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 Tuesday, January 20, 2026 sponsored by the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. 

Nasty weather really put a damper on the bite this past weekend, and frigid temperatures will persist through this weekend. It’s not all bad news though—fish still bite when it’s cold. In fact, the bite improved for some on Sunday, the coldest day of the week.

The most successful anglers had one word for me: tungsten. Tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms helped anglers catch finicky crappies all over Detroit Lake. The bite wasn’t fantastic, but it was steady, and many caught crappies during the day—which is a great sign.

These jigs must be paired with a light or ultra-light rod and 3–4 lb line. Any deviation from this setup decreases your odds dramatically. In short, the details matter.

If you’re chasing walleye, downsizing is also key when the bite is tough. Look for ‘eyes in 20’–25’ and broaden your search to include mid-lake structure from here on out.

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