Fishing Report 8.21.2023

On the south end… Good numbers of walleyes and saugers caught this week on Lake of the Woods. It’s late summer and the two techniques catching the majority of the fish are spinners with crawlers and trolling crankbaits.

Eater walleyes, those fish under 19.5 inches, have been in good numbers in the north end of the lake. Drifting spinners with a two hook harness and a crawler continues to catch many of the walleyes right now. Gold, gold/red, gold/orange and pink spinner blades continue to be good colors. Quick tip, pinch off the long tail of the crawler, you only need two to three inches off of the back hook and will catch more fish.

Trolling crankbaits over deep mud in Big Traverse Bay or around the mud / rock transition on the deep edges of rock piles continues to produce nice fish. During the warm summer months, walleyes often react better to some faster trolling speeds. 2.5 – 3.5 mph have been working well.

Rotate crankbaits until you figure out the walleye’s preference. Different shapes, sizes, wobbles, rattles and colors all can make a difference. Some colors to consider… shiny gold, pink UV firetiger, chrome / blue, chartreuse body with a red head.

A bug hatch here and there can make fishing more challenging, but anglers are still catching walleyes. Spinners and crankbaits are the ticket. Some anglers try to work areas of the lake not so affected by the hatch.

On the Rainy River… For being the middle of August, a nice week of walleye fishing on the river. Four Mile Bay continues to hold some fish along with various shoreline breaks, bars and other pieces of structure throughout the river. Trolling spinners and trolling crankbaits have been effective.

A few big pike with good numbers of smaller eater sized pike are being caught casting shorelines and back bays. Spinnerbaits, inline spinners and bladed jigs with a plastic producing fish. Trolling crankbaits and covering water will also put a mix of fish in the boat.

Large Pike

The river continues to produce a mixed bag of walleyes, saugers, smallmouth bass, pike, big crappies and lake sturgeon.

Up at the NW Angle… Another great week of fishing up at the Angle. Walleyes, saugers, muskies, pike, smallmouth bass, jumbo perch and crappies are all showing up nicely in August.

For walleyes, work various areas of structure until you find fish. Pull spinners on top of a sunken island or underwater point and eventually slide off the edge, watching both your electronics for fish and noticing what depth or where on the structure you caught. Sometimes fish will be on top, other times on the sides or off the structure in the adjacent mud. Go spot to spot until you find fish.

Jigging when you are on fish on tight structure is effective. Spinners / crawlers when fish are spread out or you are looking for fish.

Muskie anglers continue to report action with both follows and fish boated.

Lodging, fishing charters / guides and upcoming fish house rentals at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging.