Detroit Lakes Fishing Report: Extended Edition (7/14/26)

Welcome to the Extended Edition of this week's Detroit Lakes fishing report — this version has the depths, presentations, and other tips you won't find anywhere else.

Let's start with the walleye, because the daytime bite has been a genuine treat this week — better than usual, though morning and evening are still your best windows. They're biting on leeches and small sucker minnows, and here's the kicker: even dead minnows have been working. So if your bait quits on you, don't toss it. The jig bite has outperformed both the bobber and the drop shot lately, so lead with a jig if you can only fish one. Lean on your electronics and hunt them along the outside of the weedlines in 16'-25', or troll your bait right over the top of those weedlines to cover water until you mark a school.

The bass bite has been flat-out absurd. They cannot get enough sucker minnows right now, with medium-sized plastics a close second. Cast or troll over shallower weeds in 8'-10' and you'll slaughter them all day long. You'll find them along any healthy midlake weedline, but don't overlook the shallower haunts either — docks, lily pads, and other structure are all holding fish.

Crappies are sharing that same neighborhood as the bass, just a touch deeper. Search 10'-14' and tie on a small plastic — that's been the best bet by a mile. Nudge a little shallower from there and you'll get into some nice bluegill mixed in, so it's an easy two-for-one if you want to fill the livewell.

Pike are active and an absolute blast right now. The biggest ones are relating to the bottom in 18'-22', and a jig tipped with a big minnow has been the ticket for those fish with "shoulders". Remember, the deeper you go, the bigger they get.

Good luck out there, and tight lines!

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🔥 The bite is on FIRE! Join me on the Baxstar boat to put these tips to work!