On the south end…  An excellent week of walleye fishing.  Great to have charter boats running again.  Best success in 13-28 feet of water.  Anchored up and vertical jigging on structure areas very effective.  Drifting or trolling crawler harnesses effective this week on flats or basin areas.  Spinners cover water when fish are spread out and not stacked.  Gold / pink  / orange / glow all working well.  Most anglers catching limits of eaters.  Larger walleyes are also being caught in good numbers.   Nice pike and jumbo being caught while walleye fishing.

On the Rainy River…   Most walleyes are being targeted and caught in the lake.  There is always a population of resident walleyes that live in the river.  Best depth is 12-24′.  jigs, spinners and crankbaits catching some fish this week.  Smallmouth bass in typical areas with rock and current breaks.   Pike in bay mouths and current breaks.  The sturgeon season opens July 1st.

Up at the NW Angle…  Until the US / Canada border opens, guests can travel across the lake and stay in MN waters.  Check with your favorite NW Angle resort for options.

Fishing around the Angle continues to be excellent.  Walleyes are still being caught on 5-7′ flats with snelled spinners and crankbaits.  Jigging rocky points in 10 – 20 feet of water where fish are schooled tight effective.  Good numbers of walleyes caught this week on flat areas between 10 – 20 feet covering water with spinners tipped with a minnow or half crawler. 

On the south end…  A very successful week for Lake of the Woods anglers.  Great walleye fishing continues with best success in 17-28 feet of water, with walleyes also being caught shallower.  A number of areas along the south shore from Pine Island, Morris Point, Zippel Bay, Long Point and Rocky Point are producing.  Knight / Bridges Island area also still holds good numbers and size of fish.  Anchored up and vertical jigging, drifting crawler harnesses and pulling crankbaits all working.  Gold / pink  / orange / glow all working well.  A nice mix of eaters, slot fish to be released between 19.5″ and 28″ and a good number of trophies over 28″.  As last week, big pike and jumbo in the mix.

On the Rainy River…   Most walleyes are being targeted and caught in the lake.  There is always a population of resident walleyes that live in the river.  Best depth is 12-24′.  Jigs and minnows working the best however trolling a crankbait and covering water is also effective.  Smallmouth bass near rocky structure.   Good pike hanging in and adjacent to bays.  The sturgeon season is closed until July 1st when the season re-opens.

Up at the NW Angle…  Until the US / Canada border opens, guests can travel across the lake and stay in MN waters.  Check with your favorite NW Angle resort for options.

Fishing continues to be excellent.  Walleyes being caught on 5-7′ flats with snelled spinners and crankbaits as well as jigging rocky points in 10 – 20 feet of water.  Walleyes being caught in many different areas on the Minnesota side.  Pike in bays and creek mouths.  Water temps 55-57 degrees.  A complete list of lodging available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

On the south end…  Anglers had an excellent week of good fishing and fish frys.  A strong walleye bite continues with best success in 17-28 feet of water.  It is good to remember, not all walleyes do the same thing.  Some schools are deep, some shallow.  Some may be feeding on minnows, others critters in the mud.  Good reports in various areas along the south shore of the lake as well as Knight / Bridges Island area.  Anchored up and vertical jigging a jig and minnow or frozen emerald shiner has been very successful.  Gold / pink  / orange or a combo hard to beat.  Drifting with spinners and trolling crankbaits also catching fish.  A nice mix of eaters, slots and trophies.  Some big pike and jumbo perch in the mix.

On the Rainy River…   Anglers caught some good walleyes in the river this week.  Best depth 12-24′.  Jigs and minnows working the best.  The edge of the river channel in Four Mile Bay also giving up some walleyes.  Smallmouth bass in good numbers.  Typical spots, rocky areas, current breaks, bridge and rip rap areas.  Somie big pike still hanging out in bays.  The sturgeon season is closed until July 1st when the season re-opens.

Up at the NW Angle…  Until the US / Canada border opens, guests can travel across the lake and stay in MN waters.  Some resorts are offering transport service across the lake in MN waters to the Angle prior to the border opening.  Some guests are setting up with transport to follow charters in their own boats.  Various south shore resorts are offering parking for guests of NW Angle resorts.

Fishing is great.  Anglers fishing the Angle are catching good numbers of walleyes.  Jigging rocky points in 10 – 22 feet of water producing nice walleyes.  Some good fish also being caught on crankbaits in 8-12′ of water.  Big pike in bays and creek mouths.  Smallmouth bass in bays and shallow rocks.  A complete list of lodging available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

On the south end…  Resorts are open and anglers enjoying fishing and fish frys.  A strong walleye bite continues with best success in 20 – 30 feet of water.  Anchored up and vertical jigging a jig and minnow or frozen emerald shiner has been very successful.  Gold / pink or gold / orange colors hard to beat.  South end water temps warmer than north end of lake.  Fish on the south end mainly post spawn, up north, still spawning.  A nice mix of eaters, slots and trophies.  Some big pike continue to be caught as well.

On the Rainy River…   Some good walleyes were caught in the river this week.  Best depth 12-24′.  Jigs and minnows working the best.  Some fish still being caught in the Four Mile Bay and the Bostic Bay areas.  Fish are post spawn.  Some shiners are in the river holding fish. The sturgeon season is closed until July 1st when the season re-opens.

Up at the NW Angle…  Until the US / Canada border opens, guests can travel across the lake and stay in MN waters.  Some resorts are offering transport service across the lake in MN waters to the Angle prior to the border opening.  Various south shore resorts are offering parking for guests of NW Angle resorts.

Fishing is great.  Anglers fishing the Angle are catching good numbers of walleyes.  Jigging rocky points and reefs close to islands in 8 – 25 feet of water effective.  Some good fish also coming on crankbaits in 8-12′ of water.  

Lake of the Woods resorts and hotels welcomed guests with a variety of COVID – 19 safety measures within their businesses to ensure guest and employee safety.  Lodging is available and businesses are open.

On the south end…  Some great walleye action for the MN Fishing Opener weekend.  Walleyes and saugers were caught along the south shore in a variety of depths from 6′ – 23′, with 20′ a good starting depth.  Anchored up and vertically jigging a jig and minnow, in many cases a frozen emerald shiner, was the ticket.  Gold or a gold combo was good.  Chartreuse, pink and glow were also effective.  The walleye / sauger limit on LOW and the Rainy River is a combined limit of 6 fish, up to 4 can be walleyes.  The slot limit is 19.5″ – 28″ must be released.  One walleye can be kept over 28″.  Good numbers of pike still being caught in bays.  

On the Rainy River…   Some good walleyes were caught in the river, Four Mile Bay and the Bostic Bay areas.  Some fish left over from the spawn, others local fish who live there.  Jig and a minnow was the go to bait.  The sturgeon bite continues strong with numbers of fish being caught.  The sturgeon catch and release season goes through May 15 and then closes until July 1st when the season re-opens.

Up at the NW Angle…  The US and Canada have agreed to keep the international border shut until May 20th.

Until the border opens, guests can travel across the lake and stay in MN waters.  Some resorts are offering transport service across the lake in MN waters to the Angle prior to the border opening.  Various south shore resorts are offering parking for guests of NW Angle resorts.

Anglers who fished the Angle for the opener were rewarded with good numbers of walleyes.  Jigging shoreline structure, points and neck down areas in 6 – 22 feet of water was effective.  

This past week, MN Governor Tim Walz began allowing resorts and hotels to open with numerous guidelines for safety.  Many Lake of the Woods resorts and hotels are welcoming guests back.  

Properties are taking a variety of safety measures in many aspects of their businesses to ensure guest and employee safety.

The US and Canada have agreed to keep the international border shut until May 20th.  Residents of the NW Angle and necessary supplies can travel across, others including visitors and land owners for the time being cannot.  Some resorts are offering transport service via boat across the lake in MN waters to the Angle prior to the border opening.

On the south end…  The majority of Big Traverse Bay is still ice covered, which is quite typical of this time of year.  Warm weather is in the forecast and more and more open water is showing up daily.  Things are looking very good for the opener May 9th.  Some big pike are being caught in the open water of bays.  The pike season on LOW never closes.  

On the Rainy River…   The Rainy River is open into Lake of the Woods.  The sturgeon bite has been strong with many boats out and successful this weekend.  Find a hole in the river, anchor up with a sturgeon rig loaded with crawlers or combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners.  The sturgeon “keep season” continues through May 7th.  May 8-15 is catch and release only.  May 16th the sturgeon season closes until July 1st.

