Tips on Crawler Harnesses for “Dog Days” Walleyes

dog days walleye on a charter boat, Lake of the Woods

It’s “Dog Days” on Lake of the Woods,  a time in the heart of the summer when the ecosytem is in full force.  On many bodies of water, it is darn tough to catch a walleye right now.  Between huge blooms of weeds combined with the baitfish, perch, panfish and young of the year baitfish all perfect sizes for a walleye to eat, walleyes can be finicky and hard to get to.  On LOW however, this is a time that shines for catching walleyes trolling or drifting with crawler harnesses on the deep mud and around reefs.

There are different techniques that shine different parts of the year.  In colder water, earlier summer and the fall, the jig and minnow is a go to.  It has caught more walleyes out of the big lake than any other presentation.  Right now, however, the walleyes are more spread out and covering water along with a bit of speed is advantageous.

Trolling crankbaits during the dog days of summer is also a very effective technique in catching walleyes.  You can cover water with a variety of size, shapes, wobbles, rattles, etc.

There can, however, some very good arguments made in learning the nuances of pulling spinners for dog days walleyes, also called crawler harnesses or simply snelled spinners with a crawler, minnow or leech.  The technique can have big advantages.  Harnesses:

-Are easier to use on and around structure

-Provide strong vibration which is picked up by a walleye’s lateral line

-Are easy to alter by changing blades on a quick change clevis

-Provide the action and smell of live bait

-Are effective for both neutral and active walleyes

-And very simply, summer walleyes can’t resist them.

Spinners for summer walleyes really kicks into gear as the water begins to warm up.  Normally when water starts to hit the mid 50’s, it is time to start considering drifting or trolling with spinners.  Currently the dog days water temps on Lake of the Woods are in the high 70’s and even some days reaching the low 80’s.

This video was not filmed this year but it has some good info about pulling crawler harnesses that is pertinent all of the time.  Check it out.

YouTube video

First off, a crawler harness and snelled spinner are basically the same thing.  When you are not using a night crawler, we don’t call is a crawler harness anymore, thus it’s a snelled spinner.  Semantics out of the way, these set ups are effective for summer walleyes.

Why are spinners for walleyes so effective for dog days walleyes?  A lot of reasons, the flash of the blade.  The different color combinations of the beads and blades.  The vibration of the spinner is sensed by the walleyes lateral line much like that of the prey they feed.  You can put crawlers, minnows, leeches and plastics on a harness.

My go to set up is a two ounce bottom bouncer with a harness between 4-6′ long.  It is conducive to use a longer snell in clearer waters, thus on Lake of the Woods, I normally go about 5′ or so as the water is stained.  In a nutshell, the key with this presentation is to slowly be pulling this through the water column where the fish are so the blade is spinning and a desirable speed the walleyes want that given day.

What that looks like is drifting or trolling your set up with a desirable 45 degree angle.  When I am trolling in my boat, my goal is 1.25 mph.  You don’t want the harness way behind the boat like when you are trolling with a crankbait.  You want that 45 degree angle and have total control.

Keep the sinker just off the bottom, not dragging the bottom, but rather touch the bottom once in a while to know you are down there and lift just off so you avoid snags and other debris.

When a walleye grabs it, it loads up like a wet sock.  Normally they don’t hammer it.  Simply lower you rod tip back at the same speed of the boat so the walleye doesn’t feel anything change for two seconds and swing the rod with a mild hookset.  Baitcaster rod in rod holder, Lake of the Woods

When using a crawler, I suggest a two hook harness and pinch off the crawler once hooked on the harness so only about 3-4″ of tail hangs off of the back hook.  This will avoid missing walleyes that grab the back of the rig.

This set up covers water.  It can be used from shallow to deep.  It will catch everything that swims.  And for the folks who go fishing with you less experienced, is a relatively easy way to get walleyes hooked up.

There are many good brands of snelled spinners or crawler harnesses you can purchase with length, fluorocarbon line and quick change clevices.  Some anglers like to tie their own crawler harnesses as well which allows creativity in the bead pattern, length of snell, etc.

Crawler harness, Lake of the WoodsGive spinners for summer walleyes a try this year, you might be surprised how many more fish end up in your boat!

 

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Classic Songs put Today’s World in Perspective for Baudette Depot

Baudette Depot
Vince Ojard, Baudette Depot The Depot Preservation Alliance, otherwise known as the Baudette Depot is a renovated train station located at the end of Main Street in the heart of Baudette, MN.  The Depot is famous for putting on a number of community events and celebrations throughout the year.  As we all know, this year is a bit different.  The Baudette railroad depot–a place of constant movement, of joyous reunions and sad goodbyes, a place alive–yesterday and today.  Vince Ojard, the Depot’s Executive Director recently wrote some reflections about our current world with the insight of some well known songs throughout the years.  Baudette Depot logo
Paul McCartney wrote and sang that yesterday, all his troubles seemed so far away, but now it looks as though they’re here to stay. Our country has lost lives, historical buildings and monuments, small business and peace. We find ourselves wondering if all our troubles are here to stay, but we also find ourselves being more grateful than ever for the people, places and things we sometimes took for granted.
Jim Croce wrote and sang if he could save time in a bottle, the first thing he’d like to do, is to save every day ‘til eternity passes away, so he could spend them with someone he cared about. Here, at the Baudette Depot, we are more grateful than ever for our members and guests, and if we could save time in a bottle, we’d save some of the great times we’ve had together. We miss you, we missed hosting a waffle breakfast, an Easter bake sale, and a Mother’s Day event. We will miss this year’s annual Bluegrass Festival and the fun and fellowship we have planning and hosting such events. We are also missing the revenue from these events, revenue that helps us maintain and support our gathering place, our historical and beautifully restored Baudette Depot.
John Lennon asked us to imagine what life could be like with the world living as one. He wrote and sang that he was a dreamer, but that he was not the only one. While we try to imagine what life will be like in the near future, here, at the Baudette Depot, we dream of opening and receiving guests, but we know we must also imagine what it would be like if we can’t. The photo (provided by Neal Hansen) asks us to imagine what our town would look like if we did not have our depot.

Baudette Depot, inside Bob Thiele and George Weiss wrote, “What a Wonderful World,” a song sung by Louis Armstrong. While we think about yesterday, savoring the memories and imagining our lives returning to normal, or to a new and better normal, and while people from all over the world search for causes and cures for the Covid-19 virus, we are reminded of the uplifting and life-affirming words from this song. We are still able to see the things Louis Armstrong sang about, trees of green, red roses, clouds of white, bright blessed days and dark sacred nights. What a wonderful world.

While we strive to remain open, we know we can’t return to yesterday or put time in a bottle, but we can imagine and dream that it is possible because of the support you have always given to our Baudette Depot in the past. Thank you. Whether you give to the depot, the movie theater, a local business, organization or church, our support for each other proves that it truly is a wonderful world.
If you would like to help the depot, donations may be sent to The Baudette Depot, PO Box 1238, Baudette, MN 56623.

Dog Days Walleyes on Lake of the Woods are “HUGE”

Jim Tuorila, Joe Henry, Pay it Forward, Lake of the Woods, dog days walleyes

Some call it the “dog days” of August.  When most walleye anglers talk about August, it can be a challenging time for most bodies of water.  There are a number of good reasons why catching walleyes in August in many waters is difficult and why walleye fishing on Lake of the Woods excels.  Gary Parsons of the Next Bite TV show and successful professional tournament walleye angler summed it up nicely here…

YouTube video

 

Here are some reasons many of bodies of water are tough for walleyes…

  1.  Plethora of baitfish.  In the first part of the summer, much of the young of the year fish, perch, panfish and minnows were very small.  They have now reached a size in which walleyes are interested.  For a walleye angler, this literally means competition with literally thousands of offerings to walleyes they really didn’t have earlier.
  2. Weeds.  It is summer and weed growth has made it difficult to troll, jig or pull harnesses in many areas.  Walleyes still may inhabit these areas, but they are very tough to get to.  Hence, the overall equation means touch to catch walleyes.
  3. Walleyes seek colder water.  For many bodies of water, this may mean suspended fish of fish more difficult to target.
  4. Bait stealers.  With the growth of panfish in many systems, anglers have a very difficult time pulling crawler harnesses for instance or fishing a Lindy Rig as the small fish will eat up your live bait in no time.

Big summer walleye on charter boat, Lake of the Woods MN Anglers who fish Lake of the Woods are fortunate.  Most of the time in the late summer, there is a distinct pattern that sets up.  On both Big Traverse and Little Traverse Bays, there are huge stretches of “no man’s land” or mud that extends for miles.  The depth is consistent in most areas, typically 30 – 34′, a trollers dream.  Many anglers will approach these walleyes trolling as many are spread out picking away at schools of bait and a variety of offerings living in the mud.

To get lures down the 30′ or more, angler’s have some good options.

  1.  Jump on a charter or in with a guide.  Charter boats are equipped with the necessary equipment to catch walleyes wherever they are roaming.  In some cases, live bait techniques may be used.  In other cases, if the captain feels angler success will be much higher, they may decide to troll crankbaits.  It is very helpful to have a charter captain who understands walleye movements during the dog days of summer.  It also helps to have other charter captain friends on the lake to share real time info with, ensuring high customer success.
  2. Downriggers.   Riggers can be spendy for the average angler to consider.  They are effective however during the dog days of summer.  Basically, a lead weight on a cable that comes off of a large spool that is mounted to the boat.  A lure is attached to the cable via a special release that will release the line once fish hits.
  3. Snap weights.  Considered old school by many, snap weights are weights anywhere from 1/2 ounce to 4 ounces with a clip that attached to the line.  The idea is to let out 25 – 50′ of line with your lure and attach the proper sized weight to get down to the fish.  When a fish is caught, reel up to the weight, remove it from the line and continue reeling in the fish.  The key here is to not give the line any slack.
  4. Leadcore line.  Very popular amongst walleye anglers to get crankbaits down to dog days walleyes, this is basically line that has lead inside of it which causes it to sink.  Anglers can determine how deep lures are running based on how deep the lure runs on it’s own and how much leadcore line is let out.  In a nutshell, let out 30′ of leadcore for every 5′ of depth you desire.  Most use linecounter reels with this technique.
  5. Big billed cranks with superline.  There are some crankbaits with larger bills that are designed to get deep.  This combined with a very thin diameter superline like a Suffix or Fireline can really attain good depth.

leadcore, Lake of the Woods

There are certainly other methods to achieve depth when trolling, but on Lake of the Woods, the aforementioned are the most effective.

August is an incredible month to fish Lake of the Woods.  Some anglers actually plan their vacations to target dog days walleyes on LOW as some of the largest fish in the system are active and very predictable, roaming “no man’s land” in search of food which for the really big walleyes includes roaming schools of tulibees.  There are a nice variety of resorts and hotels geared towards fishing in the area.  Some offer full service with bar and restaurant.  Others offer lodging and you cook your own meals.  A little bit of everything is available.

In some cases, angler’s paradigms of poor fishing for walleyes in August during the dog days of summer isn’t far off.  Up at The Walleye Capital of the World, fishing is just kicking into high gear!

 

To learn more about Lake of the Woods, check out the Lake of the Woods Tourism website.

To find a guide, charter boat or lodging, check out our lodging page.

Visit the Stunning New Lake of the Woods Veterans Memorial in Baudette

Lake of the Woods Veterans Memorial

Mail Call statue, Lake of the Woods Veterans Memorial, Baudette, MN The Lake of the Woods Veterans Memorial is dedicated to the brave men and women that have, are, and will service in the armed forces of the United States.  This memorial is for all U.S. veterans everywhere and is not geographic in any way.

