Minnesota Fishing Report – Friday, February 22, 2013

High winds earlier this week created snow drifts in many of the plowed roads leading to community fishing spots. Travel will be limited to vehicles and easiest by snowmobile due to thick snow cover and slush. Ice is averaging 26-30 inches thick. Fishing has been relatively good for all species. Techniques that have been worked well over the last couple of weeks remain effective. Crappies are coming from the shallows, as well as the deep basin areas. For the most fish, use spoons or jigs tipped with minnow heads, larva or plastic tails. Fish above them to entice the bite. Sunfish are hitting smaller jigs tipped with waxies. Walleye are cooperating for anglers working the deeper weed edges on the breaks nearest the deepest waters. Jigging spoons, buckshot rattle spoons, and Swedish pimples tipped with minnow heads continue to produce the most fish. The best colors have been gold or bright two-tone combinations. Northern pike continue to be active in the shallow water weed areas, hitting large suckers under a bobber or on tip-up rigs. The current cold front should pass by Friday night, and fishing is expected improve considerably this weekend.