Fishing Report 8.19.2025

fishing

On the South End – Big Traverse Bay.  The late-summer walleye bite continues to shine, and fishing has been excellent. Big numbers of walleyes are holding over the deep mud basin in 31–34 feet of water. Anglers are finding success with two main techniques:

Drifting or trolling crawler harnesses – two- and three-hook rigs tipped with crawlers are producing well.  Some anglers are also using minnows, with a minnow on each hook or even a minnow on one and a piece of crawler on the other.  Productive blade colors this week include gold, pink, orange, chartreuse, and firetiger. Don’t be afraid to go heavy with your bottom bouncer—up to 3 ounces—to maintain a 45-degree angle and stay near the bottom. fishing

Trolling crankbaits – another go-to tactic right now. Lead core, snap weights, or bottom bouncers with a shallow-diving crankbait are all helping anglers reach the right depths where the schools of walleyes are feeding.

The action has been steady, and many anglers are reporting limits of eaters along with memorable fish in the slot and even a few trophies.  On days where walleyes get a bit sluggish, speeding things up with crankbaits has been helpful.

On the Rainy River.  The Rainy River continues to provide a mixed bag of action. Walleye fishing is stable, meaning the river in the summer has resident fish with fish spread along current breaks, holes, and shoreline structure.  Certainly good fish to be had, but you have to work for them. In addition to walleyes, anglers are hooking into sturgeon, pike, smallmouth bass, and even a few crappies. The river is a great option when winds are up on the big lake.  

fishing As early as early to mid September, emerald shiners from the lake will start entering the river pulling in numbers of walleyes which will continue to ice up.  This is what they call the “fall run”.

Up at the NW Angle.  Fishing remains excellent on both sides of the Angle.

U.S. side – Targeting the deep mud of Little Traverse Bay with spinners or crankbaits continues to be effective.  Much like Big Traverse Bay, deep mud is holding good fish.  Walleyes are also relating to rock-to-mud transitions, and some anglers are finding success jigging these areas.

Ontario side – Walleyes are being caught by pulling spinners or jigging with frozen emerald shiners or minnows in 12–28 feet of water.  Areas of deep mud adjacent to rock holding fish.  As is often the case, structure, points and neck down areas with current have been reliable locations.

The Angle continues to produce not only good numbers of walleyes but also strong multi-species action, including smallmouth bass, crappies, pike, and even muskie activity around the islands.

Water Conditions.  Lake water temperatures are slowly starting to cool, currently holding around 69°F. As late summer transitions into fall, fishing patterns will shift, but for now, anglers are enjoying some of the best action of the year.

Fishing Report 8.12.2025

fishing

On the South End – Big Traverse Bay
Walleye fishing is on fire this week, with the deep mud basin holding huge numbers of fish. Reports from anglers and guides have been nothing short of glowing:

  • “We have been drifting for 3 hours and are still catching walleyes.”
  • “Some of the best walleye fishing we have ever had.”
  • “The kids really enjoyed catching a good number of slot fish with an occasional trophy.”

Most of the action is taking place in 32–34 feet of water, where large schools of walleyes are roaming. These fish are aggressive, and both primary techniques—pulling spinners and trolling crankbaits—are putting plenty of gold in the boat. fishing

For spinners, most anglers are running a two- or three-hook harness tipped with a crawler. Some have switched it up with frozen emerald shiners on the spinner, with excellent results. In these depths, don’t be shy about using a 3-ounce bottom bouncer to maintain a solid 45-degree line angle and keep your presentation near bottom.  Spinner colors, gold / red, gold / chartreuse, orange, firetiger, gold / pink.

fishing Trolling crankbaits has also been lights-out. While some charters are running downriggers, many anglers are using more common approaches such as leadcore line, snap weights, or pairing a 4-ounce bottom bouncer with 6 feet of mono or fluorocarbon leader and a shallow-diving crankbait. All of these will get your lure down to where the walleyes are feeding.

On the Rainy River
Water clarity has improved recently, and walleye action has picked up. The river is producing a true mixed bag—walleyes, sturgeon, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and even some crappies. Sturgeon anglers are reporting plenty of action, with lots of smaller fish in the mix. Remember, the keep season is open; anglers with a tag may keep one sturgeon per calendar year 45 – 50 inches or over 75 inches.

Up at the NW Angle
Both the Minnesota and Ontario sides are producing good numbers of walleyes. Around the islands, jigging, pulling spinners, and trolling crankbaits are all catching fish. Like the south end, the NW Angle offers a great multispecies opportunity—strong smallmouth bass fishing, active northern pike, and some crappies in the mix.

Muskie anglers are also seeing consistent action throughout the islands, with multiple follows and hookups being reported.

Plan Your Trip
Whether you’re looking for a limit of eaters, a chance at a trophy walleye, or a multispecies adventure, now is the time to be on Lake of the Woods. Lodging, charters, and guides are available. The bite is hot, the scenery is unbeatable, and with the lake fishing this well, you might just land your personal best.

New Resource – Real-Time Wave Buoy Data
Lake of the Woods Tourism has installed three wave buoys across the lake to help anglers and boaters make informed decisions before heading out. Locations include:

  • Big Traverse Bay West wave buoys on Lake of the Woods lakeofthewoodsmn.com/wavebuoys
  • Big Traverse Bay East
  • NW Angle

Check wave heights anytime at: www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/wavebuoys

Fishing Report 8.5.2025

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NEW! Real-Time Wave Height Data Now Available
Lake of the Woods Tourism has deployed wave buoys on Lake of the Woods! Boaters, anglers, and guides can now check real-time wave height data from three key locations:  Big Traverse Bay West, Big Traverse Bay East and the Northwest Angle.

Access the data and buoy locations here: 👉www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/wavebuoys

Whether you’re planning your next trip across the lake, a charter outing, or just curious what the lake is doing, this is a great new tool!

Big Traverse Bay…  The Deep Mud Bite is Hot!  Summer fishing continues to shine on Lake of the Woods, and Big Traverse Bay is delivering excellent walleye action!

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Double Header
Big Walleyes

The current trend? Targeting walleyes over the deep mud basin in 30 to 35 feet of water. Anglers are watching their electronics closely and finding big schools of fish scattered across the basin.

The go-to technique this week has been drifting or trolling crawler harnesses at speeds of 1.0 to 1.25 mph. Hammered gold blades paired with red, pink, orange or chartreuse continue to be solid producers. Not only are anglers catching good numbers of fish, but plenty of slot walleyes (19.5″ – 28″) and trophies are also in the mix.

fishing Trolling crankbaits is also catching fire. Anglers are using leadcore line, snap weights, or downriggers to get their cranks down into the strike zone. This technique is not only helping to cover water but is producing some of the biggest walleyes of the season so far. In the stained waters of LOW, firetiger, pink UV, chrome/blue, and gold are go-to colors.

Those who enjoy forward-facing sonar are finding good numbers of big walleyes over the deep mud basin.  The basin is loaded with walleyes, and for those wanting to work on their electronics game and land some giants, now is the time.

Rainy River…  Mixed Bag and Sturgeon Season.  Summer on the Rainy River offers something for everyone. Anglers are catching a nice variety of walleyes, smallmouth bass, and pike, especially near current breaks, deeper holes, and shoreline structure.

Sturgeon fishing is also in full swing. The keep season is open through September 30. Anglers with a valid sturgeon tag can harvest one sturgeon per calendar year that measures 45–50 inches or over 75 inches. Soaking a combination of nightcrawlers and frozen shiners on a sturgeon rig continues to be the best presentation.

Northwest Angle… Consistent Action.  Up at the Northwest Angle, both the Minnesota and Ontario sides are producing excellent fishing. Anglers are targeting walleyes with a mix of techniques:  Pulling spinners with crawlers, trolling crankbaits around reefs and points and jigging with minnows or plastics in neckdown areas, around structure, and on the edges of mud and rock transitions.

Bonus species like smallmouth bass, pike, perch, and crappies are showing up as well, providing exciting multi-species action.

Muskie anglers are tight lipped, but reports have been consistent with anglers seeing and boating good fish.  Some fish are exceeding that 50 inch mark.  

Now’s the Time to Visit!  Whether you’re chasing your personal best walleye or looking to enjoy a classic shore lunch with family and friends, Lake of the Woods is firing on all cylinders. From the basin to the river to the NW Angle, the fishing is excellent, the scenery is stunning, and the memories are waiting to be made.

