Each year, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources releases some really helpful information about spring fishing on the Rainy River.  If you are an experience spring angler on the river, most of this info is not new.  If you are looking to come up and fish walleyes and sturgeon this spring on the river, this info will be very helpful.

2022 Rainy River
Spring Fishery
(March 1 – April 14)

The Rainy River forms the border between Ontario and Minnesota for its entire length of about 90 miles. Anglers intending to fish Ontario waters of the Rainy River should refer to the Ontario Fishing Regulations Synopsis for details (http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LetsFish/Publication/STEL02_163615.html ). If you choose to fish Ontario waters of the Rainy River, you must comply with Ontario laws, and with USA-Canada border crossing regulations. This handout addresses special fishing regulations for Minnesota waters only.

Minnesota Waters of the Rainy River from International Falls Dam Downstream to Lake of the Woods

Walleye and Sauger

On Fourmile Bay of Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River.Effective Mar. 1 – Apr. 14
Walleye/Sauger catch and release fishing is allowed during this time period. All Walleye and Sauger must be returned to the water immediately.

Lake Sturgeon
No harvest is allowed from Mar 1 through Apr 23. Anglers are allowed to catch-and-release lake sturgeon during this period.

Northern Pike
There is no closed season for northern pike on the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods. The possession limit for northern pike is three. All northern pike from 30 through 40 inches must be immediately released; only one northern pike over 40 inches may be possessed.

Gaffs not allowed
A person may not possess or use a gaff while fishing on the Rainy River.

*The Rainy River is designated as “infested waters.” Regulations related to bait harvest, water transport, and draining water apply to these waters. For a more thorough listing of the regulations that apply to Minnesota-Ontario border waters, please see the Canada-Minnesota Border Waters section of the Minnesota Fishing Regulations synopsis.

Enforcement.  Minnesota DNR Conservation Officers and Ontario MNR Conservation Officers are commonly observed checking anglers, their boats, and safety equipment during the spring Rainy River season. Anglers should expect to encounter these resource officers during either their Minnesota or Ontario fishing activities.

To report fishing or boating violations, call: Minnesota State Patrol: 218-748-2426
Minnesota TIP (Turn In Poachers): 1-800-652-9093, or, Ontario Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)

To report other violations, or for emergencies, call: Koochiching County Sheriff: 218-283-4416, or,
Lake of the Woods County Sheriff: 218-634-1143

For information on Rainy River spring fishing: Baudette Area Fisheries Office: 218-395-6032
International Falls Area Fisheries Office: 218-598-8190

For customs and border protection, call: International Falls Port of Entry: (218) 283-2541
Canada Border Services: (807) 274-3655

For information on lodging and other accommodations, please contact:

Lake of the Woods Tourism Bureau
218-634-1174 or toll free; 800-382-3474
Email: info@lakeofthewoodsmn.com Web site: https://lakeofthewoodsmn.com

International Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau
1-800-FALLS-MN; 1-800-325-5766
Email: cvb@rainylake.org Web site: www.rainylake.org

Rainy River boat access areas administered by Koochiching County and Minnesota DNR

Site Managers will be on duty at several access areas to ensure that activities occur as safely and efficiently as possible during periods of high use. Do not park on State Highway #11.

Wheeler’s Point Access
This access, with a boat dock and triple ramp, is located 12 miles north of Baudette on State Highway 172, near the mouth of the Rainy River. No camping is allowed.

Baudette Access in Timbermill Park
A boat access, with a double ramp, is located near the City Park, located on the east edge of Baudette. No camping is allowed at the access. Camping is allowed in authorized areas of the City Park.

Vidas Access
This access with a double ramp is located 1.5 miles east of Clementson at the end of Koochiching County Road UT 392. Signs have been installed to direct traffic and reduce congestion. Parking is allowed on both sides of UT 392. No camping is allowed from March 15 through April 14.

Frontier Access
This access with a single ramp is located approximately 17 miles east of Baudette along State Highway 11. No parking is allowed along Highway 11. Parking is restricted along Koochiching County Highway 4. No camping is allowed from March 15 through April 14.

