McGregor-Aitkin-Crosby-Deerwood Area fishing reports

[ANYFISH2]

Fished monday, on a couple of smaller lake west of Cushing.  Panfish are in the shallows, in different stages of the spawn.  Crappies are nearly out, and the sunfish are starting to fan beds.

PLEASE LET THE LARGE, BED PROTECTING BULL GO BACK!

Bass seemed scattered about with yhe smaller males close to shore.  Nicer fish out on deeper weedlines.  

The bite was slower than expected, not sure if it was traffic or the sudden increase in water temps.

Good luck to all.

 

[knoppers]

yes let the large gills go back, I have been catching some large gills, nothing kept. the crappies are smaller and some are very black now. I took three casts off the dock last night with the spinnerbait, caught a northern, bass and about a 6 pound dogfish, that was some great action on just three casts.

[knoppers]

any current reports? I have not fished much of late, did get some pike action and the bass seem to very active.

[ozzie]

From this past weekend in the Brainerd/Crosslake area...found the panfish on the weedlines or just out from them in the 10-16' of water range and used all sorts of methods but the best had to be 2.5" Gulp alive on small jig heads under floats or just cast and retrieved.  Also the evening we were finding walleyes trolling floating rapalas both over deep water and in 6'-9' range.  Weeds are starting to touch the top of water in 6' range but still fishable water.  Oh and if anyone snags an Okuma line counter set-up on Gull let me know!

[Wanderer]

Too bad about the rig!! But thanks for the report.  Sounds like a pretty good outing.

[Wanderer]

Aitkin area - lots of snow!  Shocker, right?  Never really measured the ice but I doubt it’s over 20 inches thick with maybe 16 inches of snow on top.  And slush happens....  Bring a snowmobile if you plan to get out anytime soon.  It’s like fishing in NE MN right now.  Do your test runs with your sled, make a loop and stop on your own track.

 

The fish seemed to be running higher in the water column than normal for what we usually see.  There were some bottom dwellers in 18-28 feet but most of the active fish were running at about 10 feet down.  I ran my usual forage minnows and plastic most of the time and stayed consistent.  At times they wanted a minnow more but I only had to tip with a minnow head a couple times to keep em going.

 

Caught a couple pike and a nice bass on tip ups.  

 

Had ALOT of fun with a 26.5 inch pike on my crappie rig!

 

Our annual get together was yet another success with a great Saturday fish fry for 8.  My fish cleaning partner and I were happy to get slimy in order to NOT have dishes duty!!

[Mike89]

family cabin on Ripple over that way, a good lake too...

 

sure looks like a good time for ya!!!!  

[Jplante]

FIrst year boat owner here, have had a permanent fish house at the red door for a few years now, finally added a boat. The 4 year old says she would rather catch crappies and sunfish then walleyes, and this time of the year i can't blame her. We are going to try Spirit Lake just north of the red door resort. My question is, is the public access on the south west side or is there another one. Any fishing tips,reports about that lake are of course welcome since it'll be our first time out on it. Thanks in advance 

[gunner55]

Try the Mn DNR Lakefinder any PA's will be marke on the map provided. They have the recent net survey there too so your able to check different fish populations.

[Rick]

Here's a map off the MN DNR Lakefinder showing the access. South bay of Spirit lake in Aitkin county.

[Jplante]

Spirit Lake was a bust for us, couldn't find the crappies. The hunt for a good crappie lake close to where we are on Mille Lacs continues....

[DLD24]

In my area, the panfish have been very picky or will only bite in the evening. I was on a lake the other day I could see tons of slabs in the reeds and they would just swim by whatever I had in their face. Then 6pm rolled around and someone hit the dinner bell, fish after fish. That's the hard part of trying new lakes sometimes they only seem to bite at certain times. 

[Jplante]

Are the crappies in shallow now up in that area? Or have they already moved back out? Haven't been up in a couple weeks, hoping can find a lake with some crappies this time. thanks 

[knoppers]

water temps in the mid to upper 60 range. panfish have been in shallow, mostly gills.

[knoppers]

caught this on my lake, very weird colors, lime green fins and bottom side.

[Rick]

That's pretty cool. Not algae?

[Wanderer]

That’s more green than I’ve usually seen on dog fish.  But yeah, it’s fairly common on the fins.  Cool looking fish knoppers!

Edited June 9, 2019 by Wanderer

[knoppers]

the lake is very clear currently, and it was nothing that you could rub off, it was the skin color.

the fish was released, it hit a spinnerbait.

[knoppers]

I have been in this area for 22 years, now I will be moving to my new cabin north of pine river. so I will be fishing less in his area now, I still own my property in aitkin, but not fishing here as much. so I won't be able to reply about things as much in this area. I have great memories here, and still will be here from time to time. it was time for a upgrade, now I have a year round home. I still would like to be a part of this, just moved to the west some. thanks all.

[Wanderer]

Congrats @knoppers!  That must be pretty exciting!  
 

I have a lot of childhood memories of the PIne River area.  It kinda feels like going back home in a weird way when I get back there.

 

Thanks for all Aitkin area info you shared!  You’ll still know a lot more about the area than most of us.  Best of luck with your new place.