Up at the NW Angle…  Ice is melting and open water is expanding quickly.  The larger basins are still ice covered.  Resorts are preparing and looking forward to the open water season.  A complete list of lodging and guides available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

The Lake of the Woods area is looking forward to welcoming guests back when the time is right.  Currently, Governor Tim Walz has implemented a Stay at Home order until May 4th.  This prevents travel outside one’s home area or staying at a lodging facility for recreation purposes.

Fishing in the State of MN is open, as long as you stay in your local area.   Bait shops are open.  Resorts have taken numerous measures in many aspects of their businesses to ensure guest and employee safety.  Everyone is preparing so we are ready when things open up again.

The US and Canada have agreed to keep the international border shut until May 20th.  Residents of the NW Angle and necessary supplies can travel across, others including visitors and land owners for the time being cannot.

On the south end…  The majority of Big Traverse Bay is still ice covered, which is quite typical of this time of year.  Warm weather is in the forecast and ice will continue to deteriorate.  

On the Rainy River…   The Rainy River is open through Four Mile Bay, through the Lighthouse Gap into Lake of the Woods.  Very few boats (locals) fishing sturgeon at this time.  

Up at the NW Angle…  There is open water in typical current areas between islands.  The larger basins are still ice covered.  Spring is progressing nicely.  Looking forward to the open water season.  A complete list of lodging and guides available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

Perhaps we should call this the COVID – 19 fishing report.  As you can imagine, some really cool annual traditions with Mother Nature are happening right now around Lake of the Woods.

With the current times, other than some local anglers fishing in their own backyard where they have private access, things are pretty quiet.  Let’s get through this chapter and look ahead as the walleyes are definitely waiting, willing and able!

As many of you have read, in response to the COVID – 19 situation, the City of Baudette has closed it’s two public access points on the Rainy River, Koochiching County has closed their four access points to the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods County has also temporarily closed their access points.  These closures are temporary in nature and are being reviewed often.  Kooch County will review again April 14th which is the last day of the walleye season on LOW and the Rainy River.

We want to express our sincere appreciation and thanks for all who come up to the Lake of the Woods area throughout the year.  Our community and small businesses are very tourism focused and dependent.  This is a tough time for many for a variety of reasons.  We look forward to getting this chapter behind us and creating wonderful memories with you again in the near future.  Be safe and thank you.

On the south end…  Ice conditions this March have held very well.  As mentioned, low amount of traffic due to the times.  Anglers out have been catching big pike as is traditional this time of year as well as walleyes and saugers.

On the Rainy River…   The Rainy River is starting to open with a few local anglers with private access getting on the open water.  As you can imagine, some big walleyes in the river.  The spring walleye season goes through April 14th and will not be available to most this year.  Looking forward to sturgeon season and the MN fishing opener May 9th!

Up at the NW Angle…  A few locals still ice fishing.  Walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch and an occasional pike or eelpout in the mix.  Looking forward to open water.  A complete list of lodging and guides available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

Ice fishing is still happening on Lake of the Woods.  Some resorts / hotels / outfitters are open and have adjusted their business model to adhere to the new rules with COVID – 19.  Additional cleaning and disinfecting is in place.  Fish house rentals, lodging, ice roads and take out or delivered meals are available by some resorts.  Contact resorts directly or look at their Facebook pages for helpful info.

On the south end…  Some great March ice fishing continues. Anglers fishing anywhere from 27 – 33′ of water.  Ice conditions on LOW remain excellent with freezing temps keeping ice firm.  Some good colors overall, pink / gold, glow, red glow, green glow.  Work lures on jigging line with a live minnow on an ice jig or plain hook on second line.  Electronics a big plus.  Try mixing it up with small lures, swim baits, rattle baits.  Keep baits active for best results.  Pike fishing very good this week with many fish over 40 inches.  Tip ups with big baits on quick strike rigs the norm.  Fish houses can be left overnight on the ice through March 31st, walleye and sauger season is open through April 14th and pike season never closes.

On the Rainy River…   As spring approaches, extra caution needed on the river.  Thin ice around the International Bridge in Baudette.  We are watching open water line progress from east to west.  No open water fishing as of yet due to colder temps.

Up at the NW Angle…  A good week of ice fishing reports up at the Angle.  A mix of nice walleyes, big jumbo perch and pike in the mix.  Resorts in 20 – 32′ of water targeting both structure and mud.  Glow colors, gold and pink effective.  Plain hook on the deadstick.  The snowmobile trails groomed and are still in good shape.  A complete list of lodging and ice fishing options available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging