Minnesota fishing guide Matt Johnson of Matt Johnson Outdoors gives his latest Lake Minnetonka fishing report on December 26th, 2024.
Lake Minnetonka Fishing Report: 12-26-24
We are back on the ice on Lake Minnetonka and the rest of the Twin Cities area. Ice conditions vary. Some lakes have as much as ten inches, while others have much less. Always keep safety in mind. Check the ice with your spud bar or auger, carry a trow rope, and wear a floating ice suit.
Overall the fishing has been great. We got a little bit of snow on the ice and that has really improved the bite. The bluegills and crappies have been biting on most lakes in the Twin Cities area.
Twin Cities and Lake Minnetonka Fishing Report: Panfish
We are finding panfish in eight feet of water to as deep as twenty-eight feet of water. Both weed lines and basins have been good spots to find panfish. A 1/32-ounce gold and green Clam Pinhead Pro Spoon has been our best bait for bluegills and crappies. If the spoon isn’t working switch to a small tungsten Dropkick jig paired with a plastic. This is a one-two punch that will catch panfish all winter long in both the basins and weed lines.
Twin Cities and Lake Minnetonka Fishing Report: Walleye, Pike, Bass
Anglers can also catch northern pike, largemouth bass, and walleyes on tip-ups along the weed line. The best depths have been between ten and twelve feet of water. Medium sized sucker minnows or shiners have been the best live bait options for pike, bass, and walleyes.
If you want to specifically target walleyes focus on points and weed lines. Set lines paired with a minnow seem to be the best options, but a few fish can also be caught on jigging spoons tipped with a minnow head. The best bite is during primetime hours early in the morning and late into the evening.