Mail Call.  Simply put, it is the distribution of mail to members of a military unit.  For veterans, it was a time before the computer age when it was the only communication possible from a girlfriend or boyfriend.  A husband or wife.  Mom and dad, brothers and sisters.  It was, for many, a lifeline of connection to loved ones and a life worth fighting for.  Recently in Baudette, a brand new Lake of the Woods Veterans Memorial was unveiled at Timber Mill Park on the east side of town on highway 11.  The memorial features a statue is of a serviceman intently reading a piece of mail received at mail call. Lake of the Woods Veterans Memorial, Baudette, MN

A dedication ceremony for the Lake of the Woods Veterans Memorial took place on July 4, 2020. Several hundred spectators were on hand as the Baudette Ceremonial Squad marched in and raised the American flag while the the national anthem was played and spectators sang. After a short speech the center piece statue was unveiled.

The bronze statue is titled “Letter From Home”. The ceremony concluded with the Ceremonial Squad firing a 21 gun salute to honor all veterans that have serviced in our military. After Taps was played the Ceremonial Squad departed and the public milled around looking at pavers honoring individuals that have served.

Map of Timber Mill Park, Baudette, MN The next time you are in the Baudette or Lake of the Woods area, we encourage you to swing by, take a deep breath and imagine what it was like (or for some, remember what it was like) to receive mail call.  Feel free to take a walk through Timber Mill Park.  This park is great for walking and biking, has a City owned campground and fish cleaning facilities and a wonderful boat ramp to the Rainy River.

While the City of Baudette, Lake of the Woods County, the VFW Post 273, and the American Legion Post 217 have contributed funds towards this project, it is not enough to fun the entire project. Therefore, the Lake of the Woods Veterans Memorial Committee is requesting monetary donations from individuals and businesses to help fund the construction of the memorial and its ongoing maintenance.

Donations in any amount are needed and very much appreciated.  There is also the opportunity to have a paver engraved in your name, your families name or perhaps in the name of a veteran and incorporated into the Lake of the Woods Veterans Memorial.  Pavers are $200 for three lines of text and four lines of text for $250.  If you would like to help out the fundraising efforts for this memorial that will be here for generations to come, please feel free to donate.  Please contact Glen Lawrence at 218.202.0092 or at glawrence53@yahoo.com.

A big “Thank You” to all who have already donated their time, talent and treasure as a way to honor those who have served or are currently serving.  And of course, thank you to all veterans and active military.

 

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Canoes & Kayaks at Lake of the Woods

Hobie Pike, Lake of the Woods

Canoeing & Kayaking are great sports to enjoy the great outdoors and the fresh air it provides. Many people have mentioned how much more you can enjoy nature’s smells and sounds as you get out of your cars and let Mother Nature have her way to help you get the most out of her great attributes.

Lake of the Woods is known for its huge body of pristine waters but there are also other great areas to explore with smaller water crafts which you can also fish from. Some of those areas are the Rainy River, Baudette Bay, the Rapid River, Zippel Bay, the Winter Road River, Wabanica Creek, Bostic Bay and Silver Creek.

canoes and kayaks at lake of the woods
Sandy Shores of Lake of the Woods

The historic Rainy River is the original “Voyageur’s Highway,” which linked the entire Great Lakes area with the northern waterways of Canada. Lake of the Woods hosted early trading posts in the 1700’s and is still the living legacy for this era. Getting out on the water is a great way to experience all of the history and nature Lake of the Woods has to offer.

Canoes and Kayaks can launch at Baudette Bay which feeds into the Rainy River. Here the water is calm and often times clubs from the area host races in this wide expanse.  You can launch your canoe or kayak at Peace Park next to the Canadian Border Crossing or at Timbermill Park and travel along the shore of the Rainy.

Silver Creek is located east of Baudette on Hwy 11.  To access Silver Creek, go east of the Hwy. 11 – 72  junction for 3.6 miles, turn south 0.4 miles, and then turn east for 0.3 miles. Put in at an old bridge crossing. Paddle in the early spring, and you’ll likely see a lot of waterfowl. Water levels may get low in late summer, so inquire locally. This short canoe or kayak jaunt travels about a mile up and down the creek, and is suitable for enjoying the birds, flowers, and wildlife.

