Fishing Report 7.1.2025
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.
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

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.