Live Bait and Fishing Tackle Minnesota Lakes North Fred's Bait Shop Deer River MN

6/13/09 The weather is starting to improve with a few nice sunny days warming the water up. The walleye fishing is still going strong. The biggest problem that most people have been having is getting large numbers of keeper fish. They are not having much trouble catching big fish over most of our slots. The fish have started moving out to the humps and most guys are bringing leeches along with their minnows. Most of the keeper size fish are being caught along the shorlines with jigs and minnows, while the big fish are being caught on the humps with either leeches or crawlers.
The panfish bite has its days but if a person works at it they can usually get plenty of fish for a meal and some to spare. The bluegills and crappies are still shallow in the weeds. The bait of choice is little leeches or crawlers and a small jig either 1/16 or 1/32. A lot of guys are also taking small crappie minnows for crappies. The bass fishing has slowed down with few being caught. The good bass fishing will come with warmer weather.
Muskie fishing has been open with a week now with some decient reports coming in. There has been several fish seen and a fair number of them caught. From what I have heard the bait to use is a jerkbait in the weeds. If you can find a cabbage bed and if you fish it hard you should be able to get at least a follow. Northern pike fishing is picking up with several guys taking big sucker minnows and big bobbers with good success. I havent heard of any monster pike caught but the ones being caught are decient. Chester Powell, Fred's Bait

6-5-09 The local fishing has been up but the weather has been down. If the weather cooperates they have been catching fish on winnie. Three sisters and stony point have been the producing spots on Winnie. The majority of the fish are being caught along the shoreline breaks and shallow points. The main bite is still on a jig and a shiner but there have been a few people starting to use leeches and crawlers with limited success.
The panfish are starting to go up shallow if you get a nice sunny day you should be able to pull out some bluegills and crappies out of about 2 feet of water. Most guys have been taking either small leeches and crawlers or small curly tails like mister twisters and gulp on 1/16oz. to 1/32oz. jig head. There have been a few bass fisherman out but with most coming back with decient success. The smallmouth and largemouth have both been reported being up shallow.
The muskie fisherman are excited for this weekends muskie opener. There have been reports of sightings of fish from a few bass fisherman. It will be interesting to see how the kicks off with this cold weather but if the fisherman keep at it they should have some success. There has not been very many northern pike fisherman but the ones that are being caught are right along with the walleyes. Hope to see you out there! - Chester Powell, Fred's Bait

5-30-09 Sorry so late at getting a report put together its been a little wild around here but thats good thanks and good luck to everyone. The season started out with what seemed like everyone getting fish to having to work and scratch around getting a few hear and there but still good fishing. I think there will be a really hot bite later this week with some stable weather in the forcast the Shinners should make a spawning run to the shallows and as you no the fish will fallow. Only a couple good Bass reports and them were from very small dark stained waters but with the warmer weather in the forcast that should improve as well. Bill Powell - Fred's Bait