Winter Road River – Turn north on Hwy 172, then west on Cty. Rd 88/4th ST. NW. Put in 2.5 miles west of Hwy 172 at the bridge. This is about a 3 mile trip with lots of opportunities to view wildlife and waterfowl, especially in the spring. Take out at the public water access at Hwy 172.

Wabanica Creek – Put in right behind Wabanica Lutheran Church, located east of Hwy 172. This is a short, 2-3 mile trip up and back the Wabanica Creek. The creek forks, so you have a couple of routes to explore.  All of these routes are excellent for short paddles and not too much experience is required to navigate the waters. canoes and kayaks at Lake of the Woods

Now is the queen of canoe and kayak routes using the long paddle method. The Rapid River is a journey through beautiful forest areas and the canoe club has carved out great rest areas along the way. This canoe covers approximately 50 miles of one of the Rainy River’s major tributaries – the Rapid River. The sections designated as the Rapid River Canoe and Kayak Route cover 33 river miles with a few small riffles and Class I rapids. Beginning at the trail-head and paddling to the trail end takes 8 to 12 hours under optimal water levels. The narrow, winding waterway is perfect for short canoes and smaller recreational kayaks.

Another incredible area to explore is the Northwest Angle which lies close to the Canadian Border.  The area offers dozens of islands, Garden Island State Park, Fort St. Charles and a small water experience due to the Angle Inlet and many islands.

Each year (with the exception of this year due to COVID – 19) an active group of teenagers and staff embark on the NW Angle and brave the waters of Little Traverse Bay and head to the islands for a week long adventure of canoeing and exploring.   It’s safety first with proper supervision, life preservers and safety gear.  As part of Laketrails Base Camp, fellowship and fun as well as meaningful conversations from the staff offer this experience of a lifetime! Nothing like a campfire, tenting and good friends and food while enjoying the incredible beauty of the shores of Lake of the Woods.

To learn more about Minnesota’s water trails, visit the DNR

website http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/watertrails/index.html.

For more information on Lake of the Woods and lodging see www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging.

Mask Mandate Implemented in Minnesota

MN mask mandate

As had been expected, MN Governor Tim Walz has issued Executive Order 20-81 (attached) which implements a statewide mask mandate.  Beginning July 25, 2020 all Minnesotans will be required to wear a mask in all public indoor spaces and businesses, unless alone.  The mask mandate also requires workers to wear a mask when working outdoors in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained. MN Department of Health mask mandate

A quick summary:
  • The public must now wear masks indoors, and outdoors when waiting in lines for service when social distancing is not possible.
  • Children under 5 and individuals with health conditions that make wearing a mask difficult are exempt.
  • Masks are required for workers indoors, and outdoors when they cannot maintain appropriate social distance. They are not required when individuals are working alone.
  • In restaurants, masks must be worn by all occupants when entering, moving about and leaving an establishment. They are not required while eating or drinking.
  • Businesses are encouraged to post clear signage to guests about the mandate. Businesses are not required, though may elect, to refuse service to a patron not wearing a mask.

The Governor said that in the long run, the mask mandate or requirement is the quickest way to ending the COVID-19 pandemic – adding that it is an economic key to ensuring that businesses are open and stay open.  Governor Walz said the Department of Employment and Economic Development with the Department of Health will distribute masks to people who do not have them including underserved communities and businesses across the state.

Mask mandate MN The Department of Administration has procured 4 million disposable masks which will be distributed to local Chambers of Commerce in all 87 counties across the state for distribution in their areas.  Law enforcement will also be given masks to distribute to people who do not have one.   Lt. Governor Flanagan also provided remarks in support of the mask requirement, talking about how she lost her brother to COVID-19 a few months ago.  To date, over 30 states have implemented mask requirements.

