The Walleyes of Deer Hunting Week

It happens every year.  It invokes a confusion for an outdoors person that isn’t easy to deal with.  On one hand, the deer hunting season is very short.  For many, it is also a tradition that goes back generations.  These are important and not to be missed.  However, it happens nearly every year.  The anglers who either don’t deer hunt or get their deer right away and resort to fishing either the Rainy River or Lake of the Woods while others are in the woods are rewarded with walleye treasures.  It is no secret in these parts, the walleyes of deer hunting week offer some of the best walleye fishing of the year.

It is shaping up for another great walleye bite during the MN deer hunting gun opener which is Saturday, November 3rd this year.  The walleye bite this past week has been exceptional.  For those fishing the fall run on the Rainy River, many have said it has been some of the best fishing they have experienced in the river in years.

Anglers are mainly jig fishing with a few trolling crankbaits.  Anglers are catching fish on the river everywhere from 4 Mile Bay which is at the mouth of the river all they way upstream to Birchdale which is a 42 mile stretch.  Big numbers of fish and many, many pigs (trophy walleyes).   Posts on social media tell the story very clearly.  “Some of the best Rainy River fishing we have ever had.”  “It was a trip of a lifetime.”  The comments go on and on.  Certainly, anglers had to get on fish but the river has been quite full.

Others are fishing the lake.  There has been a fair amount of rain and some wind during this special month of October which kept some off of the big waters of Big Traverse Bay, but when those windows opened up, fishing has been good.  Mainly near the resort areas along the south shore all the way from the mouth of the Rainy River where it enters into the lake called the Lighthouse Gap west to Arnesen’s Rocky Point has been putting out nice numbers of fish.

Up at the NW Angle, fishing continues to be on a tear.  Many target muskies and crappies during the fall.  Walleyes are always available and everyone knows if they want to go and grab a few for a fish fry, they are there.  Muskie anglers have been both casting and trolling with good success.  Big fish over 50″ have been caught and released.  When I say big, I mean length plus girth, the fish that keep muskie nuts up at night.

The crappies tend to school up and put the feed bag on during the fall.  This year is no different.  What is different for anglers fishing crappies amongst the island areas of Lake of the Woods is that they are typically slabs, meaning the majority between 11-15″, with most being around that 12′ variety.  That is a nice crappie.  Now through a 14 in the mix and you are talking about something special.

We wish all deer hunters a safe hunt.  Take those extra precautions to ensure a safe hunt.  We wish all of those lucky folks who will be hitting Lake of the Woods or the Rainy River during deer hunting the best of luck.  Just like most years, I will be looking for another 14 pounder while I am at deer camp!

Click here for the Lake of the Woods Tourism website.

Click here for a list of Lake of the Woods Resorts and Guided Fishing