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Lake of the Woods Fishing Report


LakeofthewoodsMN

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September has arrived along with cooler nights.  Having options on Lake of the Woods right now will improve your chances of boating more fish. Trolling crankbaits in 30-34' 10 miles out of Lighthouse Gap is producing nice walleyes. Chrome, blue, red, and a purple-pink are hot colors. The scattered schools are starting to move closer in to shore. Pulling spinners and vertical jigging with a jig and a minnow in 12-18 feet producing some nice fish.  Reefs are holding walleyes with a few pike thrown in the mix.  Smallies are active on shallow rocks and shoreline structure.

On the Rainy River, rain continues to be a factor but the fishing is heating up regardless. As fall approaches, Rainy River fall fishing can be excellent as shiners run up the river and walleyes are close behind.  As of right now covering lots of water to find fish is key.  More walleyes are showing up in 4 Mile Bay and at mouth of river each day as the water cools.  Anglers sturgeon fishing boating some nice dinos this week. Sturgeon "keep" season is now open through Sep. 30.

Up at the NW Angle, fishing has moved to bays and shallow water. Walleye and saugers are being caught in 10-13 feet around Flag Island and Oak Island, and in 16-27 feet south of Oak.  Some drifting with spinners in shallower areas.  Others trolling cranks away from structure with success.  Spinners with bottom bouncers are best option but pulling plugs while downrigging or using leadcore good as well. In Ontario waters, walleyes in 14-24 feet and 20-32 feet and moving daily. Crappies starting to school up in deep holes. Good electronics are helpful in finding walleyes this time of year as they are in many different places and depths.  Muskies being boated in Minnesota and Canadian waters. Cast large bucktails, stickbaits and subsurface baits over rock points, reefs and shorelines as they begin to pack on the pounds throughout the fall! 

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
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