The Governor’s press release states “Individuals with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that makes it unreasonable for the individual to maintain a face covering are exempt from the order. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals who have a medical condition that compromises their ability to breathe, and individuals who are unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance. These individuals should consider using alternatives to face coverings, including clear face shields, and staying at home as much as possible.  Children who are five-years-old and under are also exempt. Those who are under two-years-old should never wear a face covering due to the risk of suffocation.”

Additionally, the press release states, “While the goal of this Executive Order is voluntary compliance, not enforcement, any individual who willfully violates this Executive Order is guilty of a petty misdemeanor and upon conviction can be punished by a fine not to exceed $100. Businesses willfully violating this Executive Order are guilty of a misdemeanor and can be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or up to 90 days in jail. The Attorney General, as well as city and county attorneys, may also seek civil penalties from businesses who are in violation of this Executive Order.”

More information on the mask mandate can be found at these links:

  • Frequently Asked Questions About the Mask Mandate and about Wear Face Coverings:  link
  • Face Covering Requirements and Recommendations under Executive Order 20-81:  link

Additional details about mask coverings can be found on the Minnesota Department of Health website here:

www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/prevention.html#masks

 

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Clean Up Activities Around Lake of the Woods a Huge Success

Conservation Corp clean up event on Lake of the Woods

Keep It Clean, Lake of the WoodsKeep It Clean is an organization which was created jointly by Lake of the Woods Tourism Bureau, the MN DNR, Lake of the Woods Soil and Water Conservation District and The Friends of Zippel Bay State Park to promote a clean Lake of the Woods and to bring together a variety of stakeholders to do so.

Keep It Clean was created to protect, maintain and promote cleanliness for the beautiful landscape, water resources and shorelines of Lake of the Woods as a special place for everyone to visit and enjoy.

Each year as part of Keep It Clean, there is an organized clean up effort.  This year’s clean up efforts around Lake of the Woods once again was a huge success.  The Lake of the Woods Soil and Water Conservation District with help from the Conservation Corp crew of MN and IA pulled together to clean up various areas around the lake and Rainy River.

Everyone benefits from garbage first off, not entering the environment.  With Lake of the Woods receiving a lot of traffic, inherintly, it will be the recipient of trash.  Removing this trash during this annual event not only physically removes a lot of trash but also brings to light the topic which in turn helps everyone to be more diligent in keeping Lake of the Woods, and of course their own environments, clean.

As mentioned, this year’s clean up event was a huge success.  Please read the 2020 Litter Removal Report below.

Keep It Clean –

2020 Litter Removal Report

June 1st – June 4th

Compiled by Abigail Nordstrom, Conservation Corps of MN & IA

Introduction

 This report documents the 2020 shoreline cleanup conducted by of the Lake of the Woods Soil and Water Conservation District (LOW SWCD) with an abundance of help from the Conservation Corp (CC) Crew of MN and IA. This is the 8th consecutive year the LOW SWCD has hosted a crew. The shoreline cleanup is just one of several efforts of the Keep it Clean Campaign, that focuses on reducing garbage littered on Lake of the Woods during both the summer vacation and winter fishing seasons. A total of 81 bags of garbage were removed from 10.5 miles of shoreline.

Baudette Bay and Peace Park – June 1st, 2020

Keep It Clean 2020, Lake of the Woods MN  The CC crew arrived on the afternoon of Monday, June 1st, and began collecting garbage along the shorelines of Baudette Bay. About one mile of shoreline was picked. The group split up and while some members walked the shoreline, others paddled two canoes to fill and carry the 11 bags of trash collected. Most of the garbage that was picked up consisted of beverage cans and bottles. Three large plastic barrels were also collected.

Wheeler’s Point – June 1st, 2020

 Later that same day, the crew picked up two bags of garbage over the approximately 600 feet of shoreline at Wheeler’s Point Public Access. A notable find was a depth finder used for fishing.

