What a weekend of pike fishing.  The mantra of this year’s tournament was “good numbers but not the huge females”.  According to Zippel Bay Resort owner Nick Painovich, “Everyone caught fish but the real big pike weren’t around.  Often times they head to the lake when it opens up.”  With that said, there were good fish in the Bay and a lot of nice fish caught.

Overall, there were 62 two-person teams that competed.  513 pike were weighed in with prizes totaling $3,100!

There was certainly many pike caught in the protected slot that had to be released and didn’t count.  We heard of some 39 inch pike that just missed the 40 inch mark needed to be a legal fish.

Lake of the Woods has a year round season on pike and a length limit as well.  Anglers are allowed to keep three pike per day.  Pike between 30-40 inches must be released with anglers able to keep one fish over 40 inches.  This slot limit is one of the many reasons Lake of the Woods is a trophy pike destination.

According to the MN DNR, there is often a pattern of lakes in MN that have big walleyes and pike have something in common, a good population of tulibees.  Lake of the Woods fits the bill in this regard.  When both walleyes and pike get to be larger, tulibees become a staple part of their diet.  They also cause fish that eat them to get big quickly.

The Zippel Bay Pike Ice Out Tournament is a two day tournament.  This year’s winners were John Stanton from Williams, MN & Garrett Bitzer from Bagley,
MN.  They had a total of 31.15 lbs.  2nd place went to Greg Berg from Deerwood, MN & Chris Pieper from Baudette, MN with a total weight of 30.03 lbs.
3rd place was taken by Conner Uselman from Pillager, MN & Tristan Litke from Pillager, MN with a weight of 28.14 lbs.

This years tournament was very welcomed as last year’s 2020 tournament was canceled due to COVID.

If this looks like a lot of fun, it is!  Mark your calendars for the 2022 tournament.  Grab a friend or relative and make plans to fish.  Zippel Bay is like a small inland lake and a boat from 14 foot and up will work very nicely.

 

Click here to learn more about Lake of the Woods

Click here to find lodging and guides around the Lake of the Woods area

 

History and Antiques are great items to add to your vacation destination this summer. Come to Lake of the Woods and visit our wonderful Lake of the Woods Historical Society. Lake of the Woods County Historical Society is located in Baudette, MN at 119 8^th Ave SE. It is on the east end of town and has a beautiful building to store all of its history and artifacts from the ages past. Lindsay Marshall is our current director and she is a tremendous historian. She has worked within the facility arranging and rearranging displays to enhance the visitor’s eye. She has definitely captured the flavor of the area.

Ms. Marshall is exited to share that the Museum will be opening May 10^th with regular hours of Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturdays 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The Museum will be following COVID-19 policy and masks will be required when you’re inside.

The Museum took advantage of the slower 2020 season, as well as the winter months to get some collections work accomplished. There is so much history already recorded with the Historical  Society but much more is added throughout the year. Donations keep coming from past history and displays are continually being updated.

The History of Lake of the Woods County is rich as pioneers moved in to the forest areas around and started whittling out places to live and raise families. Early settlers established the town of Baudette and businesses started arriving. Because of the location of the town along the Rainy River, logging became a very profitable business. This was the primary source of income for the area until the Fire of 1910 wiped out the towns of Baudette and Spooner. The Historical Society has a great amount of information about this historical event as well.

Of course, fishing is a big part of the history of Lake of the Woods. It was excellent then and now so commercial fishing became a fruitful industry. Because of the fishing, a local resident, who was also a chemist, discovered medicinal qualities that the fish had and established a fruitful business called Reid Rowell Laboratories. Although the company has changed names many times, there is still a strong pharmaceutical company still in Baudette known now as ANI Pharaceuticals

Visiting the local museum with its superb history is a great way to keep that very history alive and teach the younger generation as well. The museum has written a number of books about the area that are for sale at the museum. Pioneers first settled in the forest area east and south of Baudette. Today visitors are encouraged to visit those areas and see the sites of past homesteads and Faunce Tower.

CCC camps were a part of the history here and the past camp Is now occupied by the DNR. Roads travel through the forest and great displays of pine adorn the landscape. If those trees could talk, they would tell a story about past history as well.

At one time the Laurel Indians inhabited the land here and used the famous sturgeon that lives in the Rainy River for their food supply and also used them for fuel. You’ll find good information on that era as well at the Museum. See the following video of a gentleman who loves to explore and loves history.

Another historical sight in Baudette is the Depot. This depot and its history has been preserved by a committed group of people in the area who have completely restored the building and the history it contains. Take a walking tour through the building and learn about the tremendous history of the railroad and the part it has played in this north country.

So… come fishing, stay at one of our fabulous resorts, catch fish, dine at fine restaurants and explore the history that makes this northland a treasure.

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

Also see the Historical Society Website at: www.facebook.com/Lake-of-the-Woods-County-Historical-Society-399575353425951  or www.lakeofthewoodshistoricalsociety.com

Fire up your smart phones for the opener Lake of the Woods Anglers, as there is a statewide virtual walleye tournament for the Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener.  Using the popular fishing tournament app, FishDonkey, organizers from Ottertail County, the site of the 2021 MN Governor’s Fishing Opener event, will run the tournament.

The Governor’s Fishing Opener is in Otter Tail County this year after getting postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic.  Nobody is worrying about that, they are moving forward with some exciting plans.

Governor’s Fishing Opener Planning Committee Chair for Otter Tail County Erik Osberg says the #OnlyInMN Cup was something the group wanted to start last year.  “One of our desires with hosting the governor’s fishing opener is we wanted to try to create ways for the public to feel like they were participating in it too.”

For many years, the Governor’s Opener has been a media driven event to highlight tourism in Minnesota.  When fishing begins on May 15th, all anglers will have a chance at winning the #OnlyInMN Cup, along with prizes for catching the biggest walleye.

The competition is walleye-only and catch-and-release. Anyone fishing on Minnesota waters can take part.

The FishDonkey app is an easy to use app in which you take a picture of the fish, in this case walleye, on a commercial measuring ruler or bump board.  You also take a second image of the fish while holding it as a “hero” shot, so judges can see the side of the fish eliminating duplicate entries.  This virtual walleye tournament is based on the length of the fish.

Osberg says he hopes this becomes a yearly tradition.  “Our intent was to start this tradition. So then, as the Governor’s Fishing Opener moved around from community to community, there’d be a traveling trophy, like the Stanley Cup.”

There’s an adult competition and a kids competition in this virtual walleye tournament:

Adult competition:

First place: $1,000 gift card to Fleet Farm
Second place: $500 gift card to Fleet Farm
Third place: $500 gift card to anywhere in Otter Tail County
Fourth place: Fishing rod and hat from Gene’s Sport Shop in Perham
Fifth and sixth place: Life jackets from Onyx

Youth competition: 15 and Under

First place: $400 gift card to Blackfish
Second and third place: Life jackets, a fishing rod, and a shirt from Ben’s Bait Shop in Battle Lake

Lake of the Woods anglers, some of the largest walleyes in the state will be caught on The Walleye Capital of the World.  Let’s recognize Ottertail County for their efforts in putting on what we know will be a great Governor’s Opener.  Let’s also thank them for putting on this statewide contest by bringing home the gold in this virtual walleye tournament!  We wish our friends in Ottertail County the best for the event and certainly wish everyone a wonderful fishing opener on May 15th.

About the Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener

The Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener has been a tradition in Minnesota since 1948. It was designed to improve Minnesota’s economy through the development and promotion of the state’s recreational opportunities, especially fishing. The first opener was a cooperative promotion between the state’s resort industry, media, and public officials. Today, the emphasis is even broader. It celebrates the kickoff of the summer tourism season. The special partnership continues today with a promotional focus on a host community as well as recreational opportunities statewide.

 

Download the FishDonkey App on your SmartPhone to fish the virtual walleye tournament

Explore Lake of the Woods MN

Find Lodging around Lake of the Woods, the Rainy River and the NW Angle

Lake of the Woods resorts and hotels are open, prepared and looking forward to welcoming anglers for the 2021 MN Fishing Opener.

