Fishing Report for 10-24-25

Fish across the county are still in prime “late-fall” feeding mode. As blustery winds have subsided and frosty nights have warmed, this weekend may be the last best chance for some good action, at least without your snow suit and insulated boots. Although water temps have dipped to the low 50’s in the deeper lakes and into the upper 40’s in the shallower lakes, a slight warming trend should keep fish in the feeding mood for another week. Look for the best bite window to be from late afternoon to dusk. You’ll find walleye in the 10-20 foot range in the deeper lakes like Green, Diamond, Florida and Norway off points and weedlines, rock/sand transitions and mid-lake humps. Shallower lakes such as Big Kandi, Wakanda and Minnetaga are also good bets for walleye especially later on after a sunny day and right after dark. Favor live bait and may have to fish a little slower. Shore anglers can still find aggressively feeding walleye under necked down bridge crossings with flow like under the Nest Lake bridge on Highway 23 and flowing culverts such as on Willmar and Foot lakes. Now is also a great time to get after crappie as they have schooled up but are still in a feeding mood. If you aren’t using electronics to find them look to fish around green aquatic vegetation or if from shore those same necked down flow areas or adjacent to flowing culverts which are attracting minnows and shiners.  Positive crappie reports have come from Diamond, Willmar/Foot, Norway and Green lakes this fall.