Fall is in the air and Fall Hunting is coming very very soon. As children get ready to head back to school, hunters are cleaning guns, collecting ammo and getting their bows out to be ready for the next hunting season.
Many avid sportsmen have already been visiting the area to land those great walleyes in Lake of the Woods. However, aside from fishing, the area is known for its great fall hunting possibilities.
Grouse hunting season runs from September 14th-January 1, 2025! With hundreds of thousands of acres of public land even the most avid grouse hunter will never run out of land to hunt. There is an area just to the west of Baudette,Beltrami Island State Forest has thousands and thousands of acres of land, dirt roads, ATV trails and walking trails which is very good grouse habitat. There is so much habitat and such a variety of habitat that grouse have everything they want and need to flourish.
Whether you own a dog or not, grouse hunting success can be had by all. Getting off the trail is key to getting more flushes in this area. Not many hunters will go break brush so many of the birds go unseen and don’t flush. Remember, even while grouse hunting, hunters must wear orange for their safety. Please check into the MN DNR site to learn about licenses and tips for fall hunting.
grouse blind
It seems criteria very important for grouse hunters looking to bag some “chickens of the northwoods”. There is an area just to the west of Baudette that has both. Beltrami Island State Forest is an area with thousands of acres of land, dirt roads, ATV trails and walking trails which is very good grouse habitat. There is some much habitat and such a variety of habitat that grouse have everything they want and need to flourish. That means success for would be grouse hunters.
Getting out with some friends in the forest during a grouse hunting season typically does not disappoint. Most hunters shoot mainly ruffed grouse with a couple of spruce grouse thrown in. With such a beautiful area, hunting is a success from just the sheer beauty and getting out into the woods.
The area offers 3 different types of grouse along with snipe. The Ruffed Grouse is by far the most popular and to most hunters, tastes the best. Some say it is the best eating game bird out there, but of course that is personal opinion.
Spruce Grouse
The second type of grouse is the spruce grouse. As a rule, ruffed grouse and spruce grouse roam the same type of habitat. Spruce grouse prefer more of the coniferous forest or pine trees. The meat is darker than a rough grouse and some consider it a stronger or “piney” taste. There are a few in the north country who enjoy a good spruce grouse.
The third variety of grouse around Lake of the Woods is the sharp tailed grouse. Sharpies primarily hang out in more agricultural settings, hence, are a bit more challenging to target as private land is best. It is also helpful to have an idea where the sharpies are living as there
are tens of thousands of acres of farmland across the Lake of the Woods region.
As The Walleye Capital of the World, Lake of the Woods is known for its fishing. Consequently, grouse hunting does not garner the attention. Many, however, have discovered an area off the radar that is absolutely a hunting gem. There is a huge amount of quality public hunting land, lots of birds and fewer hunters.
We’ve focused on one aspect of fall hunting here, but remember, that Duck and Goose hunting happens in the fall and then come the very popular white-tail deer season. More will be coming at a later date on safety during these seasons.
The ability to go smack a limit of walleyes and enjoy ruffed grouse fall hunting in the same area, the same day is enough to get sportsmen and sportswoman blood pumping. Fall Hunting is a neat time up at Lake of the Woods. A combo of great fishing and hunting speaks highly of the wonderful natural resources in this neck of the woods. Grab your shotgun and head north to hunt grouse at Lake of the Woods.
Combine 1 cup flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. In another bowl, combine egg, water and 1/3 cup lemon juice; stir into dry ingredients until smooth.
Place remaining 1/3 cup lemon juice and remaining 1/2 cup flour in separate shallow bowls. Dip fillets in lemon juice, then flour, then coat with egg mixture.
In a large skillet, heat 1 in. oil over medium-high heat. Fry fillets until golden brown and fish flakes easily with a fork, 2-3 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels. If desired, serve with lemon wedges.
Lemon-Batter Fish Tips
How do you get batter to stick to fish?