There are a few observations pointing to an epic MN Fishing Opener on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River on Saturday, May 15th.  First off, there were a lot of walleyes and a lot of big walleyes in the Rainy River this spring.  Second, with an earlier ice out and warmer temps, water temps should be warmer than normal.  Third, the walleyes will be post spawn and that means they should be hungry.

Some anglers will focus on the Rainy River.  Typically, there are still walleyes in the river.  We also know there are walleyes from sturgeon anglers who are catching them unintentionally.  The go to presentation will be jigging with a frozen shiner.  Some anglers will break the mold and slowly troll crankbaits.  Both methods should bring good numbers of walleyes into the boat.

Others will target the main basin.  Big schools of walleyes will be staged at various spots off of the south shore.  Some anglers will catch them shallow along Pine Island.  Others will be in front of Morris Point, Zippel Bay, Long Point and Rocky Point.  Wherever you like to fish out of, the fish should be there and have not seen a lure in some time.

Don’t be afraid to slide up into shallow water as many years, that can be the ticket.  Also don’t be afraid to slowly troll crankbaits.  This is a great way to find fish and on some days, despite the cold water, actually out fishes the anglers using jigs.

As far as presentations for the 2021 MN fishing opener, most will be using a jig and a minnow or frozen emerald shiner.  Some go to colors are gold, glow, pink, orange and chartreuse, or a combination of them.  When hooking your minnow, if you are missing fish, try putting the hook of your jig through the mouth and out the gill of the minnow.  Then slide the minnow all the way up to the jig head and place the point of the hook half way back on the minnow.  With the stained waters of the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods, walleyes don’t seem to mind.  Some make it simple and use a stinger hook.

The NW Angle is also poised for a great opener.  Ice fishing up there this year was excellent.  The fish are there and for those who want to get an early start by fishing the northernmost point of the contiguous U.S., it will be good fishing.  Target shoreline structure such as points, neck down areas between islands and transition areas along shore.  There are good numbers of fish, an angler simply has to hit a few spots to see what the pattern is.

With the border still being closed, anglers have a number of options to get up to the Angle.

1.  Boat across the lake.  This requires a big boat, a good weather day and an experienced boat driver.  This is big water and not worth taking any risks.
2. Lake of the Woods Passenger Service.  This is a shuttle service using charter boats across Lake of the Woods.  These charters are big and operated by a licensed charter captain.  They will drop you at any NW Angle resort you would like.  They leave the south end from Sportsman’s Lodge located on the Rainy River north of Baudette, MN.
3. Lake Country Air.  Flying service both from the south end of LOW and other destinations in MN are available this year.  The flight across the lake is about 10 minutes!

For some, the MN Fishing Opener is tradition.  For some, it’s a holiday.  Whatever it means to you, the “opener” is a celebration of fishing for everyone who appreciates fishing in MN.  The season on Lake of the Woods is an extended season, so we only had to be not fishing walleyes since April 14th.

For some anglers, pike will enter the conversation.  Up at Lake of the Woods, the pike season is open all year long and the limits stay the same.  You can keep three pike per day, must release everything between 30 – 40 inches and may keep one fish over 40″.  The possession limit is three, the same as the daily limit.

Lake of the Woods is managed as a trophy pike fishery by the MN DNR.  This was quite evident many big pike over 40 inches have already been boated this spring.  A 40″ pike is considered a trophy in most circles. 

Sturgeon are going strong.  The season is on through May 15th.  The season then closes until July 1st.  On July 1, it opens again through September 30 and is the “keep” season meaning you are allowed to harvest one for the calendar year from 45-50″ or over 75″.  Remember to purchase a sturgeon tag prior to going sturgeon fishing if your intent is to keep one.

The 2021 MN Fishing opener is almost upon us.  There is lodging available if you still want to experience an opener tradition on Lake of the Woods.  Good luck to all anglers wherever you might fish.  Take in a deep breath, relax and enjoy, walleye season is almost upon us!

 

Click Here to view a list of Lake of the Woods lodging.

Click Here to view Lake of the Woods Tourism

Spring is here and everyone is looking for something fresh. The Farmer’s Market in Baudette certainly features fresh produce, new ideas, crafts, furniture and the like. The Farmers Market at Lake of the Woods is located at the local Hardware Hank parking lot at 804 West Main St., Baudette, MN (Hwy 11 West).

The store owners have plenty of space both for parking and lawn where displays are set up. The owners are very generous to provide this area and the location is perfect as the site is very visible to all who travel that road.

The Farmers Market was started about 10 years ago by local citizens who had an abundance of produce. The side benefit of sharing their produce was putting a little revenue in their pockets. Since that time they have organized the Market with the help of organizations as Minnesota Grown and Fresh Start Markets. Consult these organizations for more locations to pick up fresh produce during your travel times.

Each vendor has unique wares to offer. You will find baked goods, cheese, arts and crafts, flowers, eggs, herbs, honey, jams, meats, plants, coffee, fruits, homemade rugs, jewelry, Tupperware, and an awesome display of wooden benches, beds, picnic tables and many other smaller items.  There is no lack of talent in this area and the vendors are willing to go to the extra work of transporting their wares to the selling location to share those talents with the public.

The Farmers Market at Baudette features foods that are homegrown homemade and  home raised.. Many handcrafted and other specialty items are also available. This small town of Baudette is friendly to visit and is located near the Lake of the Woods with boating, fishing, bike trails and much more. The Farmers Market is handicapped accessible and is open from June to September on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Weather doesn’t seem to be an issue because these vendors are serious about selling their products. Rain, wind or even colder temps don’t seem to dampen their efforts.

The Farmers Market was started about 10 years ago by local citizens who had an abundance of produce. The side benefit of sharing their produce was putting a little revenue in their pockets. Since that time they have organized the Market with the help of organizations as Minnesota Grown and Fresh Start Markets. Consult these organizations for more locations to pick up fresh produce during your travel times.

Each vendor has unique wares to offer. You will find baked goods, cheese, arts and crafts, flowers, eggs, herbs, honey, jams, meats, plants, coffee, fruits, homemade rugs, jewelry, Tupperware, and an awesome display of wooden benches, beds, picnic tables and many other smaller items.  There is no lack of talent in this area and the vendors are willing to go to the extra work of transporting their wares to the selling location to share those talents with the public.

Farmer’s Markets have become popular throughout the United States as people are more and more concerned about buying fresh foods for their families. Growers throughout the countryside either grow these fine foods for their families and their winter supply of food, or they grow foods because they love to watch things grow and produce.  As a person who doesn’t garden, it’s always refreshing to see local produce being available to buy.

Attend a Farmer’s Market in your area to support the community and local vendors and small businesses. Each has their own unique taste and style. There is a National Farmer’s Market Directory available at https://nnfmd.org for your convenience and interest.

As you make your travel plans this summer, be sure to include visiting the many Farmer’s Markets throughout the area. Vendors will certainly be appreciative and you will feel healthier and happier as you partake of these great wares.

If you live in the Baudette/Lake of the Woods area, please come shop at this local gathering which also is a great place to meet and visit with friends….all the while social distancing, of course. For those who might be traveling through the area, please see our website at www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging for great places to stay with beautiful landscapes to see and some of the best fishing around.

 

The 24th Annual Zippel Bay Resort Ice Out Pike Tournament will take place May 1-2, 2021.  The ice is gone and there have already been reports of big pike in the bay.  This year is setting up to have a lot of action.

Pike season on Lake of the Woods never ends.  As we are border water with Canada, our pike season is continuous or another way of saying it is it goes all year long.  This gives anglers a fantastic opportunity in April and early May to take advantage of monster pike who are somewhere along in their spawning ritual.  And in Lake of the Woods, there are a lot of big pike!

Pike anglers pull nice pike out of various bays on the lake all spring and Zippel Bay is definitely a go to spot.  Sometimes mother nature can throw some cold curve balls in the spring month but that’s what makes this stretch of water so special.  Zippel Bay is quite secluded from the main lake, making it easier to hide from cold winds, and anglers will not require the larger boats like on the main lake.  The tournament still has spots available and all are welcome.

Some anglers have had success with dead bait on the bottom or just off of the bottom with a quick strike rig.  There will be others in the tournament who prefer trolling shallow diving crankbaits or casting spoons.  Whatever your flavor, the pike will be ready.

Zippel Bay has a lot of spots to fish pike but no big water, meaning, most small boats will do just fine in the bay.  That opens things up and levels the playing field for those pike tournament anglers with 14 – 16′ boats.

If Zippel Bay Resort is filled up as far as the lodging goes for the pike tournament, but there are many resorts available in the vicinity less than 10 miles away.  Click Here for a list of Lake of the Woods Resorts.

MN DNR info from a 2013 fisheries lake survey verifies the presence of a healthy trophy pike fishery.   Lake of the Woods is managed for a high-quality northern pike population, with a significant component of “trophy” northern pike over 40 inches long. To monitor the size structure of the northern pike population, it is sampled every 5 years using trap nets at known spawning sites. The northern pike population continues to be one of high quality, with 19% of the adult population at least 35 inches long, and 5% of the adults 40 inches long, or longer.

During the spawning season, pike head to shallow bays, ditches and streams to find the right conditions to lay and fertilize eggs.  There are many areas around the lake and on the Rainy River pike spawn, and one of them is Zippel Bay.

Zippel Bay Resort has their annual pike tournament right around the last weekend of April.  This year’s tournament will take place May 1-2.  The tourney is made up of two person teams and is a two day tournament based on weight.

This is a fun pike tournament with locals and visitors alike coming together to target big toothy.  Most teams troll and cast crankbaits.  Others use dead bait under a bobber in 1 – 8 feet of water.  Most years, dozens and sometimes hundreds of pike are weighed in and many more caught in the slot (30-40 inches) that were not weighed in but immediately released.

The northern pike regs on Lake of the Woods are as follows:

Lake Of The Woods and Rainy River to dam at international Falls
Northern Pike	Continuous	3, all northern pike from 30-40″ must be immediately released. Only 1 northern pike over 40″

Anglers are already getting their boats ready for this year’s pike tournament.  If you want to have a blast, check out the pike tournament at Zippel Bay Resort or just go fish pike on your own.  You truly have an opportunity to catch a pike of a lifetime.

 

Click Here to view the Lake of the Woods Tourism website.

Click Here to view lodging on and around Lake of the Woods  and the Rainy River.

A $35 year-round vehicle permit provides unlimited visits to all 75 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas for a full year from the month of purchase.

By purchasing a vehicle permit, you help maintain and improve the natural resources, facilities, and education and outreach programs that make Minnesota’s state parks among the best in the nation.

Vehicle permits are valid for one year from the month of purchase. Plus, you can receive a discount on additional year-round permits for other vehicles you own.

Looking for the perfect gift for the outdoor enthusiast? Purchase a gift card!

Minnesota State Parks and Trails specialty license plate

Not a fan of windshield stickers? Now there’s another option; the new Minnesota State Parks and Trails license plate provides you with unlimited visits to all 75 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas for an entire year, without requiring a separate vehicle permit. Plus it helps fund the operations and maintenance of Minnesota state parks and trails!

In our area we have a few state parks and forests. A year round pass would be perfect with all the time you could spend inside these beautiful parks. A few of the closest ones include Zippel State Park, Franz Jevne State Park, and Beltrami Island State Forest. The outdoor activities you can do in the parks are endless, from fishing, canoeing, hiking, mushroom hunting, biking, camping, etc. Stay informed and be prepared to be stopped and don’t forget to get your permit.

Don’t forget the Big Bog walk that is just a few miles south of Lake of the Woods County on Hwy 72. This very unique and educational experience is one of a kind. The boardwalk itself is 1 mile long and reaches far into the swamp while having benches and teaching plaques along the way. It’s a must to put on your vacation list.

In order to buy a permit you must follow one of two ways:

Call

• DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 (Twin Cities area)
• Toll free 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367)

Visit

• Any Minnesota state park, and purchase from self-serve kiosk* or the front office
• REI locations in Bloomington, Roseville, and Maple Grove
• Minnesota DNR License Center, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul
• Hennepin County Service Centers in Brooklyn Center, Edina, Maple Grove, Minneapolis, and Minnetonka
• Minnesota’s Bookstore, St. Paul

• State Parks are beautiful and number as high as 75 in Minnesota, however, Lake of the Woods is home to many beautiful areas to explore.