Fishing Report 7.29.2025

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On the South Shore…  Deep summer patterns continue to dominate the walleye bite on Lake of the Woods, and the action has remained excellent. Anglers are having consistent success using three different techniques — spinner rigs with crawlers, trolling crankbaits, and even jigging, which is impressively still producing.

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Walleye on Charter

Most anglers are pulling crawler harnesses over the expansive mud basin of Big Traverse Bay. Depths of 25 to 35 feet have been the sweet spot. Drifting or trolling at 1.0 – 1.25 mph has been the ticket for connecting with numbers of eater-size walleyes and saugers, as well as the occasional big slot fish (19.5–28 inches), which must be released.

Hot Spinner Colors: Gold continues to be the go-to, with gold/orange, gold/pink, and gold/glow red all producing well in the stained water.

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Muskie

Trolling crankbaits is also putting good fish in the boat, especially for those looking to cover water and target scattered schools of walleyes. The best crankbait colors remain the classics — firetiger, pink UV firetiger, chartreuse, chrome/blue, and of course, gold.

While many anglers shift away from jigging in late July, some are still finding success by vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners. It’s been a unique season where all three techniques — spinners, crankbaits, and jigs — are continuing to produce solid results.

On the Rainy River…  The Rainy River offers a quieter alternative and is a great place to fish, especially on days when the wind whips up. A variety of species are being caught, and the sturgeon “keep” season is in full swing through September. Anglers targeting sturgeon are using circle hooks baited with crawlers or frozen emerald shiners and fishing deep holes or current seams.

In addition to sturgeon, it’s common to catch walleyes, saugers, suckers, smallmouth bass, or northern pike while soaking bait on the bottom. With lighter boat traffic and beautiful scenery, it’s an enjoyable place to kick back and bend a rod.

Up at the Northwest Angle…  Fishing remains excellent at the Northwest Angle, with walleyes being caught using a variety of methods. Anglers are jigging with minnows or plastics around structure like sunken islands, points, and neck-down areas. Others are pulling crawler harnesses with bottom bouncers over mud or along transitions from mud to rock.

This part of the lake also offers great multi-species action. Northern pike, jumbo perch, smallmouth bass, and even crappies are providing bonus bites. And with rising water temps, the muskie bite is strong as well.

Fishing Report 7.22.2025

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On the South Shore…  It’s mid-July, and the summer walleye patterns on Lake of the Woods are in full effect — and the fishing has been excellent!

As expected this time of year, most anglers are now pulling spinners with crawlers or trolling crankbaits, two proven techniques that are putting good numbers of walleyes and saugers in the boat. fishing Reports are strong, with lots of anglers catching limits of eaters and also encountering plenty of “slot fish.” Slot fish are walleyes between 19.5 and 28.0 inches that must be released to protect the fishery — and many of these are big, healthy, and exciting to catch. Snap a quick photo and release them so they can help produce more walleyes in the future.

Fish are being caught in a range of depths, but 25 to 35 feet over the deep mud basin of Big Traverse Bay has been especially productive.

Best Spinner Colors:  Gold, gold/orange, gold/pink, and gold/glow red have been consistent producers. Troll spinners around 1.0 – 1.25 mph for best results.

Best Crankbait Colors:  In LOW’s stained water, classic colors are hard to beat — gold, firetiger, pink UV firetiger, chartreuse, and chrome/blue are all catching fish.

While jigging typically slows down by now, some anglers are still jigging with frozen emerald shiners and having success. This season has been unique in that all three techniques—jigging, spinner rigs, and cranks—are still getting the job done!

On the Rainy River…  The Rainy River remains a great option, and also a nice backup on windy days or for those who prefer a quiet stretch of water to kick back and relax.

A mixed bag of fish is common here. The sturgeon “keep” season is currently open and runs through September. Anglers can keep one sturgeon between 45–50 inches or one over 75 inches per calendar year (with a tag). Many are soaking crawlers and/or frozen emerald shiners on the bottom to target these giants.

