Greetings, angler! Here is your comprehensive fishing report for November 5, 2025, for Minnesota's “Big 5” Lakes.
🌤️ Regional Forecast & Conditions
A high-pressure system is in place across northern and central Minnesota, bringing bright, sunny skies and a crisp, cool autumn air. Following a recent cold front, the barometric pressure is expected to be high and steady. This "bluebird" sky condition can make for a challenging bite. Water temperatures have dropped into the upper 40s and low 50s in most large lakes, solidifying late-fall patterns. Fish will be concentrated near their deep-water wintering grounds and will be most active during the low-light periods of early morning and late evening.
Lake of the Woods
Astronomical Data:
Sunrise: 7:13 AM
Sunset: 4:52 PM
Moonrise: N/A (Full Moon)
Moonset: N/A (Full Moon)
Moon Phase: Full Moon
Illumination: 100%
Weather Data:
Tactical Breakdown:
Morning (Sunrise–12 PM): The sunrise bite will be crucial. Focus on the Rainy River, where emerald shiners are still present, drawing in walleyes.[3][4][5] Anchor on current breaks or in deeper holes (17-27 feet) and vertically jig with a frozen emerald shiner.[3][6] The bite will be light, so pay close attention.
Afternoon (12 PM–5 PM): The high sun will make for a tough bite on the main lake. Walleyes will be holding tight to the bottom in deep mud, from 17 to 27 feet.[3][6] Use your electronics to locate fish, then anchor and employ a deadstick approach with a jig and minnow.
Evening (5 PM–Sunset): A prime feeding window occurs as the sun sets. Fish on the main lake may move to the tops of deep reefs. In the river, activity will increase along the edges of the holes. A gold, orange, or glow-white jig will be most effective in the stained water.[3][5][6]
Mille Lacs Lake
Astronomical Data:
Sunrise: 7:04 AM
Sunset: 4:56 PM
Moonrise: N/A (Full Moon)
Moonset: N/A (Full Moon)
Moon Phase: Full Moon
Illumination: 100%
Weather Data:
Tactical Breakdown:
Morning (Sunrise–12 PM): Fish will be deep and lethargic. Target deep rock piles and boulders in 8-25 feet for smallmouth bass.[8] For walleye, focus on the edges of rock structures and reefs in 12 to 17 feet. A slip bobber with a leech or sucker minnow will be effective for these neutral-mood fish.
Afternoon (12 PM–5 PM): The bite will be slow. Use forward-facing sonar to locate fish holding very close to boulders.[8] A vertically jigged Damiki rig can trigger aggressive fish.[8] Dragging small suckers over shallow shorelines with gravel-to-vegetation transitions is a solid alternative.[8]
Evening (5 PM–Sunset): This is the best window for walleye activity as they move shallower to feed. Trolling crankbaits along the 12- to 17-foot rock points and reefs after dark is a proven late-fall tactic.[9]
Leech Lake
Astronomical Data:
Sunrise: N/A
Sunset: N/A
Moonrise: N/A (Full Moon)
Moonset: N/A (Full Moon)
Moon Phase: Full Moon
Illumination: 100%
Weather Data:
Tactical Breakdown:
Morning (Sunrise–12 PM): Focus on windblown points and rock structures for walleye. A jig and minnow is the best presentation in these areas.[11] Look for fish in 6 to 12 feet.[12] Key areas include south shore rock structures and points in Walker Bay.[11]
Afternoon (12 PM–5 PM): If the wind calms, walleyes may slide deeper to the 10 to 15-foot range.[11] A jig and nightcrawler can be effective for these midday fish. Perch action remains strong in the remaining green weeds in bays like Boy Bay and Sucker Bay.[11][12]
Evening (5 PM–Sunset): Musky activity should be high around the full moon. Focus on south shore rocks and the main basin with large plastics and blades.[11] For walleye, the shallow jig and minnow bite will pick up again as light fades.
Lake Winnibigoshish
Astronomical Data:
Sunrise: N/A
Sunset: N/A
Moonrise: N/A (Full Moon)
Moonset: N/A (Full Moon)
Moon Phase: Full Moon
Illumination: 100%
Weather Data:
Tactical Breakdown:
Morning (Sunrise–12 PM): The walleye bite has been strong and jigging is the preferred method.[14][15] Focus on prominent shorelines and points in 6 to 11 feet of water.[14] The west and north shorelines, as well as Stony and Raven's Points, have been productive.[16]
Afternoon (12 PM–5 PM): Under the bright sun, look for walleyes to hold on slightly deeper breaks off the main shoreline structures. Crappies are a good secondary option, schooling in 13-17 feet in areas like Cutfoot Sioux.[14]
Evening (5 PM–Sunset): Walleyes will move back into the shallow 6 to 10-foot areas to feed. A jig and minnow continues to be the most effective presentation.[17]
Upper Red Lake
Astronomical Data:
Sunrise: N/A
Sunset: N/A
Moonrise: N/A (Full Moon)
Moonset: N/A (Full Moon)
Moon Phase: Full Moon
Illumination: 100%
Weather Data:
Tactical Breakdown:
Morning (Sunrise–12 PM): The shallow water and sunny skies will make for spooky fish. Long casts are essential. Pitching jigs with minnows or fatheads to pencil weeds is a viable tactic, but staying far from the boat is key.
Afternoon (12 PM–5 PM): This will be the toughest time. Trolling can scatter the wary walleyes. Anchoring a good distance away and using slip bobbers with minnows is the most patient and often most effective approach.
Evening (5 PM–Sunset): As light levels drop, fish will become less spooky. This is the best window to try trolling crankbaits. The winter regulation for walleye has been set to a four-fish limit, with only one over 17 inches.[19][20]
🌕 Solunar Activity Forecast
Regional Solunar Forecast: The Full Moon brings the strongest solunar influence of the month, which should help to offset the challenging bite from the high-pressure weather system. Expect defined feeding windows.
Major Feeding Periods: 12:05 PM – 2:05 PM
Minor Feeding Periods: 7:23 AM – 8:23 AM and 4:47 PM – 5:47 PM.[21]
Best Bite Windows:
Morning (7:23 AM – 8:23 AM): This minor feeding period aligns perfectly with the sunrise, creating a classic and powerful trigger for a first-light bite.
Evening (4:47 PM – 5:47 PM): This window is exceptional. A minor feeding period coincides directly with the sunset, offering the highest probability of triggering bites from otherwise inactive fish.
🎯 Lure & Presentation Strategy
Walleye:
Lure Recommendations: A jig and minnow is the most consistently reported producer across all lakes.[11][12][17] Frozen emerald shiners on Lake of the Woods are key.[3][5] Productive jig colors include gold, orange, chartreuse, pink, and glow white.[3][5][6]
Presentation Advice: For deeper lakes like Mille Lacs, focus on 12-17 feet on rock reefs.[9] On Lake of the Woods, 17-27 feet is the target depth.[3][6] Leech and Winnibigoshish have a strong shallow bite in 6-12 feet.[12][17] On Upper Red, stick to the 6-10 foot range and use stealthy tactics.
Local Insights: The emerald shiner run is the dominant pattern on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River.[3][4][5] On most other lakes, the fall transition to shallow, shoreline-related structures is in full swing.[12][14] Water temperatures are dropping into the upper 40s and low 50s.[5]
Contingency Plan (Plan B): If the jigging bite is slow, trolling crankbaits is a viable alternative to cover water and trigger reaction strikes, especially in the evening.[3][5] If fish are not on the shallow points, slide out to the first breakline in 10-15 feet of water.[11]
Smallmouth Bass:
Lure Recommendations: Damiki rigs, small suckers, Ned rigs, and tubes.[8]
Presentation Advice: Target deep boulders in 8-25 feet on Mille Lacs. Fish are holding very tight to cover.[8]
Contingency Plan (Plan B): Drag small suckers over shallow shorelines that have a transition from gravel to short weeds.[8]
Muskie:
Lure Recommendations: Large plastics, blades, and spinners.[11]
Presentation Advice: Focus on windy points and rocky structures, especially during the evening low-light period.[11]
Contingency Plan (Plan B): If casting isn't producing, trolling large crankbaits over points and other structures can be a good way to cover water and find active fish.[3]
🧭 Data Sources
This report was synthesized from credible sources, such as the MN DNR, NOAA, USGS, and public angler databases.
Sourceshelp