 

It’s the spring of 2021 and it’s time to get outdoors and get some fresh air and sit and enjoy the beauty of creation as it comes to life in the springtime. Zippel Bay State Park is a beautiful spot to visit at any season, but springtime has special beauty. With miles of groomed trails, you will enjoy wildflowers peeking through the undergrowth and the aspens and birch trees coming alive with their bright green leaves and beautiful white bark.  This State Park is located at 3684 54th Avenue Northwest, Williams, MN 56686 on Hwy #8 northwest of Baudette.  This park provides a great opportunity to take the family on a walking tour.

 

The State Park at Zippel Bay is also known for its sandy beach reaching out into Lake of the Woods. It’s a perfect place for children to build sand castles and explore the shoreline. The bay itself is very shallow there so it is the best place for visitors to swim and walk out a long distance. You may obtain a State Park Sticker online before you visit or right at the entrance. A great family experience while practicing social distancing.

 

Zipple Bay State Park also manages the Blueberry Hill and Faunce campgrounds inside the Beltrami Island State Forest. For information on these units, please contact the Zippel Bay State Park office at (218) 783-6252. Blueberry Hill State Forest is located 3.5 miles west of Williams on the south side of Highway 11 and is one of the highest points of elevation in the county.

 

If you’re looking for remote, check out Franz Jevne State Park located on Highway 11. Here there is primitive camping with access to the Rainy River. This is located a few miles east of Birchdale, home of one of the last unique General Stores.

 

Other state parks in the area include an excursion by boat to the northern-most park of Garden Island on Lake of the Woods.

 

Boat docks and picnic grounds are available three seasons of the year. Here you can explore and do some walleye fishing and even enjoy a shore lunch on these beautiful grounds. Here’s a link to see what you can expect. Don’t forget that if you’re a birding fanatic, you are able to see many species at this untouched landscape. http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/destinations/state_parks/virtual_tours/garden_island/vt_gardenisland.html

 

Venture to the northland very soon to enjoy the rich beauty spring offers in state parks. Come to Lake of the Woods, MN. For more information and lodging availability, please see out website at www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging.  Feast your eyes on the beauty nature has to offer.

 

Okay Lake of the Woods anglers, you have something to shoot for this year.  Do you have everything ready in the even you land a MN catch and release state record fish?  We know they are swimming in our waters as they have been caught in many cases and not recorded.  This year, make sure you are ready and understand what is needed to register a catch and release state record fish.

Sturgeon, northern pike and muskies which all live in the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods, have the possibility of the MN DNR catch and release record program.  This program gives anglers who catch a true monster fish the opportunity to get recognized without keeping the fish.

An angler fishing on the Rainy River caught the catch and release state northern pike record which held for many years but has since been beat.  Matthew Swanson of Woodbury, at one time, claimed the record with a 45 1/4 inch northern pike caught on the Rainy River.  There are two pike tied for the state catch and release record currently at 46.25 inches.

Swanson was on an annual Rainy River pike fishing trip with his dad and brother. Swanson reported that after three days of fishing, he had not landed any large pike, but his dad and brother had caught several over 30 inches. His father fishes spring pike with streamer flies on 30-pound test wire line. Using his dad’s setup, Swanson took a few casts and the water around his fly exploded – he had hooked a big pike.

After a brief fight and some careful netting, Swanson had caught the 45 1/4 inch northern pike.  They handled the large pike carefully to get a couple pictures and a length measurement before releasing the fish.

“Because this was to date my first and only pike on a fly, it was a very memorable experience,” Swanson said.

Cool spring and fall temperatures make for excellent catch-and-release conditions.

Pike season on Lake of the Woods is open all year long.  Ice fishing for huge pike will soon be happening with big results.  As the ice starts to move out, bays come into play.  Back bays of the Rainy River, 4 Mile Bay, Bostic Creek, Zippel Bay and shoreline areas with ditches along Muskeg Bay near the Rocky Point areas can be big pike magnets.