While targeting sturgeon, it’s not unusual to catch walleyes, saugers, suckers, or even a surprise smallmouth or pike. Deeper holes and current breaks are key locations to find fish on the river.

fishing Up at the Northwest Angle…  Fishing continues to be very strong at the Northwest Angle, Minnesota’s northernmost point and one of the most scenic parts of the lake.

Walleyes are being found in a variety of spots, from structure to open mud flats. Some anglers are still jigging with minnows or plastics near points, sunken islands, and neck-down areas where water moves. Others are trolling or drifting with bottom bouncers and crawler harnesses to cover ground, especially on the edges of flats or where mud transitions to rock.

As a bonus, many anglers are enjoying catching a variety of species in this part of the lake, including smallmouth bass, jumbo perch, northern pike, and crappies.

The muskie bite is also heating up with warmer water temps. Anglers are reporting good action, especially on figure-8s at the boat. Gold and bronze blades on bucktails have been effective. Please handle these fish with care and release them quickly.

Why Fish Lake of the Woods in July and August?  While other lakes slow down in the dog days of summer due to thickening weeds, a ton of bait and lots of boats, Lake of the Woods keeps producing. With stained water and a daytime bite, millions of walleyes and saugers, cool depths, and miles of fish-holding water, this fishery stays hot all summer long.

Visit LakeoftheWoodsMN.com for everything you need to plan your next fishing adventure, including resorts, charter guides, boat rentals, and fishing reports.

The bite is on — come make some memories!

Fishing Report 7.14.2025

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It’s mid-July, and the fishing action on Lake of the Woods is nothing short of spectacular. From the Rainy River into Big Traverse Bay up to the NW Angle, anglers are making memories every day. And if you need proof of just how incredible this fishery is, look no further than the Minnesota Tournament Trail (MTT) results this past week.

MN Tournament Trail Recap…  Lake of the Woods recently hosted two back-to-back, one-day catch and release tournaments on July 10th and 11th. The MTT uses Fish Donkey, a fishing tournament hosting platform that features Catch Photo Video Release technology. This means fish are quickly measured, photographed, and released back into the lake to fight another day.

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Trophy Walleye

The stats from these tournaments are simply jaw-dropping.

-45 teams competed, measuring approximately 450 fish each day!
-On day one alone, there were 9 walleyes over 30 inches recorded.

-Day two topped that with an incredible 16 walleyes over 30 inches.

It’s yet another testament to why Lake of the Woods is proudly known as the Walleye Capital of the World.

On the South Shore…  Fishing remains excellent along the south end of Lake of the Woods. Interestingly, the jig bite is still going strong, even though by this time of year most anglers typically switch over to pulling spinners with crawlers or trolling crankbaits. This season, all three techniques are producing fish.

Jigging: The classic jig and frozen emerald shiner combo continues to catch nice walleyes. Hot jig colors have been orange, yellow, gold, gold/chartreuse, and orange/yellow.

Spinners: Pulling spinners with crawlers is really picking up steam. Gold paired with red, pink, or orange on the blades is a solid bet right now. Trolling around 1.0 to 1.25 mph is a good starting point.

Crankbaits: Trolling crankbaits is also delivering nice catches. In the stained waters of LOW, colors like gold, firetiger, pink UV firetiger, chartreuse, and chrome/blue are hard to beat.

Walleyes are taking advantage of various forage opportunities, hence, can be found in many areas and depths.  The go to depths are 25 – 35 feet.

On the Rainy River…  The Rainy River continues to be a relaxing and productive option for anglers. Right now, the sturgeon keep season is open, and some anglers are enjoying the beautiful summer days soaking crawlers for these prehistoric giants.

Of course, walleyes and saugers are still in the river too, often hanging out in deeper holes or near current breaks. Plus, don’t forget about the strong population of smallmouth bass and pike in the river — they’re often overlooked but provide some awesome rod-bending action.

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Big Muskie

Up at the Northwest Angle…  Fishing remains strong at the NW Angle with its variety of structure, scenery and wildlife amongst the 14,552 islands in this part of the lake.

Walleyes: Many anglers are still jigging with minnows or plastics along the edges of structure, in neck-down areas with some current, and off rocky points. Sunken islands surrounded by open mud are also holding good numbers of walleyes. Drifting or trolling these areas with a bottom bouncer and spinner tipped with a crawler or imitation crawler has been super effective.

