Minnesota guide Matt Johnson of Matt Johnson Outdoors gives his latest Lake Minnetonka fishing report on April 22nd, 2024.
Lake Minnetonka Fishing Report: 4-22-24
The crappies have been biting great on Lake Minnetonka and the surrounding lakes in the Twin Cities area.
We have been finding water temperatures in the upper forties first thing in the morning and by late afternoon most shallow bays have reached the mid-fifties.
Crappies: Lake Minnetonka Fishing Report
With the warming water temperatures continuing to increase we’ve seen a large push of crappies into the shallows.
Shallow bays, dock systems, weed beds and channels are all good places to look for crappies.
Focus on depths between two and nine feet of water.
Hair jigs and jigs paired with plastics continue to be the two best presentations for spring crappies.
Bluegills: Lake Minnetonka Fishing Report
Bluegills can be caught in the same areas as the crappies however it seems like the majority of the bluegills have been slightly deeper than the crappies.
Most of the bluegills can be found in depths between six and twelve feet of water.
Focus on weed edges and shallow flats that have access to shallow water.
Small jigs paired with hair, plastics, or live bait under a bobber have worked well for big bluegills. We’ve trigged the most bites when we’ve slowed down our presentation for the bluegills.
River Fishing in the Twin Cities
Big walleyes continue to be caught on the Mississippi River. The bite has been consistent throughout the day.
I’ve seen a number of pictures of walleyes weighing over ten pounds being caught on the Mississippi River.
It seems like a jig paired with a plastic is producing the bigger fish, but a jig paired with a minnow is a sure bet for some action.
Anglers can also expect a mixed bag of saugers, walleyes, catfish, and white bass on the Mississippi River.