Nelson Park – Birchdale
This access with a double ramp is north of Birchdale on Koochiching County Road UT 118, which runs from State Highway 11 to Nelson Park. Parking is allowed on the east side of UT 118. Camping is allowed in designated areas.

Upper Sault Access (near Franze Jevne Park)
This access with a single ramp is located at the end of Koochiching County Road 85, just east of Birchdale. This ramp is best suited to small boats. No camping is allowed.

Manitou Rapids Access
This site has a primitive boat access, and ample shore fishing areas. The access is appropriate for boats that can be carried-in, or for boats that can be transported on the marked trail with an ATV. The site is located approximately 34 miles east of Baudette on Highway 11, or about ½ mile west of the Indus School. There is parking available. No camping is allowed.

Black River Access at Loman
This access is located in the City of Loman, on the Black River. The Black River is often still frozen during this period, and will not be accessible to boats until it opens each spring. Camping is available in authorized areas of this park.

Reedy Flats Access
This access is located on the south side of State Highway #11, along the Bigfork River. The Bigfork River is often still frozen during this period, and will not be accessible to boats until it opens each spring. No campingis allowed from March 15 through April 14.

Kuttes Landing
This access is located just east of the junction of Highway 71 and Highway 11 at Pelland. No camping is allowed.

Ron Hall Memorial Access (Shorewood Ramp)
This access is located on Shorewood Drive in International Falls. There is parking available across the street from the access. No camping is allowed.

Spring fishing is right around the corner.  Only Mother Nature knows when the river will open up and the first boats will touch the water for the year.  Traditions are traditions and whether this is a trip you have made for decades or this is your first time, the spring fishing on the Rainy River continues to produce fond memories for many.

 

Info on the Lake of the Woods Area

Rainy River and Baudette Lodging

Info on Fishing the Rainy River

Have you ever wanted to catch Minnesota’s largest growing fish? Brett Nelson, DNR large lake specialist in the Baudette fisheries office, will cover how the DNR manages sturgeon fishing and the success story of the recovery of this important fishery. Nelson will also cover the basics of how to fish for sturgeon in Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River.

This seminar is virtual, meaning it is being held online.  That means, depending upon your schedule, you can take a one hour break and really gain some insight on the success story of Lake Sturgeon on the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods.

The sturgeon seminar is on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at noon.  You can sign up for free by clicking here.

The sturgeon seminar will be a three part session.  First, all about sturgeon and what they face.  Second, what the MN DNR does for sturgeon management.  Third, some good helpful tips on fishing for and catching sturgeon.

The incredible natural resource we call the Rainy River today has great water quality and is not only home to world class sturgeon, but also walleyes, bass, pike and many other fish species.  That is not the way things were back in the 1950’s.

“In the 1950s, standing on the banks of the Rainy River, one would see 3-4 foot mats of fiber from the paper mills, floating globules of stuff from wastewater plants that didn’t have very good treatment back then,” Mike Kennedy, a project manager with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, said.

Historic photos show researchers standing in 3 feet of wood waste, digging to find the river.

Many talk about the Clean Water Act and specifically, when there was some teeth put into enforcement of the act the point when the river started coming back.

Kennedy traces the river’s turnaround back to the 1970s. In 1971, Canada passed its Environmental Protection Act in 1971, and Congress approved the United States’ Clean Water Act in 1972. Kennedy says that allowed for more permitting and regulations and for the two countries to work with industry to clean things up.

Sturgeon that had sought refuge in the tributaries off the Rainy River started to return, and so did anglers and other recreation.

There are great opportunities to sturgeon fish on the Rainy River this spring.  Whether you bring your own boat and give it a whirl or jump in with a local fishing guide or on a resort charter boat, the options are many.

The 2022 Lake Sturgeon Season on the Minnesota side of the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods is as follows.

-Catch and Release Only:  October 1, 2021 – April 23, 2022

-Harvest Season:  April 24, 2022 – May 7, 2022

-Catch and Release Only:  May 8, 2022 – May 15, 2022

-Closed:  May 16, 2022 – June 30, 2022

-Harvest Season:  July 1, 2022 – September 30, 2022

In today’s world when it comes to natural resources, it is good to hear of a great success story.  This story of the Rainy River and the exploding population of Lake Sturgeon is certainly in that category.

