On the south end…  Great walleye fishing this week.  Lots of limits, plenty of larger slot fish (19.5″ – 28″) and trophy walleyes (over 28″).  The MTT Photo and Release Walleye Tournament winners had over a 9 lb average each for 5 fish both days of the tournament.  Lots of big walleyes in the lake.  Different parts of the lake have different things happening.  In some areas, the mayfly hatch was over.  In other areas, it was just firing up.  Fishing was better where the hatch was not in full force.

The go to presentations are spinners with crawlers or trolling crankbaits.  Nice schools of eaters on the south shore and up north around Garden Island in 10 -15′ of water.  More and more walleyes also staged over deep mud in 30 – 34′.  Hammered gold with glow white and gold with glow red strong colors.

On the Rainy River…   Sturgeon anglers catching fish with the evening bite the best.  Fish holes in the river with a 3 ounce no roll sinker and sturgeon rig loaded with crawlers and/or frozen shiners.   Nice smallies in rocky areas.  Pike are also active cruising bays, weed edges and current breaks.  Walleyes out on flats and can be caught with crawler harnesses or trolling crankbaits.

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 shuttle services available and fishing for multi species has been excellent.  Check with your favorite NW Angle resort for options.

Fishing has been awesome up at the Angle.  Schools of walleyes on structure, over sand and on mud.  Nice walleyes 8 – 17′ on the sand or 25 – 28′ around structure.  Big numbers of eaters being caught.  The best presentation continues to be drifting and trolling spinners with a crawler or a minnow.  Pike and smallmouth bass are active in numerous weedy bays. A complete list of lodging available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

On the south end…  Lots of limits of nice walleyes this week with plenty of larger slot fish (19.5″ – 28″) and trophy walleyes (over 28″).  Schools of fish all around the lake.  From the Lighthouse and Morris Point Gap area which is adjacent to Pine Island to Zippel Bay to reefs and mud near Long Point and Rocky Point all producing.  Garden Island area also holds nice schools of walleyes.  The go to presentation is pulling spinners with crawlers or leeches at 1.0 – 1.3 mph.  Some anglers are doing well trolling crankbaits as well on lead core line or downriggers.  Nice schools of walleyes also staged over deep mud.  Some fish are shallow, 7- 15′, other fish holding in 23 – 31′.  Hammered gold, gold/glow, pink, and orange hot colors this week.

On the Rainy River…   Sturgeon anglers catching some good fish as the season opened on July 1st.  Fishing holes in the river with a 3 ounce no roll sinker and sturgeon rig loaded with crawlers and/or frozen shiners.   Nice smallies in rocky areas.  Pike are also active cruising weedy bays, bay mouths and current breaks.  Walleyes hanging out on flats and can be caught with crawler harnesses or trolling crankbaits.

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 shuttle services available and fishing for multi species has been excellent.  Check with your favorite NW Angle resort for options.

Excellent fishing for walleyes, pike and bass continue.  Schools of walleyes on structure, over sand and on mud.  Nice walleyes 8 – 17′ on the sand or 25 – 28′ around structure.  The best presentation is drifting and trolling spinners with crawlers or a minnow.  Pike and smallmouth bass active in weedy bays.  Bucktails for pike retrieved slow working well.  

On the south end…  The lake just keeps producing walleyes.  Good fishing in numerous spots across the south shore, near the Lighthouse and Morris Point Gaps in 8-10′ and around Garden Island.  Big numbers of walleyes also staged over deep mud in 25 – 31′.  Most anglers drifting or trolling harnesses (spinners) with crawlers or leeches.  Hammered gold is hard to beat but glow, pink, chartreuse and orange are also popular in the stained water.  Some fish are still being caught jigging on structure or rock to mud transitions.  Anglers catching plenty of eater walleyes along with good numbers of saugers.  Larger slot fish (19.5-28″) along with trophy walleyes over 28″ being caught often.

On the Rainy River…   Sturgeon anglers looking forward to sturgeon fishing reopening on July 1st.  Big numbers of sturgeon await.   No roll sinkers and sturgeon rigs along with crawlers and frozen shiners available locally.  Smallmouth bass in rocky areas, around bridges and current breaks.  Pike are also active cruising weedy bays, bay mouths and current breaks.  Both species don’t get much attention and are present in good numbers.  Walleyes hanging out in 20-25′.

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.

Walleye fishing is worth the trip.  Schools of walleyes on structure, over sand and on mud.  Most fish showing up in 8 – 14′ or 26 – 28′.  The best presentation is drifting and trolling spinners with crawlers or a minnow.  Pike and smallmouth bass active in weedy bays.  There are hundreds around the Angle.  Try a spinnerbait or spoon.  A complete list of lodging available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

On the south end…  A big week of walleyes on LOW.  Fish being caught around the lake.  A lot of fish on the south shore right now near the Lighthouse Gap and Pine Island.  Get out a few miles and watch electronics.  Lots of fish from 5′ – 32′ of water.  Walleyes have the feedbag on.  Morris Point Gap, Zippel Bay, Long Point and Rocky Point anglers all reporting good catches.  Two main techniques, drifting with a snelled spinner with a crawler or leech and jigging with a frozen shiner or fathead are go to.  Gold / pink  / glow red / glow white all working well.  Anglers catching plenty of eaters with larger slots and trophy walleyes.  Pike and some jumbo perch in the mix as well.

On the Rainy River…   Smallmouth bass bite good in rocky areas, around bridges and current breaks.   Pike are also active cruising in bays, bay mouths and current breaks.  Walleyes hanging out in 15-25′ and being caught with a jig and minnow or trolling crankbaits.  Sturgeon anglers looking forward to sturgeon fishing reopening on July 1st.  A great population of sturgeon in the river.

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.

Good walleye fishing again this week.  Some walleyes shallow in 4-10′ around sandy and rocky areas being caught with spinners / crawlers and crankbaits.  Other schools of walleyes hanging out deeper adjacent to shoreline breaks and reefs.  Pike, jumbo perch and smallmouth bass showing up as well.  A complete list of lodging available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

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.