Fishing Report

Find out where fish are biting and bait to use in the area fishing report each week. Get Hooked in Detroit Lakes will give you an inside look from fishing guides on which area lakes are best bets for the fish you’re out to catch and the bonus experiences of being out on the water.

This is the area fishing report for Wednesday, April 1, 2026 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. 

The ice fishing season is effectively over. There were reports of a foot of water on top of 3 feet of ice up on Lake of the Woods. You’d best bring a boat if you decide to give it a shot up there. To be clear, I’m kidding. 😀 I recommend shifting gears, as open water season has begun. South Dakota has lots of opportunities, the Mississippi is open for business, and the early catch-and-release season is underway on Rainy River as county crews keep opening public accesses farther east each day. If you have a day to burn and your significant other approves, or wants to go with you, there are plenty of places to fish right now. Now the question on everyone’s mind is: when will the ice go out on local lakes? I can tell you this—not anytime soon. The forecast shows more hours below freezing than above next week. It’s a good time to pour a cup of coffee, pet the dog, and watch others fish on YouTube!

Brady Baxter
Owner and Fishing Guide
Baxstar Fishing LLC
baxstarfishing.com
brady@baxstarfishing.com
701-261-3703