gamefish species over a 10-15 year period, the lake is showing great promise following test netting in 2013. Walleye have rebounded to 5.8 fish per gill net lift. Average walleye size was just over twenty inches. Walleye fry stocking occurs 3 out of 4 years. Northern pike abundance has jumped to 10.5 fish per gillnet with an average size of 2.7 pounds. The future for these predators appears strong as yellow perch are doing exceptionally well. 147 yellow perch per gillnet were captured. Average size was around 8”, a size anglers find acceptable. The perch should provide angling and forage for larger predators, although anglers may have a hard time catching those larger predators that are now well-fed. Public accesses can be found at Daly Park on the north end, the Sportsmens Access on the northwest end, and the county access on the southwest end. Minnesota River (Courtland to Henderson): The Minnesota River, managed amongst a handful of Minnesota DNR Area Fisheries offices, offers some of the best and most underutilized walleye fishing in the state. The stretch of river from Courtland to Henderson is co-managed by the Waterville Fisheries Area and offers a variety of river habitat types unique to the middle Minnesota River. Sauger, white bass, northern pike, channel catfish, and flathead catfish provide additional sport fishing opportunities and numerous other species (gar, suckers, buffalo, sturgeon, mooneye, carp) make for fun fishing. For a list of accesses, consult an atlas or check out these maps: http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/canoe_routes/minnesota3.pdf, http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/canoe_routes/minnesota4.pdf. Walleye opener is usually a time of high stage and moderate flows on the river with less chance of collision hazards like snags, boulders, or exposed sandbars. Always travel the river with caution and observe USGS gaging station online reports before your trip for stage and flow predictions. Anglers looking for walleye and sauger should try fishing tributary mouths, boulder or rip-rapped banks, gravel bars, rapids, and the front, middle, and back ends of deep pools. Tetonka Lake (1,358 acres): Although 2014 gill net catches indicated a sparse walleye population, anglers typically report a good walleye bite for a few weeks after the opener. A creel survey was conducted on Tetonka Lake in 2012. From the fishing opener through the end of the month of May, walleye fishing was some of the best of the year. During the month of May, walleye were caught at a rate of one fish every 51 minutes amongst anglers targeting walleye. Winter fishing reports and electrofishing during the Cannon River survey showed an abundance of 2013 and 2014 walleye year classes. Public accesses are located on the Cannon River between Tetonka Lake and Upper Sakatah Lake in the Town of Waterville, and on the south shore of the lake near the Waterville Fisheries Office. Fox Lake (312 acres): Located north of Faribault approximately 8 miles in Rice County, Fox Lake boasts good numbers of northern pike and walleye. Northern pike and walleye were captured at a rate of 8.4 and 8.6 per gill net, respectively, during a 2011 test netting of the lake. The majority of the walleyes would make some good “eaters”, ranging from 13 to 20 inches in length in 2011 and adding on three years growth since. Northern pike tended to be small in 2011 and ranged in length from 17 to 23 inches, but should be larger now with some extra growing seasons under their belts. A public access is located on the south shore of the lake. The presence of Eurasian water milfoil has been confirmed in this waterbody. Anglers can help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species by draining water and cleaning all vegetation off of the boat and trailer before leaving the boat access. Jefferson Chain of Lakes, German Lake: (2,540 acres): The Jefferson chain of lakes (East, Middle, Swede’s Bay, and West Jefferson lakes; located northeast of Mankato in Le Sueur County) and connected German Lake should provide good pike angling as a couple of strong year classes are present as a result of pike fry stockings. Angler reports from last summer and winter have been favorable, as anglers have reported catching good numbers of eater sized pike. 2013 test netting showed northern pike abundance anywhere from 5.5 pike per gillnet on Middle Jefferson all the way to 9.9 pike per gillnet on German Lake. Boat accesses are located on the east side of East Jefferson and the east side of West Jefferson. The presence of Eurasian water milfoil has been confirmed in these waterbodies. Anglers can help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species by draining water and cleaning all vegetation off of the boat and trailer before leaving the boat access. Cedar Lake (885 acres): Northern pike are on the prowl in Cedar Lake! Cedar Lake is located approximately 6 miles to the west of the Town of Faribault, in Rice County. In 2012, northern pike were very abundant