 

General Info about Lake of the Woods / Rainy River Area

Area Lodging, Charters and Guides

Information about fishing the Rainy River, Boat Ramps, Etc.

 

NOW is the time to plan an incredible trip to Lake of the Woods, the Walleye Capital of the World™!! The lake, Lake of the Woods is located in Lake of the Woods County, near Baudette, MN, at the very top of Minnesota. It borders Canada on the north and is the site of the northernmost point of land in the contiguous United States.

When planning a trip, one must first establish a destination. Your favorite destination will soon become Lake of the Woods. This northern area is one of the most beautiful spots of land beholding to the eye. Lake of the Woods, itself, is the largest fresh water lake next to the Great Lakes in the United States.

Okay, so the winter season is just about over (we hope) and spring and summer are soon to follow behind. Reservations for lodging accommodations are already coming into our 50+ resorts and motels in this land. Highway 11 is the highway that runs east to west across the top of Minnesota. The Rainy River divides the countries of Canada and the US. Your trip might want to include travel along this highway to gaze the beautiful river area and the resorts that are located along its banks.

Take a trip up Highway 172 going north, located just west of Baudette which we affectionately call the “lake road” or Wheeler’s Point Road. This will take you exactly to the Wheeler’s Point area which is at the end of that road. Along that road you will find many resorts that are called the Rainy River section of the land.

Your trip planning needs to specify what kind of accommodations you desire. Lodging facilities go from the extreme of small quiet cabins to lodges, villas, or even larger facilities that can house a large family unit or even a large corporate group gathering. Most all facilities feature full kitchens if you want to prepare your food. Otherwise, a great number of facilities have great restaurants and bar/lounges to keep your appetite at bay.

When you plan this trip, be sure to set apart time to travel to these many eating locations to enjoy everything from burger baskets to an exotic walleye cheek entrée. If your trip includes fishing, which we hope it does, bring your catch of the day into the lodge’s restaurant and they will prepare your meal using your great catch. This is mouthwatering just speaking of it. Each resort has its own specialty so it’s a must to explore their many options.

Don’t forget that when in Baudette at Lake of the Woods, you are still not at the top of Minnesota. No, then you must take a trip to the Northwest Angle. The Northwest Angle is the home of about seven resorts who offer great northern hospitality. Then possibly venture out into the waters of Lake of the Woods and visit Oak Island to see their resorts and also Flag Island where you can bask in the beauty of pristine waters and the quietness of the land.

Because the Canadian Border has established challenges getting across the border, the people of the north are very ingenious at finding ways to stay in the waters of the US and still get to the “Angle”.

Lake Country Air has partnered with Lake of the Woods and is a flying service that can transport you and your party, flying over this gorgeous body of water, to the Northwest Angle. It ties up at a resort on the Rainy River and is ready to get you to your northernmost destination. Lake Country Air not only can fly you across the lake, but it can also fly you from their headquarters in South St. Paul or most cities in the 5 state area for custom flights. What a great service and a great way to execute your trip to the north. Find them at http://beaverairtours.com/.

Lake of the Woods Passenger Service is a company located along the Rainy River with a small fleet of powerful launches to help you travel across the lake to the Northwest Angle. You can find them at http://www.lowpassenger.com/ . These launches not only transport people and parties of anglers, but they also bring supplies where needed and have even been known to fill their boats with flower to plant in the spring to beautify the resorts.

If your trip includes driving up to the Northwest Angle, remember a few hoops must be jumped before you go. Canada requires you to have a current vaccination card with you, a passport, and proof of a current COVID test less than 72 hours old. The easiest way to travel is to be prepared before you come to make entry easier into Canada.

Please feel free to explore more options by viewing our website at www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com or email us at info@lakeofthewoodsmn.com, c-all individual resorts listed at www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging, or simply dial us up at 218-634-1174.
Plan your trip NOW and look forward to an incredible experience at Lake of the Woods!!!

It’s Sportshow time again, are you going to the show?  Lake of the Woods Tourism is displaying at two different sportsman’s shows across the Dakotas in March.  This is a great opportunity to learn more about the area, resorts and of course, the various kinds of fishing the go along with it.

