On the south end…   The walleye bite is excellent.  The mud is holding big numbers of fish and a variety of techniques are getting it done.

Another instance, a charter boat captain was fishing amongst a bug hatch in the lake.  The walleyes just were not responding as they were probably full of larvae, so he went to another area where the hatch wasn’t so strong and caught good walleyes.

On the south end… Most of the lake is still ice covered with the exception of large areas adjacent to inflowing water such as the Lighthouse Gap (Rainy River) and Morris Point Gap (Bostic Creek) areas.  Open water is expanding daily.  Anglers are allowed a limit of walleyes and saugers on the lake, but catch and release only on Four Mile Bay and the Rainy River through April 14.

Open water is becoming available in many of the back bays around the lake where pike spawn.  The pike season is open year round on LOW and the Rainy River.  3 fish per day, 30-40 inches must be released, one over 40″ allowed.

On the Rainy River…   River fishing started out strong, slowed down with cold weather and the Big Fork and Little Fork Rivers spilling mud into the Rainy River and now is picking up again.  The water is clearing and water temps are on the rise.

A 3/8 – 1/2 ounce jig is working nicely tipped with a minnow or a plastic.  Bright plastics and frozen shiners working best on jigs.  Walleyes caught in various depths down to 35 feet.

Some anglers trolling crankbaits with success to cover water.  Walleye season is catch and release only on Rainy River and Four Mile Bay through April 14th.

Sturgeon fishing continues to be good with good numbers of sturgeon being caught.  Sturgeon aren’t as affected by dirty water as they feed by scent.  Sturgeon catch and release season through 4/23/21.  Keep season 4/24/21 – 5/7/21, (45-50″, or over 75″)  Catch and release 5/8/21 – 5/15/21.  Closed 5/16/21 – 6/30/21.

With lower current, a 3 ounce no-roll sinker combined with a sturgeon rig (18″ snell of 60 lb test with a 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook) with a glob of crawlers, frozen emerald shiners or both is the ticket.  Local bait shops have rigs and bait available.

Up at the NW Angle…  Various areas are starting to open up.  Looking ahead to open water, there are various ways to travel to the NW Angle this summer without crossing the border.  If you have the right boat and expertise, boating across is an option.  There is also the Lake of the Woods Passenger Service (charter boat shuttle to Angle).  And finally, Lake Country Air flying service, a float plane service out of Baudette and other locations.  A complete list of lodging and fishing packages available on the Rainy River, around Lake of the Woods and up at the NW Angle at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

On the south end…  A warm up triggered some nice walleyes and saugers up on Lake of the Woods this week.  A mix of walleyes and saugers with some pike, perch, eelpout and tullibees being caught in 29-33 feet.  Using a bait with rattles or vibration to attract fish is helpful.  On the deadstick, try a glow hook with a live minnow or even a glow bead above the hook.  Set bait 6 inches to a foot off of the bottom.  Try gold, glow colors, chartreuse and pink good color choices this week.  Electronics are helpful to show suspended fish as well as how fish are reacting to your presentation.

On the Rainy River…   Morning / evening bite producing some walleyes on the river.  The snowmobile trail on the river from Baudette to Wheeler’s Point to the NW Angle staked and groomed.  Use caution and work through a resort, outfitter or gain info from a bait shop as there is current and areas not fit for travel on the river.

Up at the NW Angle…  With the border closure, there are four ways to travel to the NW Angle without crossing the border.  1.  NW Angle Guest Ice Road from south shore up to the Angle.  2.  Snowmobile trails across the lake.  3.  Lake of the Woods Passenger Service (bombardier).  4.  Lake Country Air flying service.

A lot of nice walleyes caught up at the Angle this week with a mix of other species.  Walleyes in 24 – 30′ of water.  Some resorts are fishing on or adjacent to structure, others fishing deep mud.  Some resorts are fishing the deep mud.  Some anglers catching walleyes with small jigs tipped with a plastic that mimics bugs and worms in mud.  Plain hook or a glow jig with a live minnow on deadstick.  Communicate with your favorite NW Angle resort for specifics.  Ice fishing on LOW through March.  A complete list of lodging and ice fishing packages available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

On the south end…  Some excellent Ice fishing this week.  Resorts have fish houses out and good numbers of walleyes and saugers being caught.  Most ice fishing taking place between 20 – 27′.  Using the one-two punch of jigging one line and deadsticking with a live minnow for the second line.  Jigging spoons with a minnow head or tail effective for jigging line.  Colors, gold, glow, glow red, pink.  Some jumbo perch, big pike and eelpout keeping things interesting.  An angler caught an eelpout just over 17 lbs this week.  The MN State record, also caught on LOW was 19.67 lbs.  Eelpout or burbot are great eating.

On the Rainy River…   Ice fishing is taking place on the river mainly by locals.  The majority of ice fishing is done on the main lake during the ice fishing season where there isn’t current.  Some nice walleyes are being caught in various spots of the river.  Ice conditions vary greatly, work through a resort for safety.  No snowmobile trail yet, stay tuned.

Up at the NW Angle…  With the border closure, NW Angle Resorts and Community have pulled together and will have a guest ice road across the lake up to the Angle so anglers can drive to resorts.  The NW Angle Guest Ice Road will begin when ice conditions allow, most likely early January.  The snowmobile trail will be staked soon across the lake, stay tuned.  Another option, North Country Air is flying anglers to the Angle.  More info on Facebook at Northwest Angle Guest Ice Road 2020.

Ice fishing has started up at the Angle with excellent reports.  A mix of walleyes, sauger and jumbo perch.  Great morning – evening bite in 15-19′ of water.  Afternoons, 22-26′ have been best.  Communicate with your favorite NW Angle resort for specifics and safety.  A complete list of lodging and ice fishing packages available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

On the south end…  Unseasonably warm weather the first week of November saw a fair number of anglers on the water.  Once the lake cleaned up a bit as the waters were dirtied up from a big blow, good walleye reports started coming in from various areas.  Anchored up and jigging with a minnow in anywhere from 7 – 26′ of water has been the goto.  Walleyes are setting up in early ice locations nicely.  Some big fall pike being caught by walleye anglers jigging.  Jumbo perch in the mix with walleyes.

On the Rainy River…   Some very good reports on the river as of recent.  Four Mile Bay, Wheeler’s Point and up river to Vidas putting out some good walleyes.  Most are jigging with an emerald shiner.  Gold, glow and pink have been strong color combos this year.  Anglers still fishing sturgeon catching some nice fish this week as well.

Up at the NW Angle…  Many anglers have put away the open water gear but for those who are out, the walleyes are there.  With deer hunting started, most are in the woods.  For those still fishing, a jig and a minnow on points and areas with current in 13′-26′ has been good.  Gold, pink, and glow colors great choices.  Pike and muskies are active.  A complete list of lodging and ice fishing packages available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

On the south end…  Great fall fishing this past week.  Walleyes were active with most anglers anchored up and jigging with a minnow.  No surprise walleyes are relating to bait in anywhere from 9′ – 27′ of water.  Good reports around the lake.  Structure and current areas holding good numbers of fish. Good walleye reports from Four Mile Bay in 10-15′.  Pike continue to be active in bays and along shorelines.  Trolling crankbaits will catch you a mixed bag.

On the Rainy River…   A strong run of emerald shiners this past week brought more walleyes into the river.  The river is low, current slow.  Anglers reporting groups of fish from Wheeler’s Point to Birchdale.  Most anglers are jigging with live or frozen shiners.  Pink, glow and gold combo effective.  Try moving hole to hole until you find fish.  Change the angle of your jigging using different weight jigs.  Pull the jig forward against current, let it fall back and bang bottom.  Trolling crankbaits over flats where fish are spread out also effective.  Sturgeon anglers focusing on deeper holes with current.  Good reports of smallmouth bass again this week.

Up at the NW Angle…  Until the US / Canada border opens, guests can travel across the lake staying and fishing in MN waters.  There are boat shuttle / passenger services available to the Angle.  Check with your favorite NW Angle resort for options.

Walleyes active this week up at the Angle.  Jig and a minnow on points, areas with current, and bay mouths where there is bait all good places to start in 8′-24′.  With the many islands, lots of spots to fish.  Gold, pink, chartreuse and glow colors great choices.  Crappies in mix, 15-30′ adjacent to structure.  Pike are active.  Muskie anglers reporting action trolling cranks or casting jerkbaits in cabbage weed bays.  A complete list of lodging available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging