Going to Rainy Lake End of July...need help

[2catch1]

My wife and I our going to Rainy Lake at the end of the month. We are staying at Sha-Sha resort. I have been there twice and have caught fish but not huge numbers. Our main goal is to catch a lot of nice walleyes and a few Pike. I have a few good areas for Pike, but I have yet to really hit any numbers of walleye. We always get just enough to eat while we are there. I have a navionics chip in my 332c this year so I desperatly need a few hot spots and tips on how to fish for the walleyes there. Any help much appreciated. Is it worth getting a canada liscense while there???? And how??? --no passports--

Thanks Newby Dave.

[Rainydaze]

Welcome Dave!

You'll be heading up at a good time of year. Rainy Lake is a flat out awesome walleye fishery, yet they still don't just jump in the boat. I see it all the time with vacationers who come up, but aren't quite in tune with the stage of the bite here, and the movements of the fish. I still haven't had to go through the Brule, and have had a tremendous year thus far with clients. Mid lake humps will hold fish this time of year as well as shoreline breaks, current, and then you always have the weed walleyes. It all depends on what you are most comfortable fishing. Often times people come up with game plan A; to fish mid lake reefs, only to be stimied by the blasting wind. Bring a variety of baits, long anchor rope, good electronics, and pinpoint some breaks and humps to work while your at home or in the office dreaming of the Rainy vacation. In all honesty these fish will move daily at times and a hot spot today will hold no fish tomorrow. This is why the study of wind conditions will help you in your narrowing process for likely fishing spots. I'm still fishing shoreline breaks predominately alone as most everyone is congregating on the mid lake reefs. Caught 65 walleyes the otherday, so there still being caught on the first breaks where the churning takes effect from the wind. Fishing unpressured walleyes will also increase your action. I think walleyes become conditioned to a certain extent when the pressure gets put on. If I were planning a trip up to Rainy I would do the following; Study the map pinpointing spots I want to hit. Program the coordinates into the GPS system. Go to the local tackle shop and buy a variety of jigs colors/sizes as well as rig up a variety of lindy rigs/spinner rigs. If you troll stock up on cranks. Then head up fully expecting to search a variety of spots to locate the right fish and pattern or hire a guide. Of course I'm a bit biased! Ha either way good fishing buddy, and I hope some of this will be of use to you. Maybe I'll see you enjoying a tea!

RD

[2catch1]

last year fishing was good for Pike but on Tuesday(got there sat) We had yet to get an eye!!! We went out with Woody and got a few fish. He went through and had a fish a totally different way than we were, and we caught fish. Not a ton but we got fish. He also stayed on spots at least 30-45 minutes before moving, which was odd to me, but he said each hump holds fish its just getting them to bite...Last year it was humps in open water fished with leaches on a #4 hook and single split shot. The time before it was all jigs and minnows. I hope I have a advantage this year with the 332c and chip!!! Lots of rocks...so little time