The past sturgeon  catch and release record was from the Rainy River.  The specs on these record fish are 73″ long x 30 inches around.  Jack Burke was the record holding angler.

That catch and release record sturgeon has been beat by an angler fishing on the St. Croix River with a sturgeon measuring 78″ x 29.5″.

Before you head out on the water, take a peek at what you need to do to register a potential record fish.  One thing is for sure, have a measuring tape, a camera and another person to take pics and verify your catch.

 

Length and Girth Measurements of the fish:

a. The length of the fish must be measured in a straight line from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail with the tail squeezed (not using the contours of the fish).
b. The girth of the fish must be measured around the thickest portion of the body, desirable, but not mandatory.

It is good to know what measurements and images are needed to properly register your potential state record fish.  You are going to need a witness, measuring tape and camera.  After that, a simply entry form filled out and signed and you are on your way.

If you are looking for the official MN DNR form to register a catch and release fish, click here.  To view the current catch and release records for MN, click here. 

Catch and release state records are also kept for muskies and flathead catfish.  Lake of the Woods has a legitimate shot at breaking these records, but only if you are prepared!

 

 

Click Here to view a list of Lake of the Woods lodging.

Click Here to view Lake of the Woods Tourism

It didn’t take long for the ice to go out.  Once things started happening on the Rainy River, they happened fast. 

After the Birchdale access was cleared of ice, within days, Frontier and Vidas were cleared.  Now, the entire river is open and the access at Timber Mill Park in Baudette is clear as is the Wheeler’s Point access at the mouth of the river.  It is nice to have five ramps open as it takes the pressure off of just one landing and it also allows anglers to dock at closer the the area of the river they prefer to fish.

Fishing has started out on fire.  The water had good clarity and walleyes are present in good numbers.  Then some cold weather rolled in changing water temps in the river from 40 degrees down to around 34 degrees.  On top of that, spring river anglers know to watch for the Big Fork and Little Fork Rivers to bust loose and send debris and dirty water into the Rainy River.

This year, anglers didn’t know how much it would affect the Rainy as water levels are very low.  Well, it did affect the Rainy but after a number of days now, the water is clearing up.  In addition, the warmer weather is warming water temps to around 40 degrees or higher which is optimal for walleye fishing.  Reports in the past day have been excellent.  The thought is the last week of the season could be most epic.

The go to presentation has been a 3/8 – 1/2 ounce jig (gold, orange or pink) along with your favorite minnow or plastic.  Some anglers have been anchoring up on key river spots such as holes, current seams or humps and letting the walleyes swim to them.  Others have been using their electric trolling motor to slowly work their way upstream and then do a controlled drift with the help of their motor back downstream.

Each day is different, some walleyes want the presentation vertical whereas some days they prefer it horizontal.

Some anglers actually do very well pulling crankbaits this time of year.  If you are trolling in shallower water, often times pulling into the current allows you to get action on your crank while moving slower which is typically most conducive to cold water walleyes.  Others will use a three way rig or bottom bouncer and a shallow diving crankbait to fish various depths of the river.

One of the great things about spring fishing on the river is anglers can use a 12′ boat or a 30′ boat.  The river is small enough water that even on a windy day, waves don’t whip up too bad.

The walleye season from Four Mile Bay (located at the mouth of the Rainy River) and up the Rainy River on the MN side lasts through April 14th.  From March 1 – April 14, this is a catch and release season only for walleyes and saugers.  Have your camera ready as many anglers come for the chance for a giant.

It is hard to mention the Rainy River without mentioning sturgeon.  Dinosaurs are certainly being caught, some by anglers targeting them and others by unsuspecting walleye anglers.  Our website has some good information about sturgeon fishing if you are new to it.  There are a lot of sturgeon in the Rainy River and to feel the power this fish with prehistoric history is special.

Lodging can be found just east of Baudette on the river (Royal Dutchman) into Baudette, north of Baudette along the river and on the south shore of the lake.  There is a wide variety of places to stay depending upon where you want to fish and whether you want a full service resort or prefer a hotel room.

The season is finishing up very strong, don’t miss out!

Click here to return to the Lake of the Woods Tourism website.

Click here to view Lake of the Woods lodging options.