Battered fish is made through a dipping process called dredging, which alternates between wet and dry ingredients. In this recipe, the fish is first dipped in lemon juice, then a flour mixture and finally coated in egg. These three steps provide layers for the batter to properly adhere to the fish, protect the fish from the hot oil and and seals in moisture.
On the south end… The great walleye bite continues. Big numbers of walleyes and saugers are staged over deep mud, a common and consistent late summer pattern on Lake of the Woods.
The deep mud bite is in 28 – 35 feet of water. Anglers are catching good numbers of fish on the mud using mainly two different techniques.
Most anglers are using spinners and crawlers. A two hook crawler harness with a spinner blade colored in gold, gold / pink, pink, orange, glow red, glow white, or a combo of these colors.
Drift or troll at 1 – 1.25 mph with a 2 – 3 ounce weight or bottom bouncer, a 2 hook crawler harness and a juicy crawler. This presentation covers water, puts your offering in front of numbers of fish and a combo of the flash, vibration and scent of the crawler are hard to pass by for a walleye or sauger.
Trolling crankbaits is catching a lot of fish as well. With so many walleyes spread out over the miles and miles of mud over Big Traverse Bay, covering water is a good strategy. Strategically placing your lure in front of thousands of walleyes is effective. The chess game is what speed, what shape, what wobble, rattle or no rattle, in front of them or above them.
Common crankbait colors are gold, blue / chrome, firetiger, pink UV firetiger, chartreuse and orange.
Big Muskie
Anchoring up over schools of walleyes and saugers jigging with a frozen emerald shiner is still catching fish. Often, anchoring or spot locking with a jig around rocks or structure works well. When there are walleyes concentrated over mud, jigging can be effective there as well.
On the Rainy River… The slow summer flow of water on the Rainy River continues is great for fishing. A variety of species are being caught on the river.
Sturgeon anglers are reporting good summer fishing. Set up in a hole of the river or the sloping bank from the hole to a flat and soak some crawlers or frozen emerald shiners (or both).
A flat no roll sinker, sturgeon rig (18 inches of 60 lb test with a circle hook) with a glob of crawlers or combo of crawlers and shiners are catching fish. Evenings have been especially good. Many enjoy the peace and relaxation of the river in the summer.
Walleye anglers are trolling spinners / crawlers or crankbaits upstream covering water. If you find a school of walleyes, anchoring or spot locking with a jig and minnow will be effective.
Smallmouth bass can be found near the rocky areas, current breaks, bridges with associated rip rap are all go to areas.
Up at the NW Angle… Walleye fishing continues to be consistent. Some fish are on structure. Points, sunken islands, saddles, and neck down areas with current are just a few ideas. With 14,552 islands, there is a lot of structure!
Other fish are sliding out to mud flats. Here, pulling spinners and crawlers to cover water works well. Lots of ways to get it done.
A mixed bag is common in the northern portion of the lake. In addition to walleyes and saugers, perch, crappies, pike, bass and even muskies are consistently caught while targeting walleyes.
Lodging, full service fishing packages, small boat guide trips, and charter trips are available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging.
Have you heard of the new Buoy Bash? How about the Max Fishing Tournament? The northernmost point in the contiguous United States (the northernmost point buoy in Minnesota’s NW Angle) is turning 7 years old and that merits a celebration. As organizers of this event wanted to create something special, this event includes sort of a “milk run” of resorts in the mix. On top of that, there is a newly formed fishing tournament the same weekend.
The NW Angle is the northernmost point of the contiguous U.S., is where the 14,552 islands of Lake of the Woods begin and is home to some of the best fishing for walleyes, muskies, smallmouth bass, and pike in North America.
Northwest Angle Buoy Bash
First off, the newly formed as of last year, Northwest Angle Buoy Bash. It celebrates so many things that are great about the Angle, including the northernmost point buoy. At their leisure, people can visit participating resorts as each will be hosting kind of an open house with something unique at each resort. Check out this line up!
Friday, August 30th, 2024
7pm History, Mystery and Legends at Jerry’s with Dave Vickaryous, Jim Dingle, Pat Zavoral, and Joe Laurin
Saturday, August 31st, 2024
5am Max Foundation – Fishing Derby at Angle Outpost Resort. Walleye and muskie tournament (see flyer)
7am Oak Island Resort. Coffee Giveaways. Alver has some special coffee treats to help wake you up!
All Day Cyrus’s Flag Island Resort. All day drink and food specials, outside bar, buoy souvenirs
All Day Jerry’s Bar and Grill. Buoy Beer, all day food specials, outdoor games
9am – Noon. Sage’s Open House. Sage’s Resort, historic tour of resort.
1pm – 4pm & 7 – 9pm. Tiki Bar at Sunset Lodge. Drink specials.
11am – 5pm. Sportsman’s Oak Island Party Barge. Drink specials.
2pm – 4pm. Blueberry Cheesecake Tasting. Walsh’s Bay Store. Local blueberry cheesecake with Frank, Laura and Anita
2pm – 4pm. Prothero’s Founder Tour. Prothero’s Post Resort. Founder’s Cabin Tour and Houston Lockwood Memorabilia
3pm – till they run out. Northernmost Point Buoy area. Farmer’s Market. Fresh produce, jewelry, local honey, bake sale to support NWA Hockey Club, Many Vendors
7pm – 11pm. Jerry’s Bar and Grill. Live Music, The Niteriders.
9pm. Cyrus’s Flag Island Resort. Fireworks over the lake
Sunday, Sept 1, 2024
9:30am. Church at St. Lukes. Sermon – Labor Day Message
6pm. Jerry’s Bar and Grill. Max Foundation Awards Dinner, awards and silent auction.
As you can see, there is lots to do with a plethora of activities. What a great way to see the Angle along with meeting many of the people who are instrumental in making it so special.
Max Multi-Species Fishing Tournament
You might be wondering, “why is this called the Max Fishing Derby?” This fishing tournament is in honor of Max Marvin, a young man who had a love and passion for fishing and tragically passed away at an early age. As explained by the Max Foundation…
MAX WAS ONE OF THOSE RARE PEOPLE WHO, EVEN AS A TEENAGER, HAD A DYNAMIC AND MAGNETIC PERSONALITY THAT ENGAGED YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE.
That he took his own life was tragic and shocking to everyone who knew him. Max made the world a better place while he was here. Those closest to him want him also to make the world a better place after he is gone. That is the goal in mission of the Max Marvin Foundation. To strive for mental wellness among our young people by drawing attention to mental health issues so that other young people can find the help that Max did not. And, in accomplishing that goal, honor the memory of this captivating young man, Max Marvin.
During Hockey Day Minnesota 2024, Bally Sports North highlighted the Max Foundation’s mission for mental wellness between the Warroad vs. Roseau game, honoring Max Marvin’s legacy. See video below.
This tournament is in honor of Max Marvin, a former guide at the NW Angle. In honor of Max, and his passion for the NW Angle and Lake of the Woods, we welcome you to participate in the 1st Annual Max Multi-Species fishing derby.
The tournament is a two day tournament, Saturday and Sunday, August 31st – September 1st, 2024. It is a multi-species tournament with prizes for the largest walleye, largest muskie and a combo of the two.
To sign up for the tournament, contact Lisa Marvin at 218-242-0024 or at lisamarvin@reedrealtymn.com. The host resort is Angle Outpost.
Lots is happening the weekend of August 30 – September 1, 2024 up at the NW Angle. All are welcome. The Angle is a very special place with a unique and welcoming culture. The Angle does not disappoint!
