On the south end…  A great week of Ice fishing on Lake of the Woods.  As the ice thickens, some resorts / outfitters are allowing 1/2 ton trucks, check with ice road operators for specifics as ice conditions vary.  Stay on marked ice roads, trails, etc. 

Fishing reports for walleyes and saugers are excellent.  Most anglers are still catching numbers of walleyes and saugers, sorting through numbers of fish to catch keepers for a fish fry or to take home.  Slot and trophy walleyes in the mix along with eelpout, jumbo perch, pike, tullibee, sturgeon and even a crappie or two.  

Good action in 24 – 28 feet of water.  For those who are portable, some morning / evening walleyes are being caught 12-17′ along shore. 

The one two punch, jigging one line and deadsticking your second line is most effective.  Gold, glow, lighted lures, all effective.  Lures with vibration and rattles on some days, other days no rattles.  Jigging spoons, jigging rap style baits tipped with a minnow head or piece of tail. Rippin Raps in gold or pink UV firetiger are also effective.  Vibration pulls fish in, usually not tipped as it takes away vibration.

For your deadstick, a plain glow or colored hook or an ice jig tipped with a live minnow 6″ – 1 foot off of the bottom.

On the Rainy River…  The Rainy River is ice covered and where there is good ice, anglers are finding walleyes primarily morning and evening.  Sturgeon bite continues for the few anglers wanting to catch a dinosaur through the ice.

With the current of the river, knowing where and where not to travel and working through resorts / outfitters who know ice conditions is key.

Up at the NW Angle…  The walleye fishing has been excellent with saugers, jumbo perch, and pike occasionally joining the party.

Depending upon where resorts have fish houses, some shallow spots are active mornings and evenings.  Other fish houses are located in deeper water to pick at fish all day but not the flurries.  Both are fun options.

Again, the one two punch, jigging and deadstick.  Glow and bright colors have been effective much like the south shore.

Travel to the Angle without crossing the border.  The snowmobile trails along both the west and east sides of the lake are open, groomed and staked for travel up to Angle resorts.  The ice runway for Lake Country Air is open and flights are delivering excited anglers from South St. Paul, Baudette, Warroad and other adjacent cities in the five state region.  Round trip bombardier service across the lake to your favorite resort via Lake of the Woods Passenger Service is another good option.

Driving via land to and from the Angle through Canada is open.  Must be vaccinated and have a negative PCR COVID Test less than 72 hours from when the test was taken. Get tests before you travel up or rapid tests are available in Baudette and in Warroad.  Once at the Angle, no additional COVID testing is necessary for traveling back south from the Angle through Canada.

A complete list of lodging and ice fishing packages around LOW, the NW Angle, Baudette and the Rainy River at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging.