Tim Lesmeister.

OCTOBER
Cedar Lake
Aitkin County
All smart muskie anglers are on the water in October. They know the fish of a thousand casts is now the pike that’s willing to bite. Cedar Lake in Aitkin County produces numerous huge muskies but hasn’t received much attention yet. Topwater lures and slow retrieved plastics work well in October.

Winnibigoshish is developing a reputation as the best opening-day lake in the state. You can slip into the Cutfoot Sioux and find some transitioning walleyes willing to bite. Or, you can hit the midlake sunken islands and reefs and find some willing post-spawn walleyes.

Lake Bemidji
Beltrami County
The muskellunge is native to Lake Bemidji, but recent stocking provides the reason for outstanding muskie fishing on this lake. Don’t be surprised if you see a lure tester from Northland Tackle tossing a big bionic bucktail in the cabbage. Those guys use any excuse to chase huge muskies on this lake.

Turtle Lake
Ramsey County
If you look at the state record for largemouth bass, you’ll notice it was caught in October, as was the previous record holder. With this kind of pattern, it might not be too hard to predict when the next record largemouth will be caught. The tough factor to predict is where. My prediction is Turtle Lake where there are some bass that could push that record.

NOVEMBER
Leech Lake
Cass County
Does anyone fish in November? Too many hunting seasons open all at once? Well, if you want to catch big walleyes, check out the rice beds in Leech Lake. Tullibees are nearing the end of the spawn, pike are fat and happy and walleyes are slurping up the remnants. Cast crankbaits into this cover during low light to catch some huge fish.

North Center Lake
Chisago County
Northern pike are attracted to shallow vegetation, so this may be the best time to take a shot at a big one in open water. North Center Lake has the necessary ingredients to produce great November pike fishing. Slow retrieves with big crankbaits works well.

Two Inlets Lake
Becker County
Two Inlets is a great trolling lake and this is a good time to slow-troll shad-shaped crankbaits for walleyes along the shallow breaklines. The walleyes are bunching up again now, so work a spot thoroughly when you get a bite.

DECEMBER
Moose Lake
Itasca County
First ice on Moose Lake means working the humps near shore with a shiny jigging spoon tipped with maggots. Maggots? You bet. It’s a Dave Genz trick where he threads three to five maggots on each hook and jigs hot and heavy until he sees a walleye swim up to the bait. Then just quiver the jig until the fish hits.

Big Portage Lake
Douglas County
Avid ice-angler Brian Brosdahl said you can’t let shallow lakes fool you. They can be loaded with big crappies. Work the edge of remnant vegetation on Big Portage Lake with a Rattlin’ Flyer spoon tipped with a plastic tail. Yes, companies are designing plastic tails for ice-fishing and “Bro” said Big Portage crappies love them.

Bowstring Lake
Itasca County
During the early-ice period, perch favor shallow structure. Anywhere there is dense vegetation there will be perch nearby. On Bowstring Lake, big perch are found at early ice near Muskrat Bay on the eastern shore and the edge of vegetation on the south shore.

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