What to order for Paella
1) Ribs
2) Sausage, Pork Rope Sausage
3) Glass banana peppers
4) Variety of bell peppers
5) Jalapeno
6) Tomato’s
7) onions
8) Frozen corn
9) Frozen green beans
10) Garlic
11) Chicken stock
12) Paprika
13) Cummin
14) Turmeric
15) Saffron
16) Artichoke hearts
17) Shrimp
18) Walleye
19) Small grain rice (European rice)
20) Mix of canola and olive oil
How to Prep for Paella
1) First take out all the meat and fish and thaw out in big sink under
water it takes 2 hours
2) Cut vegetable put in white plastic container
3) Dump banana peppers and Sause into vegetable container
4) Dump artichoke hearts and water into vegetable container
5) Cut up ribs keep in its own plastic container this is used for broth
6) Cut up Robe Sausage, 2-3 inch pieces
7) Cut up fish make sure no bones
8) Open up shrimp bag rinse shrimp make sure no tails on shrimp
How to make the Broth for Paella
1) Put cut up ribs in spaghetti cooking bowl fill with water to bottom
handle dot
2) Bring water to boil with ribs in it and after 30 minutes drain water
3) Fill spaghetti bowl again and bring to boil with chicken stock after
30 minutes remove ribs
4) If you need to add more water to be at bottom dot of handle on bowl
do so now and let broth sit
How to make Paella
1) First set up the Paella pan on base Turn on heat with pan on top of
burner
2) Paur Canola/olive oil mix into bottom of paella pan it doesn’t need
to be a lot
3) Crush saffron in palm and put in to the cooking oil
4) Put 4 spoons of Garlic into cooking oil
WAIT/Cook 2 MINUTES
5) Add meat ribs and rope sausage
Wait/Cook 5 minutes
6) Season the Meat at least 2oz of Paprika it should be red
7) Small amounts of Turmeric and Cummin
Wait/Cook 15 minutes
8) Add Vegetables and stir
Wait/cook 20 minutes
9) Add Broth
10) Broth is done when you see the signs of evaporation around the edge
of pan
Wait/cook 20 minutes
11) Add 2 boxes of Rice
12) Turn heat down
Wait/cook 20 minutes
13) Place Walleye on top of Rice and Shrimp
14) Season half with Cajun seasoning and halfwith lemon pepper
15) Put tin foil over entire paella bowl
Wait/Cook 10 minutes
16) Turn the heat off
Wait / Cook 5 minutes DONE!!!
There’s nothing like fresh fish and nothing like eating those fresh fish at a shore lunch! Yes, Lake of the Woods is known for adventure and creativity in lots of things and that’s also true when dining on the beach of a remote island. Lake of the Woods is also known for its abundance of walleye and other great species of fish. That’s one of the reasons it is known as the Walleye Capital of the World™.
Prepared Catch at a Resort
Now you can go out fishing for a day and bring your fish back to your favorite resort and the guide will gladly clean your fish and deliver them to the chef of the day. He will then prepare that delightful catch and deliver it to your table with all the “fixins”. Totally enjoyable and totally delicious.
However, let me tell you a story. This writer has lived in the area for 40 years and one my favorite experiences is my very first shore lunch. There was a two-decker boat called the Leonard C. (RIP) It was amazing!! Huge double decker that had a bar on the first deck and riders on the top of the deck were thrilled as you sped through the beautiful waters heading for Pine Island.
Our captain landed the boat and threw open the front hatch. He threw out humungous frying pans and ice cream pails full of food. Then he and his boat mate set up two fires on the shore. When the fire was right, he set the fry pans on them and threw a pail full of a sliced potato and onion mix. The next pan was filled with baked beans. After emptying the potato pan, he wiped out the fry pan and threw in some oil and a pail full of bacon. While that was cooking, he was breading some of the biggest walleye fillets I have ever seen. He removed the bacon and started frying those walleyes to perfection!!!
Let me tell you….it was the most delicious meal I have ever eaten! Right on a sandy shore. Now this captain probably fed about 30 people and didn’t blink an eye. He wiped out the pans, put out the fire and very soon we were back on the boat for a ride back to the home resort. All smiling!!!
Now some things have changed over the years, but shore lunches remain as awesome as the first one I had. Some guides from the Northwest Angle cruise their launches up to a remote island and serve up a tasty meal somewhat the same way my first meal was served. Some, however, use propane now, but the menu is the same. Yum!
