On the south end… Walleye and sauger fishing continues to be really good. Most walleyes are spawned out and feeding nicely. Great reports by resort charter boats and others across the lake. A nice mix of eaters (under 19.5″), slot fish (19.5″ – 28″) and a good number of trophy fish (over 28″) caught this past weekend.
The combined limit of walleyes and saugers on the MN side of LOW is 6, with up to 4 of the 6 being walleyes. One trophy over 28 inches is allowed. All walleyes 19.5 – 28 inches must be released.
This is the time for jigging. Most anglers are anchoring up and vertically jigging with a jig and minnow. The best jig colors… gold, orange, chartreuse, pink or a combo of these colors.
Tip jigs with live minnows or frozen emerald shiners. Quick LOW tip… Place the hook of the jig through the mouth of the minnow, out the gills, slide the minnow all the way up to the jig head and hook the minnow through its midsection. This will get you hooking more fish.
Depths again varied from shallow to deep, depending upon where you were fishing. Most walleyes in that 8 – 30 foot depth. Watch your electronics for fish. Not every fish in the lake is feeding on the same forage, hence, varying depths.
The pike continue to be active. Back bays and shoreline structure are the best spots. As the waters continue to warm, lures such as inline spinners, spinnerbaits and crankbaits are producing more pike.
On the Rainy River… Walleye anglers are finding some nice walleyes in the Rainy River. Some walleyes will make their way back to the lake after the spawn, many will stay, some for a while, some all year.
Anchored up or slowly moving upstream with a jig and minnow are the go to techniques. Trolling crankbaits is also working nicely to find fish or fish walleyes spread out on a flat.
The river is a slow rolling, relatively small water nice for boats of all sizes. There are 42 miles of navigable waterway from the mouth at Wheeler’s Point east to Birchdale.
The sturgeon season will re-open again July 1st and will continue through May 15, 2024.
Up at the NW Angle… Great walleye fishing this past week. The jig and minnow is again the way to go in this cold water. Points, neck down areas, flats with some current, and areas with shoreline rubble holding nice walleyes.
As is normally the case amongst the islands, a variety of fish are being caught while fishing walleyes. Saugers, pike, smallmouth bass, crappies, jumbo perch and an occasional muskie. Lots of action.
Three ways to travel to the Angle…
1. Drive 40 miles through Canada and re-enter back into MN at the NW Angle.
2. Avoid customs by riding the Lake of the Woods Passenger (charter boat) Service which transports you across the lake to your favorite Angle resort and keeps you in Minnesota.
3. Take your own boat 42 miles across the lake.
A complete list of lodging, fishing charters / guides and helpful info about the area at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/
