Even though Mother Nature blanketed us with 6 inches of snow this past Tuesday, anglers are already excited for spring fishing on the Rainy River. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources put out great information each spring about fishing during this season. There is still lots of ice on the lake and resorts / outfitters still providing some great ice fishing. Fish houses can remain on the lake through March 31st (depending on Mother Nature), anglers are already getting their boats and their gear ready for the spring run of walleyes on the Rainy.
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 (https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-fishing-regulations-summary). The Rainy flows from the east to the west finally arriving at the famous Lake of the Woods known as the Walleye Capital of the World™.
Walleyes go up-river in the fall chasing shiner minnows and then again in the spring to do their spawning. Here’s when the trophies show up. Whether there are ice burg size chunks of ice floating on the river or it is totally clear, anglers line up along roads and access points waiting to dawn the beautiful waters of the Rainy River.
Rainy River flows out of Rainy Lake near International Falls and forms the border between the United States and Canada at the top of Minnesota. It flows into the famous Lake of the Woods known as the Walleye Capital of the World.
Here’s some great information for the Rainy River Spring Season which extends from March 1-April 14th.
For Walleyes and Saugers: On Fourmile Bay of Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River, catch and release fishing is allowed during this time period. All Walleye and Sauger must be returned to the water immediately.
For 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.
For Lake Sturgeon: Anglers see and often land many sturgeon while fishing the Rainy. However, no harvest is allowed from Mar 1 through Apr 23. Anglers are allowed to catch-and-release lake sturgeon during this period.
Each spring anglers and local residents watch this body of water for the signs of liquid water to show up. Each year this “ice opener” is documented by the local newspaper and has been recorded since 1934. The recording place is near the International Bridge connecting the United States and Canada between the towns of Rainy River, Ontario and Baudette, MN. This early ice out is a welcomed sight for spring fishing where anglers are chomping at the bit to get their boats out into the open water. The Northern Light Region is the official reporter of first “ice-out” over the years.
When planning a spring fishing trip to the Lake of the Woods area, it’s always good to have information on access points. Here is a diagram of all the access points along Highway 11.
Koochiching County is our neighbor to the east and they are always ready to go to open up the first access point which is at Birchdale MN. This is known as Nelson Park and is a beautiful spot for anglers and early campers to park. 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.
Note: When in that area, be sure to check out the Nelson Store. The only store in Birchdale, it is probably one of the last greatest “all-inclusive” stores around. Because of it’s remote area, they carry a little of everything and is a great pleasure to visit.
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 1 through April 15.
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 1 through April 15.
As mentioned, Koochiching Country clears accesses in their county along Hwy 11 for spring fishing and then a hand-off is made to workmen in Lake of the Woods County. A great thanks goes out to these laborers who are able to help get spring fishing available.
For lodging at Lake of the Woods see: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging
See our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/lakeofthewoodsmn
See more regulations at: Licenses, permits, regulations | Minnesota DNR
