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What a beautiful Memorial Day weekend we had in the Bemidji area. There was nice weather and not a lot of wind; the fish were pretty cooperative.

Walleye are still scattered out on area lakes in 8 to 12 feet for the most part. Jigs and minnows are working well, but live bait rigs and slip bobbers with leeches are also producing a few fish.

Bass fishing has been decent with casting plastics into shallow waters and the pike are biting just about anything. Most crappies have moved out of the shallow areas and are transitioning to their summer spots among deeper broadleaf cabbage.

And you’ll find plenty of bluegills in shallow waters around the emerging reeds and lily pads.

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Bemidji area: Jigs and minnows are producing walleye and pike on Lake Bemidji, Lake Plantagenet and Gull Lake in 8 to 12 feet.

You’ll still find crappies and bluegills in the shallows of most lakes, but some crappies have moved deeper, 10 to 12 feet. Bass fishing has been good with plastics in shallow water.

Bemidji area resource can be contacted at (218)Ìý556-7172.

Blackduck area: Blackduck Lake started giving up more walleye, mainly on a jig and minnow, in 6 to 8 feet. There have also been walleye caught with minnows on Gull Lake in slightly deeper water.

Crappies and bluegills are staged just outside the reeds and other spawning areas in around 8 feet, so look for them to slide up as water temperatures climb again.

Blackduck Lake, Gull Lake, Pimushe Lake and Gilstead Lake are all worth hitting for panfish.

Blackduck area resource can be contacted at (218) 835-4636.

Cass Lake area: Windy conditions during the past week have limited fishing opportunities. The few anglers sneaking out have struggled to catch perch and walleye throughout the Cass chain.

With less wind and stable weather, you’ll still find walleye relating to the inlet and outlet areas between lakes. Trolling crankbaits in 8 to 10 feet at night on Cass should also turn walleye.

Look for crappies and bluegills in the harbors or reeds on Kitchi Lake, Cass Lake, Lake Andrusia and Wolf Lake.

Cass Lake area resource, can be contacted at (800)Ìý279-4831.

Upper Red Lake: Windy conditions have limited fishing opportunities during the past week, but when anglers can get out, walleye action remains excellent.

A jig and shiner minnow remain productive in 5 to 6 feet, especially along the east shore.

There are still some fish being caught at the mouth of the Tamarack River as well, but not as many as the main lake. There have also been a few more crappies showing up along the shorelines and in boat harbors.

Upper Red Lake area resource can be contacted at (218) 647-8998.

Lake Winnibigoshish: Windy conditions have limited fishing activity last week, but those getting out are catching walleye around Moxe’s Hole on the east side in 12 to 15 feet, especially this past weekend. Walleye can also be had off Raven’s Point and Big Stoney Point in 12 to 15 feet and Bena Bar in 8 to 10 feet. Little Muskie Bar started giving up walleye in 25 to 30 feet as well.

A jig and shiner minnow continues to turn the majority of fish. Look to Tamarack Bay and Third River Flowage for perch in 8 to 12 feet.

Lake Winnibigoshish area resource Lake Winnie Resort Association can be contacted via its website,

We have a couple of wonderful events coming up for kids in June.

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The 39th annual Bemidji Area Take A Kid Fishing Day will take place on Wednesday, June 11. The free event will conclude with a fish fry, starting at 5 p.m. at Lake Bemidji State Park.

The event is for kids aged 10-15. All gear will be provided and goodies will be available throughout. Registration forms are due by Friday, June 6, and can be found at Bemidjitkf.org.

For more information on the Bemidji Area Take A Kid Fishing Day event, contact Christina Regas at (218) 368-9394.

Additionally, Bemidji Area United Way is holding its first-ever kids fishing tournament from 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday, June 22. I’ll have more details to share on that fun event next week.

Enjoy your time on the water and please remember to practice selective harvesting. By doing so, we will continue to have great fishing for years to come.

Dick Beardsley is the owner and operator of Dick Beardsley Fishing Guide Service in Bemidji. He can be reached at (218) 556-7172 and dick@dickbeardsley.com. For more information, visit