2020 Detroit Lakes-Pelican Rapids Fishing Reports - Lake Conditions

[fisherdog19]

Been out night fishing for eyes off shore 3 of the last 4 nights. Been getting some nice fish with 6 over 22 up to 25 inches and some smaller eater sized fish. Nothing fast and furious but averaging about 4-7 per night. Did some shore crappie fishing today and got about 10 between 3 of us; the gail force winds on the north end made it tough to cast. I did hit the mother load of shiners today, took about 2 minutes to get about 40 dozen between the three of us. May head out tonight after some more eyes. I really want to get out to chase some slabs since they should be thick in the shallows right now.

[Jim Panfish Uran]

Just got back from some shore fishing for slabs!! It's just a tiny little lake about 200 yds across and maybe 400 yards long. I caught 14 slabradores, the biggest being darn near 14". Just using a float and small shiners!!! What a blast, got bit off by northerns 3 times but it was all worth it. I kept 6 fish for the pan tomorrow night!!!

[GBPackerNut]

so I keep hearing about Bass Harbour on Lida I fish lida quite often and im not familiar with Bass Harbour where is it? also whats a guy gotta do to catch a walleye on that lake?

North Lida in the NW corner, not all that far from the boat access actually.

[watersguy]

Was on Pelican Tuesday night. Got on the lake about 6:30 with a furious east wind. I grew up on pelican and always heard the old timers say that wind from the east fish bite the least. they would do lawn work instead of fishing. I fished the same spot all evening did not get a tap untill the sun hit the trees then I Could not get a shiner to the bottom without an eye picking it up. Had six fish in 15 minutes, Kept three eaters and released five others. The lab wanted to head home at ten so we left. Really nice year class range on the fish all about 16 to 18 feet. Pelican is healthy.

[BrianLucky13]

Yes, Pelican is healthy!!!

[plainjane]

Fish bite the least when they want. There are some lakes up in Leechbait's area that I won't fish UNLESS the wind is from the east. West/NW kicks my butt sometimes.

[fisherdog19]

Got out today with my boy after some crappies, managed about 30 or so. Size was disappointing, largest was around 12". Got one eye after moving at 8:45 to try for them and got blown rained of the lake at 9pm. It was around 18" and it slammed my 4" Gulp Alive minnow while I was snap jigging in 6-10 fow.

[Paul]

Sorry Guys hate to break the bad news, but now that Memorial Day weekend is here, Us fishermen have to leave Pelican lake, since we don't own it, no room for the rest of us taxy paying Minnesotan's who like the public access. See you out there day after labor Day when the lake returuns to normal uninterupted pleasurable boating and fising.

[GBPackerNut]

I'm tempted to still try, I guess I would say hoping for the best, I know all the tards will be out in full force, but with weather this nice, and such...

I will go out anyways and brave the waters with all of the moronic pleasureboaters.

[Kingfisher]

Went out alone Friday, had a good supply of shiners along, kept getting bit off short using a shiner on a 5' snell with a faded red bead in front of a #4 hook. Switched to a crawler and picked up 4 nice "eaters". The walleye were very slow, but at least was able to hook them with a crawler.

[GBPackerNut]

Worked Lida yesterday from 3 till 11pm. Very slow going, couple nice largemouth working weedlines midday, wife caught a couple crappies, went ate a burger over at Maple Beach.

Proceeded to work a couple flats and points... Really slow fishin, cant seem to key on whats going on. Couple rock bass, couple smallies, few northerns, and the wife hit on a couple smaller walleyes.

What really surprised me, is how dead the lake was, there was even room at the public landing to park the truck and trailer. There weren't many boats out there, really quiet for being Memorial Day Weekend, and nice, sunny, I don't get it?

[Paul]

I heard they were doing good on Middle Cormorant and Pelican with a bright colored jig head and half a shiner. This is 2nd hand but thought I woudl pass it on anyway.

