There’s nothing quite like summer on Minnesota’s Lake of the Woods. The sun is shining, the lake is alive with boats and happy anglers, and the walleyes are biting. In a new video from Joe Henry of Lake of the Woods Tourism and Greg Jones with Midwest Outdoors, they provide a firsthand look at just how good the fishing is right now — and what we can look forward to as the summer rolls on.
Lake of the Woods is famous for its walleye fishing. This huge lake, located in far northern Minnesota, stretches out with more than 14,500 islands and miles upon miles of shoreline. It’s known as the “Walleye Capital of the World” for a reason. Every year, thousands of anglers travel here to get in on the action, and this summer is proving why.
A Strong Start to Summer
In the video, Joe and Greg talk about how the season has been so far. The bite started strong this spring with anglers catching good numbers of walleyes and saugers using jigs tipped with minnows. As June rolled in, that action didn’t slow down one bit.
Even during their day on the water filming, Joe and Greg were still jigging up nice fish. They show how a simple jig and a frozen emerald shiner is still putting walleyes and saugers in the boat. They also point out that bright colors like orange, chartreuse, gold, and glow combinations are hard to beat on Lake of the Woods, thanks to the lake’s stained water.
Right now, anglers are catching fish in a variety of places. Some are jigging shallower around 14-20 feet, while others are finding schools of walleyes out in deeper mud flats in 25-30+ feet of water. That’s one of the things that makes fishing here so fun — there are lots of spots and lots of options.
Spinners and Crankbaits Heating Up
Jigging isn’t the only game in town. As Joe and Greg explain, pulling spinners with crawlers and trolling crankbaits is starting to take off. As the water keeps warming into the heat of summer, these techniques become even more effective.
Pulling spinners, also called crawler harnesses, is a classic summer way to catch walleyes on Lake of the Woods. It’s simple — a snelled spinner with a two or three hook harness tipped with a nightcrawler. The flash and vibration of the blade attracts fish from a distance, and the scent of the crawler seals the deal.
Drifting or slowly trolling spinners is a great way to cover water. It lets you find active walleyes that might be scattered out over the mud flats. As summer goes on, many anglers also start trolling crankbaits. This is another super effective method, especially if you want to catch a lot of fish or hunt for a big one. It’s also a fun way to fish because you can watch the rod bend and the reels sing when a hungry walleye smashes your lure.
What to Expect as Summer Continues
So what can anglers expect for the rest of the summer on Lake of the Woods? More of the same great fishing! As Joe mentions in the video, this lake is unique because it stays strong all summer long. While many lakes slow down in mid-summer due to weed growth or big hatches of small perch and baitfish, Lake of the Woods keeps kicking out walleyes.
Deep mud flats are key during July and August. Walleyes move out there chasing bug hatches and baitfish, and anglers who target these areas with spinners or crankbaits often have banner days.
Plus, it’s just a beautiful time to be on the water. Beautiful and often cool mornings, bright sunny afternoons, and sunsets that light up the sky over the lake make every fishing trip special.
Plan Your Trip!
Whether you’re an experienced angler or just getting into walleye fishing, Lake of the Woods is a place that should be on your list. Resorts around the lake make it easy, offering everything from boat rentals to fully guided trips with expert captains. They’ll help you find the fish and enjoy every minute on the water.
To learn more about planning your trip, including guides, lodging, and even more fishing reports, visit LakeoftheWoodsMN.com. Then pack your gear and come see why Lake of the Woods really is the Walleye Capital of the World!