March 3-6, 2022, Red River Valley Sportsmen’s Show in Fargo!  It’s sportshow season in the Dakotas and this time of the year, anglers are excited to talk Lake of the Woods fishing.  Perfect timing to be talking Lake of the Woods at the Red River Valley Sportsmen’s show that starts Thursday, March 3rd and runs through Sunday, March 6th at the Fargodome in Fargo, ND.  Once again, we will be holding down booth #166 and look forward to seeing everyone.

March 10-13, 2022, Sioux Empire Sportsmen’s Show in Sioux Falls!  Outdoor minded folks from the Dakotas and the surrounding region love Lake of the Woods.  Once again, we will have our normal location in the main exhibit hall, booth #87.  Swing by and say hello!

Learn More about Lake of the Woods!  One of the great advantages of a sportshow is spending some time with experts from a destination to have the opportunity to learn, ask questions and ultimately make the best choice for your group.  A group of guys headed up to fish for four days might be a very different looking trip than a husband / wife getaway or family vacation.

Does it make sense to bring your own boat?  If so, where are the best places to launch?  Where are good backup spots if the wind is blowing hard?  These are all great questions and if you are headed up to Lake of the Woods, the options are many.

In some cases, for many groups, it makes all the sense in the world to work with a guide or jump on a charter boat.  Up at the NW Angle, maybe if you aren’t familiar with the water, maybe it would be helpful to jump aboard with a guide.  Experience an adventure amongst the 14,552 islands of Lake of the Woods, fish some of the best fishing in North America, target multispecies.

On the south end, many of the resorts offer charter boats to make your fishing not only easy and enjoyable, but successful.  Imagine, having a nice breakfast and around 8am stepping aboard a nice charter boat with lots of room, filled with all of the rods, reels, bait and licensed charter captain to make your time on the water count.  Guides will clean your fish after the trip and many of the resorts will cook them up for you.

Joe Henry with Lake of the Woods Tourism will be at the Lake of the Woods Tourism booth all weekend both in Fargo and Sioux Falls happy to share info and answer questions.

Seminars!  Sportshows are such a great place to learn more about fishing, hunting and the great outdoors.  In Fargo and Sioux Falls, check out tournament champion Korey Sprengel discuss the topics “Trusting Your Electronics” and “Spring Walleye Techniques”.

Korey Sprengel is a 32 year old full time professional walleye fisherman from Beaver Dam, WI. He loves fishing tournaments because it pushes him to think outside of the box for new and different ways to catch more and bigger fish. Korey has been fishing competitive walleye events since 2008 and has accomplished many titles along the way. He made the jump to fish full time in 2013 and hasn’t looked back. Not only does Korey fish walleye he has been gaining traction on the bass side as well. When not on the water Korey he heavily involved with his sponsors testing, developing new products, speaking, guiding, promoting and teaching the sport of fishing.

Joe Henry from Lake of the Woods Tourism will also be presenting at both sportshows.  He will be speaking about “Spot Hoppin’ for Walleyes” and “Fishing Success on New Water”.

As a long time guide, licensed charter captain, and tournament angler, Joe Henry has made fishing a part of his everyday life.  Joe “cut his teeth” on MN lakes and rivers and has guided and fished walleyes throughout the nation.  Joe’s home water is now Lake of the Woods, which he has fished for over 25 years.

Professionally, Joe has enjoyed a variety of leadership positions, is an outdoor communicator and a media member of the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers.  His professional background combined with his many fishing credentials lead him to his current role, Executive Director, Lake of the Woods Tourism. Joe works closely with 60 resorts, area guides, and a number of stakeholders in the outdoor industry.  He is an active writer, appears in outdoor TV shows, produces outdoor videos, digital media and speaks about fishing and the outdoors across the Midwest.

Visitor Guides.  While at the show, stop by and pick up our new Lake of the Woods Tourism visitor guide.   This is a great time to learn more about the lake, resorts, activities, etc. taking place this year around Lake of the Woods.

There is a lot to talk about in the upcoming months at Lake of the Woods.