Morris Point Scenic and Natural Area (SNA)

– June, 2nd 2020

 Morris Point SNA was the first site visited on Tuesday. The shoreline is two-thirds of a mile long and at total of 11 bag

Keep It Clean 2020, Lake of the Woods MN
Photo 2. The 2020 LOW SWCD apprentice posing with the second days haul. A total of 28 bags of garbage and 40 pieces of treated wood.

s of garbage were collected, most of it being treated wood pieces and large styrofoam pieces from ice houses and single-use coolers.

Four Mile Bay Wildlife Management Area (WMA) – June 2nd, 2020

At Four Mile Bay WMA and some adjacent private land, 11 bags of garbage consisting mostly of plastic beverage bottles were collected over the 1.7 miles of shoreline. A car tire, and numerous pieces of treated wood were also picked up. Two iron barrels were left on the shoreline because of their weight.

Prosper WMA – June 2nd, 2020

Conservation Corp clean up, shotgun shells, Lake of the Woods MN Keep It Clean
Photo 3. Numerous expelled shot gun shells (circled in red) left in concentrated areas at Rocky Point WMA.

Prosper WMA was the final site picked this day. Over the 2.8 mile long shoreline, seven bags of garbage, many pieces of treated wood, Styrofoam, a plastic bucket, and a life jacket were picked up.

Zippel Bay State Park – June 3rd, 2020

 On the morning of June 3rd, Zippel Bay State Park was the first site visited. Seven bags of garbage and many wood pieces were collected along the 1.7 miles of shoreline. The site was thought to be considerably clean site for the amount of traffic it receives, but the shoreline also could have been cleaned up by others already.

Rocky Point WMA – June 3rd, 2020

The shoreline picked at the Rocky Point WMA was 2.8 miles long. Collected were 15 bags of garbage, probably two dozen pieces of treated wood, and two tires. An interesting find here was approximately 50 expelled shotgun shells. There were two accesses at this location: one at the western edge of the shoreline, and one access to the east. The crew split up and both groups walked east along the shoreline. The group that had taken the western side encountered a newly formed water channel, likely a result of the high- water levels last fall. This channel was impassable without wading through several feet of water and the group used pieces of driftwood to cross.

Half of the group made it across dry, but the other half did not. The two groups rendezvoused at the eastern access and made several trips with the 4×4 to haul garbage out.

South Shore WMA – June 3rd, 2020

 This was the final site picked on June 3rd. Collected items included: 14 bags of trash, a plastic pallet, a pull-out couch mattress, a fishing rod, many pieces of treated wood, and two unsalvageable tree cages. The mattress that was removed from the water and hauled off, came from a couch located on the beach. The couch was left behind beca

Keep It Clean 2020, removing mattress
Photo 5. Conservation Corp Crew Members and Water Resources Technician from LOW SWCD remove a mattress from the shallow waters at South Shore WMA.

use of limited space in the truck bed.

Boy Scout Park – June 4th, 2020

 The Boy Scout Park was picked up by the Conservation Corp Crew without the assistance of the LOW SWCD. Over the quarter mile of shoreline, the crew collected three bags of garbage.

Final Summary

Approximately 10.5 miles of shoreline were covered in the 2020 Cleanup. With the ongoing COVID-19 situation, distancing requirements made it impractical to access and clean up the shoreline of Pine Island. Even with the loss of these four miles of shoreline, a comparable number of bags to previous years were filled. This has been attributed to the ability to access areas that are not accessible, except under lower water level conditions like those experienced this year. (See Figure 1. 2020 Water Level Graph).

The loss of the Pine Island site also dramatically increased the density (bags/mile) of garbage collected. The crew gathered 81 bags of garbage, mostly comprised of beverage containers, styrofoam pieces from ice houses and coolers, and many dozens of pieces green-treated wood. Other notable finds include three tires, two dozen or so fishing lures, several plastic buckets, a life jacket, a depth finder, a pull-out couch mattress, and a plastic pallet.

