Lake Mille Lacs

East — The bays and shorelines have started to open. On the main lake, there are “pockets” or “holes” of open water. There’s still a lot of ice on the main lake, but this week’s weather should soften it and start to bust it up.

West — A few guys were ice fishing last weekend, but the shorelines are now preventing access to the lake. The ice also appears to be getting soft and there are some areas with holes of open water off the shorelines.

Lake of the Woods

You could still ice fish the main lake early this week, but very few people are doing so. The Rainy River is open and the spring walleye run wrapped up earlier this week with marginal reports from most groups. The focus now is on sturgeon in the Rainy with the season set to begin on April 24.

Leech Lake area

Ice fishing remained an option early in the week and given shoreline conditions there’s a good chance the ice will hold up for at least one more weekend, but call ahead. The Goose Island and narrows areas have been the best spots with limits of perch reported from both.

Lake Minnetonka area

Crappies are being found in six to eight feet with a few fish coming from the deeper weedlines on most lakes. Work the small bays with a jig and minnow under a float. Sunfish reports have been minimal in the shallows with a few small fish mixed with crappies.

Rainy Lake

The border walleye season is now closed so the number of anglers has dropped. The shorelines have started to open, the main-lake ice is in good shape, so you could still get on to fish pike, which remains open if you wanted to. Look to the Rainy Lake City area or Black Bay with ciscoes.

Lake Winnibigoshish

The ice fishing season has pretty much ended. There were some people on the lake last weekend, but most accesses are closed or beat up too bad to get on. Everyone is waiting for open water, which could be a few weeks off given all the ice that remains on the lake.

Northeast Metro

Crappies are being found in the shallow bays and shoreline areas of Silver Lake, Lake Jane, and Demonterville Lake. On Beaver Lake, you’ll find sunfish and crappies in shallow water. The St. Croix River is giving up a few crappies. Work the marinas, docks, and backwater areas with small jigs and minnows.

West Metro

The lakes are now open and the panfish bite is just beginning. The best reports in the area are coming from 10 to 15 feet of water on Hydes Lake, but look for them to move shallow with a few more days of warmth. The docks and fishing piers have been set on most lakes so look for those areas to hold panfish as well.