Detroit Lakes Fishing Report: Extended Edition (9/16/25)

Welcome! This Extended Edition of the Detroit Lakes Fishing Report is released every week, and it contains even more tips and insider information than other editions. Enjoy!

Got bluegill? :-)  We’ve been chasing schools of monster bluegill in deep water the past week, and the results have been incredible!  Depths and size of fish really does vary, from lake to lake, but we’ve been searching for and finding them suspended in 28’-32’ adjacent to tips of deep bars.  You will still find them shallower, outside of deep weedlines in other lakes.  If you’re catching smaller ‘gills on live bait, switch to plastics to attract larger fish.  Schools of ‘gills will light up your fish finder like lights on a Christmas tree, regardless of their depth.

You can’t miss them on your forward facing sonar, and you can also easily spot them on your side imaging.

On guided trips, I start by putting the school behind my boat so clients can cast with the wind into the school. I try to stay 30'-40' away, but it really isn't necessary with bluegills, especially in deeper water. Some clients have been simply fishing below the boat, vertically, and they are clobbering the bluegills at the same rate as those casting further away. Regardless of the distance from the boat, a drop shot rig with a #4 hook and 1/4" crawler has caught the most fish. The drop shot rods on my boat vary a bit, with the weight anywhere from 8"-16" below the hook. Tungsten weights are ideal, but not required. Jigs with a small crawler have worked too but if the crawler extends/hangs more than 3/4" off the hook you will miss a lot of fish and lose your bait in the process. Finally, slip bobbers are another great presentation, especially for younger anglers still learn how to "feel" the bite.

Schools of walleye and smallmouth are holding in 12’-25’ near midlake structure.  Crawlers on a drop shot or lindy rig have been catching both species in greater numbers than jigs right now-at least on my boat. That said, things can change really quickly. I recommend having a few rods prepared with different presentations so you can switch methods quickly when you are seeing fish but they are snubbing your bait.   Tip those same presentations with a small-medium minnow and you will attract more ‘eyes (and pike).

Finally, with the big walleye tournament on Big Cormorant this weekend, there will be a lot of pre-fishing going on this week. If you fish there regularly, you may want to venture to other waters for the next week or so.

Thanks for reading this week's fishing report. I hope you are able to get out on the water and enjoy what's left of the summer. Good luck out there!

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