and were captured at a rate of 11.2/gill net. Northern pike were a little on the small side, ranging in length from 16 to 29 inches and averaging 21 inches, but should be a bit larger after three years of growth. A public access is located on the north side of the lake. The presence of Eurasian water milfoil has been confirmed in this waterbody. Anglers can help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species by draining water and cleaning vegetation off of boats and trailers before leaving the access. Duck Lake (290 acres): Duck Lake is located in Blue Earth County north of the Town of Madison Lake. While walleye are a rarity in Duck Lake, northern pike seem to be doing pretty well. The 2011 test netting returned an average of nearly 7 pike per gill net, with roughly 70% of the pike being greater than 21 inches long. Duck Lake has been a northern pike brood stock lake for Waterville Area Fisheries stocking efforts because of the quality sized pike available. A public access is located in Duck Lake County Park on the south shore of the lake. Washington Lake (1519 acres): Located northeast of Mankato in Le Sueur County, Washington Lake has supported a strong population of walleye in recent years, which results from fry stocking 3 of every 4 years. The 2013 catch rate was over five walleye per gill net lift. The average length of walleye sampled was over 16 inches, while the largest fish measured was 26 inches. While Washington doesn’t have many northern pike, the fish that are present are large. Washington is best known for its abundant and large bluegills and crappies; if fishing for walleye or pike is slow consider downsizing and targeting panfish. Public accesses are found on the west side near Westwood Bar and Grill or the Northeast corner of the lake. Madison Lake (1,439 acres): Located by the Town of Madison Lake in Blue Earth County, Madison Lake has been a perennial walleye hotspot. Fry stocking has been the ticket to maintaining an abundant walleye population. The 2014 survey showed walleye abundance has fallen off over the past four years, from 11 walleye per gillnet in 2011 to 4.6 walleye per gillnet in 2014. The historical average for Madison (1955-present) has been over 7 walleye per net. Expect nice sized walleyes as gill netted fish averaged 19.5 inches and 2.9 pounds. Respectable black crappie and bluegill populations may provide additional angling opportunities. Madison will likely be busy on the opener so plan ahead. Boat accesses are located in the Town of Madison Lake, in Bray County Park, and north of Bray County Park. The presence of Eurasian water milfoil has been confirmed in this waterbody. Anglers can help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species by draining water and cleaning all vegetation off of the boat and trailer before leaving the boat access. Roberds Lake (625 acres): Just west of Faribault is where you can find Roberds Lake, complete with a public access on the west end and two family resorts to offer lodging. This Rice County lake has an abundant northern pike population. The 2013 survey found over seven northern pike per gill net. Besides the fast northern pike action, a great diversity of other options are available at Roberds lake including white bass, walleye, black and white crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, and channel catfish. Other waters: The Cannon River chain of lakes (Gorman, Sabre, Upper and Lower Sakatah, Tetonka, Cannon and Wells) support good numbers of walleyes including strong 2013 and 2014 yearclasses that should carry the fishery forward. There are numerous shore fishing opportunities including a fishing pier at the Waterville Area Fisheries Headquarters on Lake Tetonka; the bridge between Upper and Lower Sakatah; a park area in the City of Morristown; and the bridge between Cannon and Wells lakes. Also, approximately 4 miles of the Cannon River between Morristown and Warsaw flow through the Cannon River AMA and WMA. The Blue Earth River could be worth a try when flows are moderate. For other shore fishing opportunities, search for the aforementioned lakes and rivers on the Fishing piers & shore fishing sites page. Minnesota River Fishing Outlook Overview: The Minnesota River is a tremendous recreational resource stretching over 320 miles across Southern Minnesota and provides excellent angling opportunities for Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Sauger, Walleye, and White Bass with occasional opportunities to catch Crappie, Northern Pike, and Smallmouth Bass. Catching a 50lb Flathead Catfish, 20lb Channel Catfish, or 10lb Walleye from the Minnesota River is always a possibility. The Minnesota River is also one of the best locations for catching less targeted species such as Buffalo, Common Carp, Freshwater Drum (sheepshead), Gar, and Redhorse. Starting this year, it is also legal to catch and release Shovelnose Sturgeon from the Minnesota River. Given the limited snow and early ice-out for the Minnesota River, anglers can expect excellent river conditions for early spring fishing and the 2015 fishing opener. Please review the 2015 fishing regulation handbook for specific rules and seasons. Access: Shore fishing access can be found at numerous State Parks (Fort Snelling, Minneopa, Upper Souix Agency), County Parks, City Parks, National Wildlife Refuges (Minnesota Valley, Big Stone), Wildlife Management Areas, Aquatic Management Areas, and boat ramps situated along the banks of the Minnesota River. Boats and canoes can access the Minnesota River at over 50 state, county, and city owned boat ramps. Always use extreme caution when boating on the Minnesota River. Consult the DNR’s Recreation Compass to learn more about shore fishing and boat access locations on the Minnesota River http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/compass.html. General Fishing Tips: One of the most effective methods for catching a variety of fish species from the Minnesota River is using a simple 1/8th ‒ 5/8th oz. jighead baited with a minnow, piece of nightcrawler, or plastic grub. This presentation will catch everything from Channel Catfish and Walleye to Common Carp and Shovelnose Sturgeon. When targeting Walleye in the Minnesota River focus fishing effort near tributary mouths, rip-rap banks, rocky bottoms, gravel bars, areas around deep pools, and near current breaks. When targeting trophy Flathead Catfish it is best to use large live bait such as Black Bullheads, Creek Chubs, or White Suckers. These live baits should be fished near the bottom and held in place by a 2-6oz sinker depending on the current. During the day it is best to target Flathead Catfish near deep holes and structure such as large log jams. Flathead Catfish can be found in the same locations at night, but are also often caught roaming shallower habitats in search of an evening meal. When fishing the Minnesota River it is recommended that you use heavier line and tackle so you can effectively fight fish against the current and keep fish away from log jams and sharp rocks that could cut your line. Upstream of Granite Falls Dam: The Minnesota River from Granite Falls Dam upstream to Ortonville provides good Channel Catfish, Freshwater Drum, and Walleye fishing. The most popular shore fishing locations are below Lac qui Parle Dam, Marsh Lake Dam, Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge Dam, and Ortonville Dam. However, numerous other public shore fishing locations are present. Also, several boat ramps are found along this stretch of river but boating can be limited by shallow depths. White Bass fishing has been poor in recent years due to a winter die-off that occurred during 2011 in Lac qui Parle Lake. Granite Falls Dam to Mankato: This stretch of the Minnesota River provides outstanding fishing for Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, and Walleye. Walleye fishing in this portion of the Minnesota River is typically best during spring and fall. Many anglers fish tributary mouths and rocky habitats during the spring and areas around deep holes during late fall. The New Ulm area is well known for several deep holes where anglers may find hungry walleyes. Also, the 4 miles of river immediately below Granite Falls Dam can provide outstanding fishing during the spring. The portion of river between Granite Falls and Mankato is very complex with lots of log jams, bends, and deep holes for monster catfish to hide in. You’ll likely be rewarded by a trophy catfish if you spend time fishing these areas during July and August. If you’re feeling competitive, you may want to check out the Franklin Catfish Derby Days in July. Some great shore fishing can be found at Memorial Park near Granite Falls, Minnecon Park in New Ulm, and Sibley Park in Mankato. Mankato to the Mississippi: This stretch of the Minnesota River provides some of the best opportunities for catching Sauger and White Bass along with the usual trophy size Minnesota River Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, and Walleye. You can launch a boat at most towns situated along the river between Mankato and St. Paul (St. Peter, Le Sueur, Belle Plaine, Jordan, Shakopee) and you won’t have to motor far to find big fish. With the help of catch and release angling, Flathead Catfish live a long time in the Minnesota River allowing some to exceed 50lbs in weight. The lower 17 miles of the Minnesota River downstream of the Hwy 169 bridge are the most navigable by larger boats, but watch out for barge traffic. Toss a night crawler or minnow into the Minnesota River and you might be surprised by what you catch. -3 |
1 Comment
Lindy
2/12/2020 10:52:21 am
Nice fish in that Cannon Lake, but hard to find many a time..:)
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AuthorI love being on the lake yet I cannot swim proficiently. I have fished since I was five, allday and by myself on the shores of Madison Lake. My fishing expertise reached it's height at around 8 years old. Archives
May 2015
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