–Current Ice Fishing report around the Lake.  What are current ice conditions?  What is the current ice fishing report?  How long does ice fishing last?  What are they biting on? where to catch monster March pike.

–Upcoming Rainy River Walleye Fishing.  What is the outlook for spring fishing on the river?  Where should we fish?  What should we use?  How long does walleye season last?  What accesses are on the Rainy River?

–Sturgeon Fishing.  How long does the season last?   What kind of setup should I use?  What is a sturgeon rig?  What part of the river do sturgeon live?  What is slot during keep season?

–Resorts, Hotels, Outfitters and Guides.   Where should I stay based on our group and what we want to do?  Where can I find a list of resorts with amenity chart?  Are there deals?  What resorts offer full service guides?  What kind of boats are used on different parts of the lake?

If you are in the Fargo area this weekend or Sioux Falls next weekend, stop by and say hello!

 

Click Here to view Lake of the Woods Lodging Options

Click Here to view Lake of the Woods Tourism website

I don’t know about you, but as I age, there are a few thoughts or maybe you would call them ideas that seem to make more sense as time goes on.  Prairie Sportsman TV touched on one very nicely in their most recent episode.  According to research, experiences result in longer-lasting happiness than material possessions. Over time, people’s satisfaction with the things they buy decreases, whereas their satisfaction with experiences over time increases. Experiences provide better memories.

This episode of Prairie Sportsman TV touched on this idea of experiences that touched the heart with both stories.  The first part of the show shared a tribute to a veteran at a veteran’s event who has passed away.  Mark Bode had actually participated in this veteran’s event in the past and when his cancer came back.  The organizer of the event and close friend, Lance Peterson wanted to do something special this year for his deceased friend who was also of course, a veteran.

Peterson has run this veteran’s event out of Arnesen’s Rocky Point for six years.  This year, one of the highlights was to honor his best friend in a special way.  The tribute given to Bode, captured by Prairie Sportsman, shares the emotion, honor, respect and love all taking place on the shores of Lake of the Woods.

Jesse Tintes, a veteran and avid angler himself, runs an organization called Tintes Outdoors and volunteers for the event, taking veterans fishing on Lake of the Woods.  While fishing with his dad and wife, he shares some experiences about working with veterans.  Hearing about how veterans who served our country in Vietnam would come home and just off of the plane, go to an airport bathroom to take off and throw away their uniform and put civilian clothes on so they wouldn’t get ridiculed.

He also discussed how his wife’s father, Gordy Mills, never really spoke much about what he did in the military.  After asking his dad about why he doesn’t talk much about what he did, his dad said it wasn’t very meaningful so he doesn’t say much about it.  It turns out, his dad packed parachutes for those who jumped out of planes.

As you can imagine, the conversation turned to further admiration and confirmation to his dad that his role was a huge one and he should be proud.  This segment sheds light on a myriad of emotions and some of the benefits of veterans having the opportunity to participate in worthy events like this one.

The second part of the show shares some different kind of emotions, yet very touching and deep in their own right.  It is about the traditions of a family fishing trip with the Amundson family.

Prairie Sportsman TV’s host is Bret Amundson.  You might know Bret from Prairie Sportsman, or perhaps Sporting Journal Radio which is blasted out weekly on a myriad of radio stations across Minnesota and neighboring states.   Also from Lake of the Woods, Bret was able to capture many of the emotions and traditions that are all part of a traditional family fishing trip.

There are many touching traditions in this Prairie Sportsman episode.  Something really cool happened while Bret Amundson was fishing with his dad.  Bret was running the boat while his dad caught a 29.5 inch walleye.  That is certainly special all by itself.  Even better, the boat Bret is using used to be the boat his dad used to use when he took Bret out fishing which is now Bret’s boat.

Like many family fun, there is ribbing, humor, traditions, father-son time, uncles, cousins and lots and lots of fun.  Talking about past trips, keeping the tradition of homemade dumplings, pork, sauerkraut and gravy and a bit of kidding around about who actually has grandma’s original recipe is all part of the tradition.

The show is titled, “Lake of the Woods Remembrances”.  Enjoy!

Experiences, memories and traditions.  They are some of the best parts of life and this Prairie Sportsman covered many.  The best time to make these happen for you and your group is now.  As we have seen over the past couple of years, it is best to make these things happen sooner rather than later.  The future holds no guarantees.

 

For more information on setting up your own traditions up at Lake of the Woods, check out our website or feel free to give us a call.

Info about Lake of the Woods

Lodging around the Lake of the Woods Area

Want help planning a trip?  Give us a call at 218-634-1174.

Lake of the Woods is known as the Walleye Capital of the World™, however, it is also home of some of the best snowmobiling in all of Minnesota!! There are staked and groomed snowmobile trails extending from Wheeler’s Point south to Baudette on the Rainy River, 42 miles north to the NW Angle and west to Warroad.  273 miles of land trails on the south end of Lake of the Woods alone.

Lake of the Woods offers Ice Fishing Houses on the lake through March 31st and this gives testament to the fact that the winter season of snowmobiling lasts far into the spring. This year snow is in abundance so accordingly, the snow season will go far into the spring.

Snowmobile Trails extend from Baudette east to Birchdale and then to Big Falls.  This is probably the most wilderness type trail in the state.  It goes for 87 miles one way and only crosses two roads.  There are gas stations in Birchdale and in Big Falls.  The stretch from Birchdale to Big Falls is 53 miles.

These trails also extend west from Baudette to Williams, Zippel Bay State Park and over to Warroad.  You can also go south from on that trail and hit Roosevelt and enter part of Beltrami Island State Forest. The trails also extend from Baudette south all the way to Washkish.

Local snowmobile clubs take great pride in opening and maintaining trails by grooming weekly, many make our snowmobiling so quality.  Some of the trails on this map are funded by the DNR through the Grant-in-Aid program using license fees and gas tax monies. The State of Minnesota, Lake of the Woods County, Koochiching County, Roseau County and private landowners are the people that make our trails possible. Trails cross property of many private citizens, as well as lands which are administered by various levels of government. We owe the landowners our thanks and must respect their property.

We are fortunate to have two great snowmobile clubs who not only ride for fun, but work very hard at maintaining trails and bridges before the season starts and grooming many many miles of trails throughout the season. This year of 2022 has shown its strength in supplying the land with an abundance of snow.

Lake of the Woods Drifters Snowmobile Club is located in Lake of the Woods County. They are a very active club and have their own website at www.lakeofthewoodsdrifters.org and Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lakeofthewoodsdrifters. You can also contact them at lakeofthewoodsdrifters@gmail.com. Each of those sites will provide you with great current information about the trails and great photos that the club has taken. The Northern Connection Trail is very famous as it was carved out of the forest area going east and south of Baudette.

Lake of the Woods Drifters is a non profit community organization that welcomes members at any time. They also own and maintain shelters throughout the trails to warm up or stop to have lunch and fellowship on the ride. The Club produces a great snow map which is available through the club or through requesting one from Lake of the Woods Tourism. There are over 273 miles of groomed trails to offer adventure through this winter wonderland.

Further north in Lake of the Woods County at the northernmost part of the United States you will find the home of the Northwest Angle Edge Rider Snowmobile Club. Their website is: www.nwaedgeriders.org. There you will find information about the club, about snow conditions, trail conditions, club events, and even places to stay at Angle Inlet. Their Facebook page is  www.facebook.com/NorthwestAngleEdgeRiders.

This snowmobile club proudly proclaims they groom over 172 miles of trail during the season. Snow Club stakes trails and produces a great snow map of trails throughout the lake, up to Oak and Flag Island and even into the Canadian part of the lake. The map even features depths of the lake which even open water anglers find very helpful. You may contact them for a free map or also contact Lake of the Woods Tourism for one.

This club also hosts a great event during the winter season. This year’s event being hosted is the 21^st  Annual Northwest Angle Edge Riders Snowmobile Rally on February 26, 2022 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Flag Island. Food, fun, and door prizes will be available.

This area is very fortunate to have two dealers offering two very famous brands of snow machines. These machines are not only durable but are set up with some of the most impressive features for pleasurable riding.

For more information see our website at: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/snowmobiling.

For lodging information see: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging.

You can also download the official Snowmobile Regulations at the MN DNR Website