The Northwest Angle is approximately 40 miles from the south shore of Lake of the Woods and is the home to over 7 resorts. Beautiful waters surround the area and produce those fresh walleyes for the shore lunches. There are two islands up there also. Oak Island and Flag Island house some beautiful accommodations and also provide a great place for shore lunches.
Garden Island is a State Recreation Area totally
equipped with docks, picnic tables and restroom facilities. This is a favorite spot for guides to take their clientele for that great eating pleasure. Garden Island is about 30+ miles across the lake so that’s an adventure all its own. As the summer progresses fish move to cooler waters so this location becomes very popular late July and August. Our local forest ranger has seen to it that this location is a must-go for anglers.
It is TRUE that each guide has his/her own favorite batter recipe so you’ll have to try to snag it from them if possible.
Here’s a list of tips that guides use and you can too if you try your hand at a shore lunch.
-Make sure the grease is hot enough to make water bounce or to pop a popcorn kernel
-Have a breading that has been perfected with the right touch over many years
-After applying breading to the fish, place the filet into the hot great skin side down
-Some guides fry bacon in the grease to add flavor to it before frying the fish
-Add fresh onion to the fried potatoes
There are so many more nuances, but when this well thought out meal of fresh LOW walleyes, saugers, perch, crappies and sometimes even deboned pike are prepared in this manner, it creates an experience for your pallet not to forget.
When you book a guide trip or charter trip, make sure you know what the lunch plans are as some trips offer shore lunch and others bring lunches along to maximize fishing time.
When the goal of a fishing trip is memories, relaxation and delicious food, think about a traditional Lake of the Woods shore lunch.
On the south end… The Dog Days of summer are a popular time on Lake of the Woods. Walleyes can be tough on bodies of water with significant weed growth and millions of emerging perch and other baitfish. This is when LOW shines.
Huge schools of walleyes and saugers are set up over the deep mud in 28 – 35 feet of water. Anglers are catching good numbers of fish using a few different techniques.
Most anglers are using spinners and crawlers. A two hook crawler harness with a spinner blade colored in gold, gold / pink, pink, orange, glow red, glow white, or a combo of these colors working well.
Crawler harness tip. Pinch off the long tail off the back of your crawler to just 2 or 3 inches off the back hook. This adds scent but most importantly and catches more walleyes. Walleyes will still hit the presentation and when they grab the crawler, they will have the last hook in their mouth.
Trolling crankbaits is extremely effective. With so many walleyes spread out over the miles and miles of mud over Big Traverse Bay, covering water and putting your lure in front of thousands of walleyes works well also.
Some anglers are still catching their walleyes anchoring up over schools of walleyes and saugers jigging with a frozen emerald shiner.
Various rock reefs that come out of the mud in areas of the lake are also holding some fish. Some days, fish are on top. This time of year, the transition from rock to mud is a go to spot.
On the Rainy River… The flow of water on the Rainy River continues to decrease as do river levels. Clarity is good as is the fishing.
Sturgeon anglers continue to report good summer dinosaur fishing. This fish with strong prehistoric roots are being caught soaking crawlers and shiners. A no roll sinker, sturgeon rig (18 inches of 60 lb test with a circle hook) with a glob of crawlers or combo of crawlers and shiners are catching fish. Fish can be caught all day, but evenings and even after dark has been especially good.
Walleye anglers are covering water trolling spinners / crawlers or crankbaits upstream covering water. If you find a school of walleyes, anchoring or spot locking with a jig and minnow will be effective.
Smallmouth bass on the Rainy River do not receive the attention they deserve with the walleyes and sturgeon, but bass are up and down the river. Rocky areas, current breaks, bridges with associated rip rap are all go to areas.
