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With so many fish and game seasons underway (not to mention the Minnesota firearm deer season opener this Saturday), it was tough to decide on what to write about this week. The open water fishing season is drawing to a quick close, so I settled on providing perhaps the last fishing report until December and the official start of the ice fishing season.

This morning, I spent some time on the telephone with Les Cleveland, at St. Croix Outdoors, as well as Frankie Dusenka, at Frankie's Bait and Marine, to get up-to-the-minute fishing reports.

Les reported that the St. Croix River has been a very productive fishery as of late. Smallmouth action has been quick-paced, particularly in the catch-and-release waters north of the dam. Also on the river, anglers are enjoying consistent walleye fishing between the Interstate State Parks and Franconia. A jig and minnow presentation has been effective for both species, but favor a crankbaits for smallies on the upper reaches of the river.

Staying east of the border, it was reported that Deer Lake and Bone Lake are once again favorite destinations for late fall musky hunters. Large suckers under floats continue to be the bait of choice this time of year. If you currently do not use a "quick strike" sucker rig, please consider using one from here on out. Musky mortality rates can be drastically reduced if these rigs are consistently used in place of a single hook that is often partially ingested prior to the hook set.

Polk County walleye anglers are finding cooperative fish on both Lake Wapogasset and Sand Lake, with the majority of walleyes taken on jigs and fatheads. Crappies are being caught on Long Lake and Deer Lake on crappie minnows. Les reported that the crappies are 16-20 feet down in clear lakes, and 12-16 feet down on stained lakes.

Frankie at Frankie's Bait reports that the bass fishing is very good on Chisago Lake. With the cool surface water temperatures, expect to find active fish shallow, deep and anywhere in-between. Also, walleyes are taking shiner minnows in the shallow waters along rocky and sandy shorelines from dusk until dark.

For those of you that can't think of anything else but the firearm deer opener this Saturday, I wish you the best of luck in the woods. Use those harnesses when you're up in the trees and please be safe out there.

Dan Brown's weekly outdoor column is brought to you by Frankie's Bait and Marine, in Chisago City, and St. Croix Outdoors, in St. Croix Falls, Wis.

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