Map of Cleanup Locations

Garbage pick up sites, Keep it Clean 2020, Lake of the Woods  

 

Figures

Water levels 2020
Figure 1. The water level for the 2020 Cleanup was about 0.6 ft lower than water level of the previous Spring. This allowed the crew to pick more shoreline area per site. Graph provided by Lake of the Woods Control Board (LWCB).

 

 

Tables:

Bags collected per mile
Figure 2. Bags collected per site and density (bags/mile).

 

 

History of clean up data 2020 Keep It Clean
Figure 3. History of Cleanup Data, showing the average number of bags collected per mile walked per year.
Bags collected, miles walked, Keep It Clean 2020
Table 1. Locations of shoreline cleanups, number of bags collected, miles walked, and density (bags/mile).
History of Clean Up data, Keep it Clean Lake of the Woods
Table 2. History of cleanup data, including number of bags collected, number of miles picked, and average bags per number of miles.

 

Acknowledgements

The SWCD would like to thank the Conservation Corp Crew for their hard work, the landowners who provided access to property adjacent of cleanup sites, and all others who helped make this year’s cleanup possible. This help and access proved invaluable and resulted in a successful event.

This project was made possible by Minnesota’s Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. A portion of these funds are dedicated to the Clean Water Fund, to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater.

 

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Dog Days Walleyes on Lake of the Woods

lake of the woods walleye in net
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.

Pay it Forward Veteran with a dog days walleye on Lake of the WoodsCharters 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!

 

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Sensational Walleye Filleting Tips Video

Walleye Filleting tips, Lake of the Woods MN

Lake of the Woods is called The Walleye Capital of the World.  It is an incredible natural resource that allows anglers the privilege to keep walleyes and saugers that ultimately end up being enjoyed on a dinner plate.  It is a tradition anglers who visit Lake of the Woods really enjoy.  To get the very best out of a fish fry, it is important to know how to take care of the fish from the time they are caught to the cleaning table.  Keeping walleyes alive in a live well or properly chilled in a cooler of ice is important.

It is also critical to know how to clean a walleye to not only get all of the bones out but maximize how much meat you get.  There are a few tricks that can make walleye fillets come out boneless and delicious.  In the below video, “Angle Andy” otherwise known as Andy Lundbohm, a longtime guide up at the NW Angle shares his years of experience cleaning walleyes.  Check out his walleye filleting tips below.

YouTube video

There are a lot of ways to clean walleyes.  Some anglers use a normal filet knife, others use an electric knife.  Regardless of your style, the walleye filleting tips presented in this video are certainly the result of many years, decades and perhaps generations of tips.

By utilizing some key walleye filleting tips, anglers can not only maximize the amount of meat from a fish but make sure the end product during a fish fry is going to be boneless and delicious.  Fish fry, Lake of the Woods

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Superb History at Lake of the Woods Historical Society

lake of the woods historical society

If you’re looking for looking for a Superb source of history, be sure to include the Lake of the Woods Historical Society on your agenda while visiting this great northland. Every vacation has to have a variety of activities to keep interest alive and take in to account all of the features of an area.

Lake of the Woods County Historical Society is located in Baudette, MN at 119 8th 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.

The History of Lake of the Woods County pioneer - superb history 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. superb history 1910 fire 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 was excellent back then also and 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.

A current event will happen this summer as the Cairn of Peace from the 2019 World Ploughing Contest held at Lake of the Woods County will be placed at its final home on the grounds of the Historical Society. The event drew contestants from many countries and this monument signifies the countries that participated.

Like many museums, they are working towards a phased re-opening. The current plan is to be open by appointment only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays starting July 21st.

If you’re interested in visiting, please call Lindsay at 634-1200 or send her an email at Lowhsociety@gmail.com and we will get you on the calendar. **To help with planning, please call at least 24 hours in advance**

 

Don’t miss this chance to visit this great venue and learn of the superb history of the area. For more information contact these websites: www.lakeofthewoodshistoricalsociety.com or at www.facebook.com/Lake-of-the-Woods-Historical-Society.  Also visit www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging for your stay at Lake of the Woods.