On the south end…  A great week of walleye fishing as seasons are slowly starting the change up at Lake of the Woods.  Trees are turning colors and waters are starting to cool.  With a few windy days this week, anglers fished both along calmer shorelines and in the river finding some nice eaters for their efforts.  Most walleyes are still being caught on crawler harnesses.  Crankbaits are a good second choice.  Walleyes are being caught in 7 – 15′ along shorelines and 24-36′ over mud.  As a rule, the trophy fish have been over deep mud with the eaters being shallower.  With colder nights and warmer days, water temps are starting to drop into the mid 60’s with jigging starting to turn on.

On the Rainy River…   A fair number of small emerald shiners called “pinheads” in the river this week.  More fishing activity as well with some nice walleyes caught.  Most anglers are jigging with frozen shiners.  Not a heavy run yet, but additional life for sure.  Walleyes are scattered on flats and along breaks.  Trolling crankbaits or crawler harnesses covering water is still effective. Anglers reporting a mixed bag with walleyes, saugers, smallmouth bass, pike and sturgeon.  There are numerous boat accesses on the Rainy River from Wheeler’s Point at the mouth, Peace Park and Timbermill Park in Baudette,  Vidas near Clementson, a bit further east Frontier and Nelson Park in Birchdale.    

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.

Walleye fishing strong up at the Angle.  Walleyes in 10 – 25′ being caught with spinners with crawlers or minnows, trolling crankbaits and even some jigging.  Watch your electronics, scattered schools in many locations.  Big pike being caught by unsuspecting walleye anglers.  Muskies hitting spinners and top water in bays and rocky points.  Smallmouth bass still on rocks in 5-15′.  A complete list of lodging available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

On the south end…  A lot of walleyes caught this week on Lake of the Woods.  For many of the AIM tournament anglers, a lot of huge walleyes were caught this week.   Charter boats and guides doing a nice job of finding good schools of eater walleyes as well as the slots and trophies.  At times, eaters might be in a different location vs the big walleyes.  Walleyes are being caught in 14 – 36′ of water.  Two main patterns, crawler harnesses and crankbaits.  Best spinner colors, hammered gold, pink, glow white, glow red or orange.  Shiny or brighter colors are good starts for crankbaits.  It is important to get cranks down to the fish.  In deeper water, downriggers, lead core line, snap weights and a 4-5 ounce bottom bouncer will all do the trick.

On the Rainy River…   Walleyes are scattered on flats and along breaks.  Trolling crankbaits or crawler harnesses covering water is effective.  Anglers reporting a mixed bag of fish.  Sturgeon activity has picked up.  Target deep holes with sturgeon rigs and crawlers or frozen emerald shiners.  Smallmouth bass and pike continue to be active around current breaks, rocky areas and in bays.  There are 42 miles of navigable river from Wheeler’s Point to Birchdale.  

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.

Walleye fishing continues to be very good up at the Angle.  Good numbers of fish living around Four Blocks and Little Oak Island.  Also good numbers of fish over the mud north and east of Little Oak Island.  Watch your electronics, scattered schools in many locations.  Spinners with a crawler or trolling crankbaits both are producing.  Again, some big pike caught this week by walleye anglers.  Some muskie action this week on topwater.  Smallmouth bass on rocks in 5-15′.  A complete list of lodging available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

On the south end…  Great walleye fishing this week.   Different schools of fish around the lake being caught in 14 – 36′ of water.  Trust your electronics.  Two strong patterns, pulling crawler harnesses and trolling crankbaits.  Covering water and moving is important.  Best spinner colors, hammered gold, pink, glow white, glow red or orange.  Mix up crankbaits until you get size, shape and colors dialed in.  2.2 – 2.8 a good range for speed.  Shiny or brighter colors are good starts.  Some schools are active, some inactive.  Different feeding windows throughout the day.

On the Rainy River…   Summer patterns continue.  “Resident” walleyes are scattered on flats and along breaks.  Trolling crankbaits or crawler harnesses this time of year to cover water is effective.  Anglers reporting a mixed bag of fish.  Target sturgeon in deep holes with sturgeon rigs and crawlers or frozen emerald shiners.  Smallmouth bass and pike active around current breaks, rocky areas and in bays. 

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 / passenger services available to the Angle via boat.  Check with your favorite NW Angle resort for options.

Excellent walleye fishing this week.  Various schools of walleyes throughout the Angle.  Some nice fish around Four Blocks and Little Oak Island.  Other fish over mud in “no man’s land” north and east of Little Oak Island.  Spinners with a crawler or trolling crankbaits both are producing good numbers of fish.  Again, some big pike caught this week by walleye anglers.  When targeting pike and muskies, casting bays and trolling rocky point areas will produce.  Smallmouth bass on rocks in 5-15′.  A complete list of lodging available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

 

On the south end…  Excellent “dog days” walleye fishing this week.   The two best patterns are crawler harnesses and crankbaits over the deep basin.  Although different schools of walleyes are relating to different parts of the lake,  big numbers of walleyes are on the deep mud in 30 – 36′ of water.  Cover water by drifting or trolling.  Crawler harnesses in hammered gold, pink, glow or orange.  Crankbaits in colors best for stained water, orange, pink uv firetiger, chrome / blue, firetiger, and gold are good for starters.  Mix up crankbait size, shape, rattling vs non rattling, speed and direction of trolling until you dial them in.  Some schools are active, some inactive.  Keep moving and you will have success.

On the Rainy River…   Walleyes are scattered on flats.  Trolling crankbaits this time of year to cover water is effective.  Mix of walleyes and saugers living in the river.  Target sturgeon in deep holes with sturgeon rigs and crawlers or frozen emerald shiners.  Smallmouth bass and pike active around current breaks, rocky areas and in bays. 

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 / passenger services available to the Angle via boat.  Check with your favorite NW Angle resort for options.

Great walleye bite this week with a nice variety of sizes.  Most anglers fishing the mud adjacent to reefs and islands throughout the Angle.  Spinners with a crawler or trolling crankbaits both are producing good numbers of fish.  Lots of pike caught this week by walleye anglers.  Pike and muskies being caught casting bays and trolling rocky point areas as well.  Smallies around rocky areas in 5-15′.  A complete list of lodging available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

On the south end…  Fishing remains excellent with a nice mix of eaters, slots and trophy walleyes.   Two great ways to catch walleyes this time of year, crawler harnesses and crankbaits.  Walleyes are hanging out on the deep mud in 30 – 36′ of water.  Cover water by drifting or trolling.  Crawler harnesses (snelled spinners) in hammered gold, pink, glow or orange with a 1-2 ounce weight.  The second technique is trolling crankbaits through various schools of walleyes over the deep mud.  Get lures down with lead core line, a 4 ounce bottom bouncer, snap weights, 3 way rig or downriggers.  Switch colors often but some starters, pink uv firetiger, chrome / blue, firetiger, and gold.

On the Rainy River…   Walleyes are scattered on flats and in deeper holes.  Trolling crankbaits this time of year to cover water is effective.  Mix of walleyes and saugers.  Sturgeon anglers targeting deep holes with sturgeon rigs and crawlers or frozen emerald shiners.  Smallmouth bass and pike active around current breaks, rocky areas and weed edges. 

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 / passenger services available to the Angle via boat.  Check with your favorite NW Angle resort for options.

Strong walleye bite with lots of eater fish on the mud adjacent to reefs and islands throughout the Angle.  Much like the south end, spinners with a crawler or trolling crankbaits both are producing good numbers of fish.  Pike and muskies being caught casting bays and trolling rocky point areas.  Smallies in their summer pattern, 4 – 15′ in rocky areas.  A complete list of lodging available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

On the south end…  The deep summer “Dog Days” patterns for walleyes are in full swing producing excellent fishing.  As a rule, the big walleyes are hanging out on the deep mud in 30 – 34′ of water.  Two main techniques, drifting or trolling spinners with crawlers or leeches at about 1.0 – 1.25 MPH.  Hammered gold, hammered silver and glow white are good starting colors.  The second technique is trolling crankbaits through various schools of walleyes over the deep mud.  Switch colors often but some starters, pink uv firetiger, chrome / blue, firetiger, and gold.  Some walleyes are still being caught shallow based on forage opportunities.  Different schools taking advantage of current conditions in different areas.  Watch electronics and go fishing!

On the Rainy River…   Walleyes scattered on flats and in deeper holes.  Trolling crankbaits and covering water effective.  Sturgeon living in deep holes throughout river.  Smallmouth bass and pike active around current breaks, rocky areas and weed edges. 

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.

Good walleye fishing continues north of Garden Island, around Little Oak Island and areas north and east of Little Oak with deeper mud.  Spinners with a crawler or trolling crankbaits both producing good numbers of walleyes.  Pike and muskies in deep bays and rocky points.  Smallmouth bass in 4 – 14′ in rocky areas reacting well to crankbaits.  A complete list of lodging available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

 

On the south end…  In addition to anglers catching good numbers of eater walleyes, there are a lot of big walleyes being caught and released.  Now is that deep summer pattern anglers look forward to.  Two main techniques.  Drifting or pulling spinners with crawlers or leeches.  Hammered gold, glow white and glow red are good colors.  The second technique is trolling crankbaits over the deep mud.  Trolling is a fun technique with no snags, miles and miles of space and thousands of walleyes.  29-34′ has been best.  Still some walleyes are being caught in various shallow areas based on forage opportunities.

On the Rainy River…   Sturgeon fishing is picking up.  A sturgeon rig and 3 ounce no roll sinker with crawlers and/or frozen shiners is the ticket.  Focus on deep holes.  Walleyes scattered on flats and deeper holes.  Smallmouth bass as a rule focused on rocks.  Pike scattered in bays and weedy areas.  Try hitting numerous “goto” spots up and down the river casting crankbaits, spinners and jigs.  Multi-species action and a fun day.

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.

Good walleye fishing around Crow Duck Island, north of Garden Island and areas with deeper mud.  The best presentation continues to be drifting and trolling spinners with a crawler, leech or a minnow.  Big Pike and some muskies in deep bays and rocky points.  Smallies in weedy bays and rocky points.  A complete list of lodging available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

On the south end…  Anglers experienced an awesome week of walleye fishing.  Strong numbers of eater walleyes and big walleyes which were “personal bests” for many anglers.  The two most popular patterns are spinners / crawlers and trolling crankbaits.  As a rule, the larger walleyes are over deep mud and on or adjacent to deep reefs.  Eater walleyes from 7′ as deep as 34′ in scattered schools.  The big walleyes aren’t always with the eaters so adjust accordingly.  Hammered gold, glow white, glow red, firetiger all good colors.

On the Rainy River…   Some walleyes are being caught trolling flats and shoreline breaks.  Sturgeon are starting to cooperate up and down the river.  Use sturgeon rigs and 3 ounce no roll sinkers with crawlers.  Focus on deep holes.  Smallmouth bass around areas of rock, bridge pillars, and on weedlines.  Pike scattered in bays and weedy areas.

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 continues strong with big numbers of eater walleyes.  Nice walleyes 8 – 17′ on the sand or 23 – 29′ around structure and over mud.  The best presentation continues to be drifting and trolling spinners with a crawler, leech or a minnow.  Pike and smallmouth bass are active in numerous weedy bays. Muskies being caught in deep bays and rocky points.  A complete list of lodging available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

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.