Up at the NW Angle… The walleye fishing is strong in this area. A 3/8 ounce jig with a minnow or plastic is effective with so much structure. Some guides use jigs in these parts all year long.
muskie
This time of year, fish start relating to sunken islands and even areas of mud just off the rocks. In this case, drifting or trolling crawler harnesses and trolling crankbaits covers water and is catching nice fish.
There are fish being found in various depths in 15-33′. This is a big range, but consider the many different forage walleyes capitalize on. In addition, fluctuations in cold fronts and water temps will push fish to different areas.
Walleye anglers in these parts also catch perch, crappies, pike, bass and even muskies while targeting walleyes.
Lodging, full service fishing packages, small boat guide trips, and charter trips are available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging.
The Dog Days of summer. The phrase actually refers to the time the Sun occupies the same region of the sky as Sirius, the brightest star visible from any part of Earth and part of the constellation Canis Major, the Greater Dog, hence, “Dog Days”. Technically, the dates of dog days this year is July 3 – August 11. Many anglers extend this period in their minds through August, however.There is a well-known pattern of catching big numbers of walleyes that takes place each year during the late summer or dog days on Lake of the Woods. Massive numbers of walleyes make their way to the big open expanses of basins of the lake. These huge expanses are 30 – 35’ deep and full of walleye attracting forage. There are no weeds, flat structure and miles, and miles of nothing but walleyes. These walleyes can be caught a variety of ways, however, one of the most effective is covering water by trolling crankbaits.In many Midwestern waters, the sultry days of August or “dog days” is a tough time to catch walleyes. The weeds are up, baitfish are prolific which are tough to compete with and catching walleyes consistently is downright tough. Lake of the Woods late summer is an anomaly. Many anglers actually plan their fishing trip during the late summer because the fishing is so good. Yes, you can catch fish a number of ways this time of year, but one of the absolute go-to methods for plucking basin walleyes is pulling cranks.
Big Traverse Bay and Little Traverse Bay
Big Traverse is the big open water of the south part of the lake. Little Traverse is the open water up at the NW Angle that is much smaller in comparison, but still big to most and is also loaded with fish.
No man’s land this time of year is a prolific aquarium full of life. As the water warms, many of the walleyes slide to the deepest depths of this basin (30 – 35 feet of water) in search of cooler water and less light penetration. Most importantly though, there is a smorgasbord of bait in this part of the lake. Roaming schools of emerald shiners, tulibees, perch and trout-perch minnows (a minnow that lives in the deeper depths) are in abundance.
There is also a variety of critters walleyes eat that call the mud their home. Blood worms, a variety of invertebrates, and nymphs of aquatic insects (before they reach the surface to shed their skin reaching adult stage) are just a few.
So, here’s the scenario, tens of thousands of walleyes all living in a big expanse of open water. In most cases, there is very few “spot on a spot” areas that will group walleyes tightly. Thus, it makes sense to cover some water. Hence, pulling crankbaits is not only a great fit, but it is also effective.
The trick is to present the right crankbait at the walleye’s desired speed in front of or a few feet above the walleyes in the relatively deeper waters. With technology and ever developing products, getting a crankbait down to 35 feet has become much easier.
Downriggers
It isn’t realistic that most anglers will have downriggers on their boats. Up at LOW, many do, however. Getting cranks down to the bottom foot or two of the lake in 30-35 feet of water where the majority of the walleyes are living is key. Downriggers are extremely effective in consistently positioning the lures in the strike zone, even when the boat surges from a wave.
In other bodies of water, some may argue downriggers spook walleyes. Perhaps they do, not here, however. Maybe it is the stained color of the water, but year in and year out, riggers catch a ton of walleyes.
Lead Core Line
In today’s world, an angler can pick up an entire rod and line counter reel filled with lead core line for around $100. What a great option at a moderate price point to be able to play at these deeper depths. Lead core line is exactly that, line with lead as its core which causes it to sink. The more line you let out, the deeper your crankbait will reach.
In a nutshell, lead core line has a different color every 10 yards. For every color of lead core let out, your lure will go down an additional 5 feet. I really encourage anglers who may be intimidated by formulas and dive charts to keep it simple. Estimate how deep your crankbait dives. Figure out how much deeper you want your lure to run and let out what you believe is the amount of lead core to get you there. Then, troll and watch your rod tip.
If your rod tip starts to bounce, the crankbait is hitting the mud, reel line in 10-foot increments until it stops. If your rod tip does not bounce, let out more line until it does, you’ve found the bottom. Again, reel up line in 10-foot increments until you are not hitting bottom. This will get you in that bottom two feet of the water column, right where you need to be.
One disadvantage to using lead core is it takes a long time to reel in fish and let the lure back out. Because of this, there is lead core product I use that has been helpful. Suffix 832 Advanced Lead Core dives 30% deeper than traditional lead core which allows you to reach your desired depth with less line. To me, that 30% less reeling is worth something.
Braided line with a deep billed crankbait. When looking to reach depths in excess of 30’, some of the deeper diving crankbaits teamed up with a thin diameter braided or superline will get down deep. If the fish are hitting the bigger billed cranks, you are in business. If by chance you want to use smaller baits, it is tougher to get down deep with just the crank. When the walleye show a liking to the larger billed crankbaits, this method is effective.as been helpful. Suffix 832 Advanced Lead Core dives 30% deeper than traditional lead core which allows you to reach your desired depth with less line. To me, that 30% less reeling is worth something.
Bouncers and Three-Way Rigs
I had a conversation recently at a sports show with an angler who spends a fair amount of time trolling the deep mud on LOW with success. He laughed as he said, “everyone has this fancy equipment, heck, we still use a 4 oz bouncer with a 6-8’ leader and a shallow diving crank and we catch all the walleyes we want.” There are a number of ways to get down there, and it doesn’t have to be rocket science. A tip, make sure to lower your bouncer slowly to avoid tangling.
A three-way rig is similar to a bouncer, but instead of a wire with a piece of lead as in the case of a bottom bouncer, a three-way rig uses a 6-12” piece of line down to a sinker. The third part of the three-way swivel has a leader to the crankbait. Believe it or not, there are days when three ways are the ticket and will greatly outfish a bouncer set up.
I have literally heard anglers discuss how they have had success on every shape, color, wobble, and brand. Here is my advice. The water is stained, meaning it is stained a light brown color from natural tannins. With this being said, as a rule, gold or bright colors dominate. Gold is a staple color on Lake of the Woods.
My go-to colors are gold, blue/chrome, pink and UV pink, firetiger and black. Yes, black. By raising the black crank up a bit, walleyes see that dark silhouette against the sunlight above. Just like night fishing, dark-colored lures can rule against the shine of the moon.
When fishing with a partner, I will start us out with two different colors and wobbles. When pulling through fish I can see on the electronics if the fish aren’t responding, we rotate lures, speeds, and nuances until something clicks and then we hone in. Every day can be different. It’s just a matter of going fishing.
Nuances to Get More Walleyes
During a Minnesota Tournament Trail event using lead core, I was reeling in a crankbait while we were trolling to check for mud as it didn’t seem to be running right. About 25% of the way in, I get hit, a nice walleye. My partner notices so he started reeling in and letting out and reeling in, as we are trolling, and he gets a fish. The rest of the day, we began trolling very erratically, speeding up to 4 mph, dropping down to a crawl, making sharp turns, and began to fill the livewell.
In another instance, I was trolling lead core in a boat that didn’t have rod holders. Consequently, since the rod was in hand, I began zipping the lure forward, dropping it back and BANG, a fish. For whatever reason, the walleyes that day wanted the lure to pause and take off abruptly and as soon as it took off again, they ate.
Every day is different, and it is up to us to figure out what the walleyes want. The point here is rather than just going in a straight line with the same crank at the same speed, mixing it up and noticing what happens will put more fish in the boat.
Charters allow everyone to enjoy this bite.