[Jim Panfish Uran]

It's been a tough bite on my usual haunts this year, not sure what's going on with them. Over the weekend I fished some smaller lakes with temps in the 60 degree range in some spots and high 50's in the main lake and could not find the pattern. I caught a few eyes but I really had to work at it. The best luck I had was when I was using a lindy and a shiner. I was sidetracked quite a few times by the crappies though. They sure were on the bite, and up shallow. On one particular lake over the last 3 years I see that the crappie, sunfish, numbers are up and the walleye pop. has taken a nose dive. Not a bad trade off though I guess. Not sure what's been going on on other lakes, I was camping out east of my place on the height of the land road all weekend and haven't heard any local reports. The trafic sure was high on the lakes this weekend so there must be some reports floating around.

[minneman]

Leech, is the water high on big rock?

[Jim Panfish Uran]

It's about where it has been for the last 5 years or so, if you are wondering about getting back to the other lake, it's doable!!! A few of my buddies that were camping with me made it out there a couple times this weekend. Lot's of logs to go around and over though, I made it over there with my boat 2 weeks ago with no problems.

[minneman]

Thanks leech, musta read my mind...

[Jim Panfish Uran]

There are also other lakes around there that have had some good stocking going on for the last couple of years. Between work, and the house, and the kids I just can't get out as much as I would like to.

[eyehunter]

Can't get out as much as you want?? All you do is fish isn't it?? You have to sleep sometime leechbait...

[Jim Panfish Uran]

In my spare time that is exactly what I do, but it's the spare time part that is hard to come by now!!!! Tomorrow night I might go try Bad Medicine, or Little Bass, not sure which yet, flip a coin I guess.

[GBPackerNut]

I wish I lived close enough to the lakes to be able to pop out for an evening... this driving an hour and half each way is getting old..

[SJMyers32]

Driving and the cost of gas might get old but when you dont live at or near the lakes its so much more rewarding to visit!

[GBPackerNut]

Yeah, its not the cost, its just the fact, that I dont get off work till sometimes 5:30 - 6'ish, so the earliest I can be on the water realistically, is 7:00 and that isnt so bad, but the drive home, cleaning up and trying to get some sleep before going back to work nice and early...

It would be nice if the lakes were about 30 minutes closer to home than they are now...

[eyehunter]

I hear you leechbait, I have 3 boys too and they are getting into the teen and pre-teen years, I have to tell you that spare time gets more and more less as they get older. You are lucky though to live where you do and have easy access to some of the best fishing the area has to offer. If it were me, I'd be doing the same thing. Good luck tonight on which ever lake you choose, we'll expect a report on Friday.

[BrianLucky13]

Pelican is still going good!! The tourney out there this weekend should give up A LOT of fish!!!

[Jim Panfish Uran]

I've been hearing that there is a good bite on White Earth, that's from the locals, and the bait shop!! So if anyone was planning on heading there, I hope that is good news to those who fish it!

[Dahitman44]

leech --

as you know we have done well on WE - -great lake.!! Worth the Drive.

[paceman]

I am hearing of a few lakes giving up the mighty Eye. I think we are entering one of the best periods of the year. I have heard good reports of fish being caught on shiners, leeches and crawlers. The transistion to summer haunts is happening on some lakes while others lakes the bite is still shallow.....So bring plenty of bait and work all depths until you find them. They are beginning to feed.....

[Jim Panfish Uran]

The weed lines are really developing on lakes in my area, I didn't fish Bad Medicine last night so that leaves the other lake that I mentioned It is basically a shoreline drop off all the way around the lake, at the top of the second drop in 10-14 fow on the outside of the weeds is where I found fish last night. If I got too far out from the weeds on a pass by I wouldn't get anything, but if I could stay tight up against the weeds we'd get bit everytime. We were pulling jigs and minnows at first with little success, we switched to pulling spinners w/leeches and had better luck. I've never caught anything huge on this lake but the walleyes are there. We tried for crappies up shallow and out from where they were last year but only ended up catching 3, and 2 delicious bass . Saturday night, I'll either be on White Earth, or Tulaby.. another coin toss.

[Dahitman44]

Only had a couple of hours so we hit Boyer last night. Ran raps for about two hours. Had five bites caught one tiny spotted hybrid Northern and one 13 inch eye.

Was a fun and relaxing time.

[Dahitman44]

leech - -"delicious" bass -- good one!