Muskies: The muskie bite is picking up as the water warms. Good numbers of fish are being reported, with many caught right at the boat on the figure 8. Gold and bronze blades have been hot colors for those throwing big bucktails.

Multispecies action is common with pike, smallmouth bass and jumbo perch in the mix.

Why Lake of the Woods Shines All Summer.  When other walleye lakes across the Midwest start to slow down this time of year because of heavy weed growth, too many young-of-the-year perch or bluegills competing for attention, and boat traffic, Lake of the Woods just keeps pumping out fish. It’s no wonder anglers travel from all over the country to experience this world-class fishery. Whether you’re after eater-sized walleyes for a fish fry or a trophy to photograph and release, Lake of the Woods has it all.

Fishing Report 7.9.2025

fishing is awesome on lake of the woods

It’s classic midsummer on Lake of the Woods, and the fishing is living up to its world-class reputation. Right now, anglers are catching walleyes and saugers three main ways: jigging with frozen emerald shiners, pulling spinners with crawlers, and trolling crankbaits. Each of these techniques is putting plenty of fish in the boat.

On the South Shore…  Good limits of walleyes and saugers continue to be the story.  Fish are being caught in a wide range of depths, from 12 feet all the way out to 36 feet. Many walleyes have made their summer move over the deep mud, where both eater-sized fish and plenty of slot fish (19.5 – 28.0 inches) are being caught. fishing is awesome on lake of the woods

If you’re looking for hot colors this week, try pink/gold, blue/white, gold/red, or orange/chartreuse. Jigging with a frozen emerald shiner is still going strong, but spinner rigs tipped with crawlers are really picking up steam. Running spinners at 1.0 – 1.25 mph is a great way to cover water and find active fish. Trolling crankbaits is also very effective, whether you’re using leadcore, snap weights, bottom bouncers with a shallow diving crank, or downriggers to target the 25-36 foot range.

On the Rainy River…  July 1st kicked off the sturgeon “keep season,” which means if you have a sturgeon tag, you can harvest one sturgeon between 45-50 inches or over 75 inches per calendar year. Catch and release is still allowed as well, offering plenty of chances to battle these prehistoric giants. The river is loaded with sturgeon right now, so it’s a perfect time to try your hand at these big fish that can reach weights over 100 lbs.

Walleyes and saugers are also being caught in the Rainy River, especially in deeper holes and around current breaks. Don’t overlook the river’s strong smallmouth bass population either — there are some real footballs to be caught.

There are some great summer options for fishing the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River.  It is also a nice option if the wind blows or you want a change of scenery.

fishing for Muskie at the Northwest Angle
Fishing for Muskie at the Northwest Angle

Up at the Northwest Angle…  Most anglers are still jigging around the thousands of islands in 15-30 feet of water.  As the summer progresses, bottom bouncers paired with crawler harnesses become even more effective, letting anglers cover ground across flats and along edges where mud meets structure.

It’s also muskie season up at the Angle, and fishing is going strong.  Anglers are catching and releasing some beautiful fish. Remember, muskies are sensitive predators, so please take extra care when handling and photographing them to ensure a healthy release.

Why Lake of the Woods Shines in Summer.  Across much of the walleye belt, summer can bring tough fishing. Weed growth, millions of young-of-the-year perch and other baitfish, and heavy boat traffic make them harder to catch. But that’s not the case on Lake of the Woods. The massive mud basin, countless reefs and rock piles, and sheer abundance of walleyes keep the bite consistent all summer long.  More info at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com.

Fishing Report 7.1.2025

walleye fishing lake of the woods

Lake of the Woods Fishing Report — Fishing Remains Excellent!

Fishing continues to be outstanding on Lake of the Woods. Whether you’re jigging, pulling spinners, or trolling crankbaits, anglers are enjoying steady action and taking home plenty of walleyes and saugers.

On the South Shore…  Good numbers of walleyes are now gravitating to the deep mud basin. This time of year, it’s common to see bug hatches over the deep mud, which attracts hungry walleyes looking for an easy meal. Fishing anywhere from 27 to 35 feet has been productive. fishing

The jig bite remains strong. Many anglers are still anchoring up or spot-locking and working a jig tipped with a frozen emerald shiner. Hot jig colors this week include orange and chartreuse, gold combined with orange or pink, as well as glow white. Mixing up your colors and letting the fish tell you what they want can really pay off.

Spinners and crawlers are also gaining momentum. Drifting or slowly trolling at 1.0 to 1.25 mph with a 2 – 3 ounce weight or bottom bouncer, a two or three hook harness with a hammered gold blade paired with pink, orange, chartreuse, or glow red or white beads has been very effective. This technique is a great way to cover water and entice walleyes spread out over the basin. Many anglers report catching a mix of walleyes and saugers using this method.

Trolling crankbaits is another excellent option right now. Some anglers are trolling using downriggers to get their lures down to the fish. Others are using leadcore line, snap weights, or a 3-4 ounce bottom bouncer paired with a 6-foot mono or fluorocarbon leader with a shallow diving crankbait. These setups are helping anglers reach the right depth and keep their baits in the strike zone. The ability to cover lots of water while presenting wobble, vibration, and color makes trolling cranks a very effective way to locate and catch walleyes.

On the Rainy River…  The Rainy River is still producing some nice walleyes, and it won’t be long until anglers start shifting their attention to sturgeon again. Sturgeon season opens on July 1st, and the river is loaded with these prehistoric giants. If you’re planning a trip in July or August, soaking a few crawlers on a sturgeon rig can give you the chance to hook into one of the biggest fish of your life.

Up at the Northwest Angle…  Excellent

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49 inch muskie caught at Oak Island

fishing continues at the Angle. Walleyes are being found from 12 to 24 feet, relating to both mud and structure. The jig and minnow bite remains solid on rock and sand transitions, while other anglers are also pulling spinners or crankbaits along shoreline breaks and over deeper mud areas. This is producing not just walleyes, but also a nice mix of jumbo perch, pike, and even smallmouth bass.

Muskie anglers have been busy with nice numbers of fish and some big ones.  Some fish exceeding 53 inches were caught this past week.  

Plan Your Trip.  Lake of the Woods is living up to its reputation as the Walleye Capital of the World. With a healthy population of walleyes, saugers, pike, smallmouth bass, and soon, sturgeon back in season, now is a perfect time to get out on the water. Whether you’re fishing with your own boat, hiring a guide, or jumping on a charter, the opportunities for success are excellent.

For more information on resorts, guides, charters, or trip planning tools, check out LakeoftheWoodsMN.com.

Fishing Report 6.24.2025

fishing lake of the woods mn

On the South Shore…  It’s been another excellent week of summer walleye fishing on Lake of the Woods, with anglers catching good numbers of walleyes and saugers using a variety of techniques. Three main methods are producing fish right now: jigging, pulling spinners, and trolling crankbaits.

A notable bite took place this week along Pine Island, with walleyes being caught in 12 to 15 feet of water. Across the south shore, spinners tipped with crawlers are working well in depths ranging from 12 to 35 feet, as anglers target various schools of walleyes across the sand, mud flats and near structure. fishing

The jig bite is still putting fish in the boat for many anglers, especially those anchoring up or using spot-lock over concentrated schools. A frozen emerald shiner or fathead minnow continues to be the go-to bait when jigging. However, as summer progresses and water temps rise, more anglers are shifting toward spinners and crankbaits to cover more water and locate active fish.

Trolling crankbaits is gaining momentum as a productive technique. Cranks not only cover water quickly, but they also offer a chance at bonus fish like pike and perch.

What colors?  With the stained waters of Lake of the Woods, gold or gold combined with pink, orange, chartreuse or glow white are good options.

On the Rainy River…  It’s a great time to fish the Rainy River with multi-species action in full swing. There’s a reliable local population of walleyes and saugers, with fish being caught in deeper holes and along channel edges.

Smallmouth bass are very active and can be found around current breaks, rocky shorelines, and along weed edges. Casting crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics are all productive. Pike are spread throughout the river system, but back bays and areas with slack water near current breaks are reliable ambush points.

A reminder that sturgeon fishing reopens July 1st, and anglers with a sturgeon tag can harvest one fish per year within the slot (45–50 inches or over 75 inches) between July 1 and September 30.

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Large Pike caught at Oak Island

Up at the Northwest Angle…  Fishing continues to be strong amongst the islands. Walleyes are being caught near structure in a variety of depths—12 to 24 feet has been especially productive. Jigging with minnows, pulling spinners with crawlers, and trolling crankbaits are all producing good results.

In addition to walleyes, anglers are catching a nice mix of perch, pike, crappies and smallmouth bass. As we move deeper into June, smallmouth action along rocky shorelines and shallow structure remains excellent.

Muskie season opened this past weekend and initial reports were good.  With 14,552 islands in LOW, there is a lot of habitat and a lot of fish!

For more information on lodging, guides, charter fishing, and planning your next trip, visit LakeoftheWoodsMN.com.

Fishing Report 6.17.2025

double header walleyes caught at Arnesen's Rocky Point in Baudette MN

On the South Shore…  It was another great week of fishing on Lake of the Woods!  The bite remained strong throughout the area.

Walleyes are active and transitioning in how they’re feeding and where they’re holding.  The jig bite is still producing in many areas, with anglers anchoring or using spot-lock in areas with roaming schools of walleyes.  A 3/8 to 1/2 oz jig tipped with a frozen emerald shiner continues to be a top performer. Classic Lake of the Woods colors—gold, orange, chartreuse, pink, and glow white, or a combination of these colors—are producing well. Some anglers are beginning to use leeches on jigs with success, especially as water temps rise. double header walleyes caught at Arnesen's Rocky Point in Baudette MN

In addition to jigging, pulling spinners is becoming more effective. Many anglers are using crawlers on their spinner rigs, while others are experimenting with minnows for added variety. Hammered gold blades combined with pink, glow red, orange, or white remain great color options. This time of year, versatility can make all the difference.

Trolling crankbaits over deep mud is also gaining momentum as water temperatures climb. Cranks allow anglers to cover water efficiently and locate scattered fish. In addition to walleyes, this technique often produces bonus species like pike, smallmouth bass, and jumbo perch.

Productive depths have ranged, but deeper mud and rocks in 25 – 35 feet have yielded strong results.

For anglers who enjoy using forward facing sonar, the deep mud shines for scoping fish.  Tournament tip, keep an eye out for those monster walleyes just below the surface!

On the Rainy River…  The Rainy River is still producing some nice walleyes.  As water temperatures rise and the current remains steady, a 1/2 oz jig tipped with a frozen emerald shiner is still effective, particularly when vertically jigged in deeper holes and along channel edges.

Looking to explore? Pulling spinners with crawlers or trolling crankbaits is a great way to cover ground and locate active fish.  Troll along shorelines, weed edges and through various holes in the river.  

40 inch Northern at Arnesen's Rocky Point Casting crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and swim jigs along shorelines, docks, and in back bays is also putting walleyes, pike, and smallmouth bass in the boat.  A fun way to explore and catch a mixed bag.

With the strong sturgeon population, some groups are making plans to spend a few days relaxing while soaking some crawlers for the largest fish in Lake of the Woods, lake sturgeon.  Sturgeon fishing reopens July 1st. From July 1 through September 30, anglers with a valid sturgeon tag can harvest one fish per year between 45–50 inches or over 75 inches.

Up at the Northwest Angle…  Fishing remains excellent at the Northwest Angle. Walleyes are being caught in 12 to 24 feet of water near shoreline structure, underwater points, and shallow reefs. The jig and minnow bite continues to be hot in traditional walleye areas such as points, neckdown areas and sunken islands.

Trolling crankbaits along shoreline structure such as points, rubble areas or weed edges will produce a mixed bag of walleyes, jumbo perch, pike, and smallmouth bass.  If you aren’t finding a big school of fish, covering water will normally produce.  When you start catching, go back and forth in that area.  

The muskie opener for both Minnesota and Ontario’s Zone 5 is Saturday,  Lake of the Woods is known as one of the best muskie fisheries on the planet!

Plan Your Trip…  Lake of the Woods continues to shine as a premier walleye destination. Whether you’re jigging, pulling spinners, trolling crankbaits, or casting for a mixed bag, the lake is healthy and full of opportunity.

Bring your own boat or take advantage of the many full-service resorts offering charter boats and expert guides. For everything you need to plan your fishing adventure, visit LakeoftheWoodsMN.com.