There is a great option for those who don’t have a boat or equipment, don’t want to get so involved and want to simply relax and reel in walleyes. Jump on a charter boat. The resorts on Lake of the Woods have a large fleet of charter boats with very professional licensed charter captains. They provide absolutely everything needed for a great day of “Dog Days” fishing. Resorts combine groups making it possible to accommodate a single person or up to groups of 6.
The “dog days” of summer for many walleye anglers are a time to put down the fishing pole and wait for the cooler waters and dying vegetation of the fall bite. On Lake of the Woods, late summer is prime time, a time many anglers actually look forward to. Grab your trolling gear, a handful of cranks and be ready to reel in a bunch of walleyes!
In May 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced significant updates to the regulations for bringing dogs into the United States from countries classified as low-risk for rabies, such as Canada. These changes aim to streamline the process for dog owners while maintaining public health and safety. Since the initial announcement, the CDC has further eased the rules, making it simpler for pet owners to comply.
Now, more than ever, many travelers enjoy bringing along their dog(s) on vacation or even in some cases such as truck drivers, on the road with them while working. In the case of Lake of the Woods, traveling to the NW Angle via vehicle requires traveling about 40 miles through Canada before re-entering the U.S. up at the Angle. Strict new regulations would make travel with dogs more difficult for visitors and residents alike.
Lake of the Woods Tourism has been in contact with Senator Amy Klobuchar, Senator Tina Smith and Congressman Pete Stauber regarding the issue and appreciate the support they provided in communicating with the CDC who ultimately eased restrictions.
In the news release announcing the changes, the CDC stated that the new rules “incorporate the feedback received from the public, industry partners, and various countries.”
New Requirements for Entry
The updated guidelines focus on ensuring that dogs entering the U.S. from low-risk rabies countries meet specific health and safety criteria without imposing undue burden on pet owners. These new requirements will be in place for 9 months until the CDC determines the longer term requirements. Here are the key aspects of the new regulations:
Import Form: Under the new guidelines, people bringing a dog across the border are required to fill out an import form, which can be completed for free online. This form will streamline the entry process while ensuring necessary information is provided.
Microchip Identification: Dogs entering the U.S. must be identifiable by a microchip. The microchip number must be included in the import form to ensure traceability.
Age Restrictions: Puppies under 6 months old are not eligible to enter the U.S. This age requirement ensures that young dogs are sufficiently mature and healthy for travel.
Rabies Vaccination Certificate (Currently not required): Initially, dogs were required to have a valid rabies vaccination certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian. However, on July 22, 2024, the CDC announced that it would be loosening the restrictions for dogs traveling from countries with low levels of rabies, including Canada. The new rules, which still go into effect at the beginning of August, drop the proof-of-vaccination requirement.
Health Certificate (Optional): Although proof of rabies vaccination is no longer required, dogs must still appear healthy upon entry. A general health certificate from a licensed veterinarian is recommended to confirm the dog’s good health and freedom from contagious diseases.
Importance of Compliance
The CDC emphasizes that these regulations are crucial for preventing the introduction and spread of rabies in the United States. Rabies is a deadly viral disease that affects mammals, including humans, and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. By ensuring that dogs entering the U.S. are vaccinated and healthy, the CDC aims to protect public health and maintain the country’s rabies-free status.
Pet owners planning to travel with their dogs to the U.S. are encouraged to review the updated guidelines well in advance of their trip. Ensuring that all requirements, including microchip information are in order will facilitate a smooth entry process and avoid potential delays or complications at border control.
The CDC’s updated guidelines for bringing dogs into the U.S. from low-risk rabies countries reflect a balanced approach to public health and pet owner convenience. By easing some of the initial restrictions and simplifying the documentation process, the CDC has made it more straightforward for responsible pet owners to travel with their dogs. These measures ensure that public health is protected while recognizing the importance of pet companionship for many travelers.
this area. Not many hunters will go break brush so many of the birds go unseen and don’t flush. Remember, even while grouse hunting, hunters must wear orange for their safety. Please check into the MN DNR site to learn about licenses and tips for fall hunting.
